Republican television commentator Steve Hilton and Democratic former cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra took the early lead in the open primary race for California governor on Tuesday. They each had about 26% of the vote with 42% of election night precincts partially reporting about an hour after polls closed, according to official results. Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer trailed them by about six points. Under California’s “jungle primary” system, the two highest vote-getters will advance to the November 3 general election regardless of party. Becerra is a
former state attorney general and United States (US) congressman from Los Angeles who was Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden. If he were to prevail in November, he would become the first Latino elected governor in a state where 40% of the population is Hispanic or Latino. Hilton is a British-born former Fox News host who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Hilton, once an adviser to former United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister David Cameron, became a US citizen in 2021.
He campaigned against the Democrats’ record on homelessness, affordability and government regulations in a state where Republicans have been shut out of statewide office since former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s term ended in January 2011. Hilton had 26.6% of the vote and Becerra 26% in the early tally. Steyer, who has spent about $200 million of his own money on the campaign, had 19.8%. Of the dozens of other candidates on the ballot, none cracked double digits. The Democratic field appeared to coalesce around Becerra after
former frontrunner Eric Swalwell left the race and resigned from the US Congress in April following accusations of sexual assault from a former staffer. Swalwell denied the allegations.
California governor primary, jungle primary, Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer, Eric Swalwell, homelessness, affordability, government regulations, November 3 general election