Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra Advance to California Governor Election After Primary Results

Republican political commentator Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra have officially advanced to California’s November 3, 2026, gubernatorial election after emerging as the top two candidates in the state’s June 2 open primary.

Media organizations projected the outcome on Tuesday after updated vote counts confirmed that Hilton and Becerra maintained their lead positions. The race had remained too close to call in the days following Election Day because Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer was within striking distance in third place. However, as additional ballots were processed, Steyer’s path to the general election narrowed and ultimately became mathematically impossible.

According to the latest Associated Press vote totals, Becerra led the primary field with 27.9% of the vote, while Hilton secured second place with 24.9%. Steyer finished third with 22.6%.

California’s election process often takes several days or weeks to finalize because mail-in ballots are counted if they are postmarked on or before Election Day and received within seven days afterward. State officials have up to 30 days to complete ballot verification and counting, while the California Secretary of State has until July 10 to certify the results.

Under California’s top-two primary system, often referred to as the “jungle primary,” candidates from all political parties compete on a single ballot. The two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.

The upcoming California governor election will determine the successor to Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. The winner will oversee one of the world’s largest economies, valued at approximately $4 trillion, while addressing major issues including housing affordability, water management, homelessness, and public services.

Becerra, a former California attorney general, U.S. congressman, and Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden, could become California’s first Latino elected governor if victorious in November. Hispanic and Latino residents account for roughly 40% of the state’s population.

Hilton, a British-born former Fox News host and former adviser to ex-UK Prime Minister David Cameron, became a U.S. citizen in 2021. He received a high-profile endorsement from President Donald Trump during the campaign.

Steyer, a billionaire hedge fund investor, invested heavily in the race after previously spending hundreds of millions of dollars during his 2020 presidential campaign. His gubernatorial campaign focused on progressive policies, including higher taxes on billionaires.

The November showdown between Hilton and Becerra will also test whether Republicans can regain statewide political influence. The party has not held a statewide elected office in California since former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in January 2011.