With California’s June 2 primary less than two weeks away, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra hit the trail in Dulan’s on Crewnshaw with Jasmine Crockett and Rex Richardson—while Republican Steve Hilton pressed voters to ignore Chad Bian
On Crewnshaw. the room was full enough that the message landed fast: this wasn’t just another stop before the June 2 primary. Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra walked the campaign trail at Dulan’s on Crewnshaw Tuesday. flanked by Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson.
“If I have an opportunity to be between Jasmine Crockett and Rex Richardson between now on June 2, I’m going to win this race,” Becerra said.
Crockett stepped in with her own kind of energy—one part certainty, one part warning. “I can tell you that Xavier didn’t become a progressive yesterday. California, you need Xavier in this moment. I am so ecstatic to stand here in support of someone that I know will do an amazing job and will scare the (expletive) out of Trump. ” she said.
Richardson framed the stakes in personal terms, insisting the campaign wasn’t about gatekeeping. “No matter how you pray, what hot sauce you eat, no matter who you love, this is a campaign where everybody belongs,” Richardson added.
For Becerra, the appearance came at a moment when momentum is already part of the story. He has surged in the governor’s race since Eric Swalwell dropped out just over one month ago.
Becerra linked his push to voter concerns he says he hears—concerns he believes separate him from politics that looks too close to Trump. “California voters are not anxious to have someone who wants to buy the office and they’re also not anxious to have somebody who is towing the Trump line. ” he said.
Christina Bellantoni, a professor at USC’s Annenberg School, said Becerra’s timing matters as much as his message. “He could pull this thing off. And I’ve also really noticed that the Steyer campaign has gone increasingly negative on Becerra. And to me, that says they view him as the biggest threat,” Bellantoni added.
The Republican side is moving to its own rhythm. One of the other frontrunners, Republican Steve Hilton, is focusing on keeping Republican votes consolidated—especially with Chad Bianco still on the ballot.
Hilton’s view is blunt. In a video on X posted Tuesday, he said, in part: “a vote for Chad Bianco is a vote for two Democrats in the top two. We cannot take this risk. If you want change in California, there is only one vote that can possibly make it happen and that is a vote for me.”
Bellantoni said Hilton’s instincts track what the race has started to demand. “When trump endorsed Hilton. that has been at least longer than a month ago. maybe longer than that. that was the time for that conversation. Now, people are already casting ballots, it’s clear to me Bianco’s not going anywhere,” she said.
Even if Bianco were to step aside late, the ballot reality would remain. Bellantoni pointed out that votes have already been cast for Bianco with his name on the ballot.
With June 2 approaching. both campaigns are effectively trying to control what happens next—Becerra by tightening support with high-profile Democrats and emphasizing urgency in this moment. and Hilton by warning Republicans that splitting votes could shape the top two even before the final decision is fully in anyone’s hands.
California governor race June 2 primary Xavier Becerra Jasmine Crockett Rex Richardson Steve Hilton Chad Bianco Eric Swalwell Steyer campaign Christina Bellantoni USC Annenberg