Candidate Xavier Becerra has secured the most votes in the California governor primary. (photo courtesy of Xavier Becerra)
Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and Democrat Xavier Becerra will take on television personality and Republican Steve Hilton in the November general election for governor of California. While Democratic philanthropist Tom Steyer improved as late mail and drop box votes were tabulated in the days following the June 2 primary election, it was not enough to overcome Hilton to secure a spot in the runoff.
Nearly 10 million voters are expected to have participated in the primary, and as of June 10 roughly 8,710,017 votes have been counted. With 27.9% of the vote, Becerra has 2,400,768, while Hilton has 24.9% and 2,143,534 votes. Steyer is at 22.5% and 1,937,388 votes, respectively. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is the only other candidate to secure over 10% of the vote, capturing 876,494 votes.
“I’m so humbled and honored to be moving on to the general election, to become your next governor,” Becerra said in a video posted to social media. “California has spoken, loudly and proudly. We want a working-class governor who cannot be bought, cannot be bullied and will never back down. California, we’re just getting started.”
“Every single person in California who wants change will now have the chance to vote for it,” Hilton said in a video posted to social media. “I want you to know that I’m running for governor to be of service to you, to make sure that our government gets the basics right, so that you can live your dreams, follow your dream. That’s what California is all about.”
In a concession statement, Steyer thanked his supporters, celebrated his campaign and pivoted to an endorsement of Becerra.
“For now, we must stay focused,” he wrote. “Donald Trump is the embodiment of the corporations’ craven, soulless, profit-first model of politics, and it is absolutely essential that his handpicked candidate does not hold the keys to California. It would be a travesty for Steve Hilton to win the governorship, and Californians must unite behind Xavier Becerra to ensure he does not.”
Other Democratic candidates from the crowded primary field released similar statements.
“Having spent time with Xavier Becerra on the campaign trail, I know he will stand strong against Donald Trump and look out for Californians across the state,” wrote former Rep. Katie Porter in a statement. “Californians deserve a governor who will fight for our values and bring down costs, not bend the knee to MAGA extremism that will take our state backwards. I look forward to working with my fellow Democratic candidates to elect Xavier Becerra in November.”
In California’s unique jungle primary system, two candidates advance to a general election runoff, regardless of party preference. Historically, Becerra would have an advantage over Hilton due to the state’s longtime Democratic hold. California has not voted in a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011. Schwarzenegger was also the last Republican to hold a statewide elected office, and there has not been a Republican representing the state in the U.S. Senate since 1992. A GOP presidential candidate has not won California’s electoral votes since 1988.
Still, Hilton, who previously served as the director of strategy for U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron from 2010-12, has the backing of President Donald Trump. The British-born Hilton became an American citizen in 2021 and has since renounced his British citizenship. He is largely known in the United States for his contributions to cable news networks such as Fox News, including his series “The Next Revolution.” He has also promoted several conspiracy theories regarding COVID-19 during the pandemic.
Becerra, in addition to his tenure in President Joe Biden’s administration, was attorney general of California from 2017-21, succeeding Kamala Harris, who was elected U.S. senator and later chosen as vice president. Becerra previously served from 1993-2017 as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Eastern Los Angeles. He started his political career as California state assemblyman in 1990.
In races for Los Angeles representation in state houses, Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur has secured over half of the 51st District’s votes and will face digital communications strategist and fellow Democrat Colin D. Hernandez, who had received 22% of the district’s votes as of press time on June 10, in the November election. While Los Angeles city and county elections avoid runoffs if a primary candidate receives over 50% of the vote, statewide offices still hold a general election with the candidate that receives the second most votes.
West Hollywood Councilman John Erickson has been called to advance to the runoff for the 24th District’s state senate seat. So far, Erickson, who is a Democrat, has over 20% of the vote and is likely to face Democratic strategist Brian Goldsmith, who has over 18% of the vote compared to Republican G. Rick Marshall’s 17.5%.