Xavier Becerra will advance to general election in California governor’s race
Democrat Xavier Becerra has advanced to the November general election for governor, according to the Associated Press.
As of 4:50 p.m. Friday, Becerra captured 26.6% of the counted votes. Republican Steve Hilton trailed slightly behind with 26.4% and Democrat Tom Steyer crept behind at 21%.
Hilton is currently the second-highest vote-getter in the June 2 primary as election officials continue to count ballots. Steyer has a narrow path to eclipsing Hilton and forcing a Democrat vs. Democrat general election.
The result marks a stunning turnaround for the former California Attorney General Becerra, whose campaign struggled to raise money or make a dent in polls for much of the race. That changed when former Rep. Eric Swalwell faced accusations of sexual misconduct and dropped out of the race, leading to a sudden surge in support for Becerra. His campaign got additional support from business interests like the California Chamber of Commerce, Chevron and PG&E, which funded efforts to boost Becerra or attack Steyer.
If Becerra wins the November general election, he’ll be California’s first Latino governor in more than 150 years.
The Democrat is a Sacramento native with deep roots in California Democratic Party politics, beginning with his first run for State Assembly in 1989 and continuing with a dozen terms representing parts of Los Angeles in Congress. He became California’s first Latino attorney general when he was appointed to the post by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2017, winning re-election the following year and serving as former President Joe Biden’s secretary of health and human services from 2021 to 2024.
On the campaign trail, Becerra touted his numerous successful lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s first administration, including ones defending the Affordable Care Act and California’s vehicle emission standards.
He has vowed to provide funding for first-time homebuyers, bring down healthcare costs, and counteract the White House on issues like immigration and reproductive rights. He’s often been vague about the scope and implementation of his plans; Becerra’s campaign didn’t release a comprehensive housing plan until May, months after some of his rivals.
Becerra’s measured tone would represent a shift from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s sometimes bombastic approach to the job. Ideologically, however, it’s not clear how much daylight exists between the two politicians. In one debate, Becerra described Newsom’s tenure as “game-changing.”
That praise opens up a line of attack from Hilton, a former Fox News host who claims Sacramento Democrats have failed to meaningfully address the state’s high cost of living. Both Hilton and Steyer have seized on criticism of Becerra’s tenure under Biden, spotlighting a New York Times investigation that found lax federal oversight under Becerra helped spur a boon in child migrant labor.
Rivals also attempted to connect Becerra to a corruption scheme involving his former chief of staff and advisor, who pleaded guilty to siphoning around $225,000 from Becerra’s dormant campaign account. Federal prosecutors have characterized Becerra as a victim in the case.
So far, those attacks don’t appear to have dented his support, which grew as the primary campaign drew to a close. At an election night party in Los Angeles, Becerra nodded to the challenges the state faces and cast himself as the fix.
“For all of California’s greatness, we sometimes struggle to meet the standards we set for ourselves,” he said, “which is why, as your governor, I am ready to lead the fight to uphold California’s promise.”
This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Xavier Becerra will advance to general election in California governor’s race."
