Becerra advances – Democratic Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra secured one of two California governor’s primary spots Friday as ballots are still being counted. He now awaits his general-election opponent, with Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer le
The first thing Californians didn’t get Friday night was certainty about the matchup.
Democrat Xavier Becerra—who served as Health and Human Services secretary under the Biden Administration—grabbed one of two spots in the California governor’s race. according to results reported by The Associated Press and Decision Desk. But even with Becerra safely moving forward. the question of who he will face in November still isn’t settled because ballots are still being counted.
California’s system is the reason the suspense can linger. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary advance to the general election, regardless of party. That makes the rest of the field’s movement matter as much as Becerra’s own.
Right now, Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer are in the lead for the second spot. If Hilton advances. CalMatters reports Becerra is heavily favored. pointing to a political baseline where Democrats outnumber Republicans by about two-to-one in California and to Hilton’s receipt of President Donald Trump’s endorsement. But Steyer winning would be more competitive, the local outlet said.
Becerra, for his part, framed the moment as momentum toward November. “We’re just getting started. On to November,” he wrote on X on Friday.
Hilton also reached supporters with his own message—“change is coming,” he told them, as reported by USA Today.
The race has turned into a spending sprint. Up until recently, Becerra had not been as much of a force in the governor’s contest. Then, former senator Eric Swalwell—described as the primary’s frontrunner—dropped out amid sexual misconduct and assault allegations. The shake-up helped reorder attention and cash.
It has also fed a broader escalation in negative campaigning. AdImpact says the California gubernatorial primary is the most expensive governor’s race on record in the U.S. and the fifth-most expensive non-presidential race. Steyer is described as the “chief driver of spending. ” with his campaign spending $201.2 million on ads—64% of every dollar spent in the primary. Becerra. in contrast. has $24.4 million in total ad support. including support through his campaign and outside groups such as Working Families for Healthy Communities. Supporting Becerra for Governor. and Latinos United for Xavier Becerra.
AdImpact also tracked how the tone has shifted. It says that through March, nearly all broadcast airings targeting the race were positive. Since then, 33% of broadcast airings have been either contrast or negative ads.
If Becerra wins the general election, he would be the first Latino elected governor in California.
Other California races are also moving toward the general election. Per the AP. those heading to their respective general elections include Fiona Ma. a Democrat for lieutenant governor in California; Democrat Tessa Hodge in the U.S. House in California’s 23rd congressional district; and Republican Joe Males for the U.S. House in California’s 25th congressional district.
While voters wait for the final primary tally, the political argument around California’s counting speed is already taking shape.
California is famously slow to post election numbers, and this primary is no different, a factor that has been used by President Donald Trump—without evidence—to claim Democrats are attempting to steal elections. He pointed to what he called “the very late and massive numbers of MAIL IN BALLOTS.”
At the center of that dispute, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli said his office has “multiple election fraud investigations underway” in coordination with the FBI’s Los Angeles Bureau. Essayli also said his office is working with Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon on an audit of California’s voter rolls.
“My office will not look the other way,” Essayli said. “We will investigate and prosecute. Every legal vote deserves to be counted. Every illegal vote cancels one out.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta rejected those accusations on Saturday during an appearance on MS Now. In an interview on “The Weekend,” he said, “there are no details, there is no specifics, there is no specific allegation of any individualized act of voter fraud.”
Bonta added that “Every count. recount. hand count. court case and audit has shown time and time again — not just in California. but throughout this country — that there is no widespread voter fraud. ” and said the claims are “only a figment of the imagination of Trump and others who follow that conspiracy theory.”.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, California expanded mail voting. Under state rules, mail-in ballots in California are considered valid if they are postmarked by Election Day and reach the registrar’s office within seven days of the election.
Experts interviewed earlier by Straight Arrow say the delay in California is not due to counting ballots themselves. but to verification—specifically. signature checks against voter registration forms. “Registrars have literally millions of ballots up and down the state. ” Thad Kousser. a professor of political science at the University of California. San Diego. previously said. “They have to check their signatures against voter registration forms in California. and that is part of the reason why it takes several days for California to report enough votes to make close calls.”.
For Becerra, none of that counting drama changes the immediate reality: he has secured his place. But as California ballots continue to be counted. the question that will define the next phase of the campaign is still unanswered—whether the second ticket-mate will be Steve Hilton or Tom Steyer when Becerra takes his argument into November.
Xavier Becerra California governor's race Steve Hilton Tom Steyer Eric Swalwell election ballots mail-in voting Bill Essayli Harmeet Dhillon Rob Bonta Central District of California California primary
So who even wins? Still waiting on ballots I guess.
This is why Californians never get a straight answer. They say Becerra got primary spot but then it’s like “who knows who he’s facing”?? Meanwhile people probably already picked sides anyway.
I don’t get it—why would it matter if it’s a Dem or Rep if the top two go through no matter what? Like isn’t that just rigging the outcome? Also Steve Hilton sounds familiar like he already lost last time.
Californias vote counting always takes forever. I saw a headline that said Becerra is basically set, but then it’s still “unclear” who’s coming with him—like Tom Steyer or Steve Hilton?? Either way I’m tired of health stuff being in politics like it’s all the same people juggling jobs. Guess we’ll find out when they finish counting… probably after everyone stops caring.