Xavier Becerra Advances in California Governor Race

In Los Angeles, at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Xavier Becerra, the Democratic candidate for governor of California, addressed his supporters during his election night event on June 2. The Associated Press declared that Becerra will proceed to the November gubernatorial election. The identity of the second finalist remains undecided pending additional ballot counts.

California employs a unique primary system, listing all candidates on a single, party-neutral ballot available to any registered voter. The two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election. Currently, around 3.5 million ballots remain uncounted, and the state accepts mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day if they arrive within seven days.

This wide-open primary is a first for California since the late 1990s. The next governor will lead a state grappling with budget deficits, high living costs, homelessness, and wildfire threats. Sitting Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, cannot run due to term limits, and speculation suggests he aims for a presidential bid in 2028.

Becerra, previously leading the Health and Human Services Department under President Joe Biden, has experienced a remarkable political comeback. Polls in April showed his support was in single digits within a crowded field. He stated, “The people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on earth, have spoken — loudly and proudly. We will not be bought. We will not be bullied. And we are never backing down. November, here we come.”

Republican businessman Steve Hilton is currently leading over Democratic billionaire activist Tom Steyer for the second place. However, Steyer has been closing the gap as vote counting continues. Hilton, endorsed by President Trump in April, led Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, another major Republican, in later polls. British-born Hilton, formerly a Fox News commentator and political adviser to David Cameron, campaigned for change after 16 years of Democratic control in California.

A victory for Hilton could give Becerra a likely path to success. Republicans face a challenging environment in California, where Democrats outnumber them nearly two to one. No Republican has won statewide office in the past two decades. If Steyer reaches the runoff, it would spark a costly party-internal contest. Steyer has invested over $213 million into his campaign, making it the priciest gubernatorial race in California history.

The election season has been full of surprises. High-profile Democrats like former Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Alex Padilla, and Attorney General Rob Bonta did not join the race. In April, the landscape changed when Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign collapsed amid sexual assault and harassment allegations, leading to his congressional resignation, despite his denial of the claims. Swalwell’s departure, when he was gaining endorsements and polling well, seemed to favor Becerra.

With the field narrowing, Democrats were relieved that Becerra’s rise reduced the risk of splitting votes in a way that could allow Bianco and Hilton to secure the top spots, averting a guaranteed Republican governorship.