SACRAMENTO, California — Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton advanced from California’s primary election and will face each other in the November general election, according to projections issued after vote counting from the June 2 contest confirmed the two candidates as the top finishers.
California election officials continued processing ballots for several days after the primary under the state’s vote-counting procedures. By this week, media organizations and election analysts projected that Becerra and Hilton had secured the two spots available under California’s top-two primary system, in which all candidates compete on a single ballot regardless of party affiliation and the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election.
Becerra, a former California attorney general and former U.S. secretary of health and human services, led the field during much of the count. Hilton, a former Fox News commentator and adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, finished ahead of several other contenders, including businessman and Democratic candidate Tom Steyer.
The race will determine the successor to term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom. California, the most populous U.S. state, has been governed by Democrats for nearly two decades, and the governor oversees an economy that ranks among the largest in the world. Issues including housing affordability, homelessness, water resources and state finances featured prominently during the primary campaign.
Becerra’s campaign emphasized his experience in state and federal government and pledged to expand access to healthcare and address affordability concerns. Hilton campaigned on reducing taxes, cutting regulations and lowering living costs, while seeking to broaden Republican support in a state where Democrats hold a substantial voter-registration advantage.
Following projections that he had advanced, Becerra said voters would face a choice over California’s future direction. “California will not be his next casualty,” Becerra said in remarks released after the race was called, referring to former President Donald Trump.
Hilton welcomed the result and said during the campaign that voters were seeking change after years of Democratic leadership in Sacramento. His candidacy received an endorsement from Trump during the primary contest.
As of Thursday, county election officials were continuing routine certification procedures, but the outcome of the primary was no longer considered in doubt. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, when California voters will choose the state’s next governor.
