SACRAMENTO — The California governor’s race has intensified following the June 2 primary, with Democrat Xavier Becerra advancing to the November general election as the leading vote-getter while the contest for the second spot remains unresolved, election officials said.
Becerra, a former California attorney general and U.S. health and human services secretary, secured the top position in the nonpartisan primary with about 27% of the vote after nearly two-thirds of ballots were counted, according to the Associated Press. The top-two system advances the leading candidates regardless of party to the Nov. 3 general election.
Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and political commentator, held a narrow lead for second place over Democrat Tom Steyer in early returns, with the gap separating the two separated by a small margin as counting continued, state election data showed. Details on the final second-place finisher remained unclear as of June 7.
Incumbent Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. The primary featured a large field of more than 60 candidates, reflecting a competitive and unpredictable race to lead the nation’s most populous state.
Becerra campaigned on his extensive government experience and commitment to addressing key state challenges. “I’m running for governor because California needs proven leadership,” Becerra said in a statement following the primary results.
Hilton has positioned himself as a critic of the state’s current direction, emphasizing issues such as housing affordability, crime and government efficiency. Steyer, a billionaire environmental advocate, focused on climate policy and progressive priorities during the campaign.
Republicans have not won a statewide office in California since 2006, making the general election contest a significant test for the party in the heavily Democratic state. Polls leading into the primary showed Becerra and Hilton as frontrunners among likely voters.
Vote counting is ongoing, with millions of ballots still to be processed, particularly from Democratic strongholds. Final certification is expected in July, according to the California Secretary of State’s office.
As of Sunday, both advancing candidates and those still in contention for the second spot were preparing for the general election campaign. No major new developments on campaign finance or endorsements were immediately detailed in the latest updates.
