I want this state to be the best state in the world to start and raise a family
In a state long defined by Democratic dominance, California's gubernatorial race has narrowed to a contest between two figures who each carry the weight of historical possibility. Republican Steve Hilton, a Trump-backed former television commentator, narrowly secured a place in November's general election against Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former federal cabinet secretary and state attorney general. The outcome will either return a Republican to Sacramento's governorship for the first time in fifteen years or install the state's first Latino governor in a century and a half — a choice that asks Californians what kind of future they are willing to imagine.
- Hilton held off billionaire Tom Steyer by the narrowest of margins in California's top-two primary, with the race still tightening as late votes arrived.
- Becerra surged into second place only after a late Democratic consolidation, propelled by endorsements from Governor Newsom and former Vice President Harris following Swalwell's withdrawal.
- Trump's full-throated endorsement of Hilton helped him pull clear of rival Republican Chad Bianco, making the November race a direct test of the former president's influence in deep-blue California.
- Steyer's concession turned combative, framing Hilton as a proxy for Trump and warning of catastrophe — signaling the attack lines Democrats will press through November.
- With registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans nearly two to one, Hilton's campaign is betting that frustration over homelessness, cost of living, and governance can override partisan math.
Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator who once advised British Prime Minister David Cameron, has earned a place in California's November gubernatorial runoff. He will face Xavier Becerra — former state attorney general and most recently the federal Health and Human Services Secretary — in what amounts to a referendum on the direction of a state where Democrats hold commanding legislative power.
Hilton's path was narrow. He finished second in the primary with roughly two million votes, holding off billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer in California's top-two system. Becerra, meanwhile, surged late after former Representative Eric Swalwell withdrew, consolidating Democratic support with the help of endorsements from Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. By Friday, Becerra had overtaken Hilton in the count — though both advanced.
Trump's April endorsement proved consequential for Hilton, helping him pull ahead of Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and unify Republican voters. Steyer, who did not advance, used his concession to warn that a Hilton governorship would be a catastrophe, calling him 'Donald Trump's handpicked candidate.' Hilton, for his part, framed his primary performance as proof that Californians hunger for a new direction on homelessness, cost of living, and the business climate.
The November matchup carries rare historical stakes. A Hilton victory would make him California's first Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011. A Becerra win would make him the state's first Latino governor in 150 years. With Democrats outnumbering Republicans nearly two to one among registered voters, the general election will test whether Hilton's message of disruption can reach beyond a primary electorate — and whether California is truly open to the change he is promising.
Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator who once advised British Prime Minister David Cameron, has secured a spot in California's November gubernatorial runoff. The Republican will face Xavier Becerra, the state's former attorney general and most recently the federal Health and Human Services Secretary, in what amounts to a referendum on the direction of a state where Democrats hold overwhelming legislative power.
Hilton's path to the general election was narrow. He finished second in the primary with roughly two million votes, holding off billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer for the second position in California's top-two voting system. The race tightened considerably in the final days, with Becerra surging late after former Representative Eric Swalwell withdrew from the contest. By Friday, Becerra had overtaken Hilton in the vote count, though both advanced to November.
In a video statement released after the results became clear, Hilton thanked voters across the political spectrum and framed the general election as an opportunity for change. "I want this state to be the best state in the world to start and raise a family; to start, run and grow a business," he said, emphasizing his campaign's central message that California needs a new direction. He positioned his primary performance as evidence that voters hunger for something different from the status quo.
Becerra's late surge reflected a consolidation of Democratic support. Both Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, who worked alongside Becerra in the Biden administration, publicly endorsed him and called on party voters to unite behind his candidacy. Harris highlighted Becerra's record taking on pharmaceutical companies and human traffickers, while Newsom praised his willingness to confront what he framed as threats to the state's future.
Steyer, who spent heavily on his campaign, did not advance and used his concession to attack Hilton directly. He called the Republican "Donald Trump's handpicked candidate" and warned that a Hilton victory would be a catastrophe for California. Trump himself had endorsed Hilton in April, providing what the former president called his "complete and total endorsement" on his Truth Social platform. The endorsement appeared to help Hilton consolidate Republican support and pull ahead of Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who had kept pace with him through much of the campaign.
The November matchup carries historical weight. If Hilton wins, he would become California's first Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011—a span of fifteen years during which the state has drifted further left. If Becerra prevails, he would become the state's first Latino governor in 150 years, since Romulado Pacheco held the office in the nineteenth century. Several other prominent candidates, including former Orange County Representative Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, saw their campaigns end on primary night.
Hilton has already begun laying out his governing agenda. At a news conference in San Mateo County on Friday, he pledged to ensure that all mail-in ballots would be counted within forty-eight hours of the deadline if he becomes governor—a direct criticism of the state's current election administration. His campaign has positioned itself as a vehicle for voters frustrated with California's trajectory on homelessness, cost of living, and business climate. The general election will test whether that message resonates beyond the primary electorate in a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly two to one.
Citações Notáveis
It looks very much like Californians really will have the chance to vote for change in November and take our state in a new direction.— Steve Hilton, on primary night
It would be a travesty for Steve Hilton to win the governorship, and Californians must unite behind Xavier Becerra to ensure he does not.— Tom Steyer, after failing to advance
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
How did a British political operative end up as California's Republican standard-bearer?
Hilton moved to California in 2012 after his work with David Cameron. He built a media presence on Fox News and positioned himself as a critic of California's governance. The state's problems—homelessness, housing costs, business flight—gave him an opening. Republicans were fragmented; he consolidated their vote.
What made Becerra's late surge possible?
Swalwell's exit cleared the field. Becerra had name recognition from his time as attorney general and his role in the Biden cabinet. Once Democrats saw he could win, they rallied. Harris and Newsom's endorsements mattered. It signaled to voters that the party had chosen its champion.
Does Hilton actually have a path to victory in November?
It's steep but not impossible. He needs to hold Republican voters, peel off some independents, and make the election about California's failures rather than national politics. Becerra will try to make it about Trump. The state's fundamentals favor Democrats, but Hilton's message about change has resonated with some voters.
What does a Becerra victory mean for California's Latino representation?
It would be symbolic and substantive. A Latino governor after 150 years would reshape how the state sees itself. But Becerra would also inherit the same problems Hilton is running against—housing, homelessness, the cost of living. The symbolism matters, but so does whether either candidate can actually govern differently.
Why did Trump's endorsement help Hilton so much?
It consolidated Republican voters who might have split between Hilton and Bianco. In a primary, Trump's blessing carries weight with the base. But it could hurt him in November. Becerra will use it to tie Hilton to Trump, and in California, that's a liability.