San Francisco — Xavier Becerra, the Democratic candidate, will progress to the November election for governor in California. This announcement comes from The Associated Press following a prolonged vote count. While Becerra’s position is confirmed, the second candidate for the runoff remains uncertain.
California’s unique primary system presents all candidates on a single ballot, accessible to any registered voter. The top two candidates proceed to the general election. Currently, approximately 3.5 million ballots are yet to be counted. The state also accepts mail-in ballots up to seven days post-Election Day if postmarked by Election Day.
The state hasn’t witnessed such an open primary since the late 1990s.
The November winner will govern the nation’s most populous state, facing challenges like a severe deficit, high living costs, homelessness, and wildfire threats. Current Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has reached term limits and might pursue a presidential run in 2028.
Becerra, who previously served as Health and Human Services secretary under President Biden, has made a remarkable comeback. Polls in April showed him lagging in single digits among numerous competitors. In his statement, Becerra emphasized, “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.”
For the second spot, Republican businessman Steve Hilton holds a slight lead over Democratic billionaire activist Tom Steyer. Steyer is gaining as ballots continue to be counted. Hilton was endorsed by President Trump and later outpaced Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, another significant Republican candidate.
Hilton, originally from the UK, is a previous Fox News commentator and advisor to former British Prime Minister David Cameron. He advocates for reform in California after 16 years of Democratic leadership. A victory for Hilton might ease Becerra’s path, considering the state’s Democratic dominance. Conversely, a runoff against Steyer would mean an expensive intra-party contest, with Steyer investing over $213 million in his campaign—the priciest gubernatorial race in California.
This election season has seen unexpected twists. Prominent Democrats like Kamala Harris, Alex Padilla, and Rob Bonta abstained from entering the race. The competition shifted notably when Eric Swalwell dropped his gubernatorial campaign amid accusations of sexual assault and harassment. Swalwell resigned from Congress, denying the charges. His departure appeared to benefit Becerra, reducing the risk of votes splitting among Democrats, potentially leading to a Republican victory in the June primary.