Huntington Beach, California — Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra led in unofficial early returns Wednesday morning in California’s gubernatorial race. The results suggest both candidates could advance to the November general election, where the fight to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom continues.
Hilton, a former British political strategist turned American conservative commentator and ex-Fox News host, is backed by former President Donald Trump. Becerra, a former California attorney general and Biden administration cabinet secretary, also held a lead as votes remained uncounted and results awaited certification.
Hilton told supporters at his Orange County primary night watch party that change is coming to California. In an interview with Fox News Digital, he attributed his campaign’s momentum to speaking “honest, simple truths” about issues like high living costs. “Everything is too expensive in California. We’re going to cut people’s costs,” he said.
Becerra, if elected in November, would be California’s first Latino governor since Romualdo Pacheco in 1875, according to his campaign. He described his campaign’s success as “more than a Hollywood ending” and emphasized the significance of the race for the state’s diverse electorate.
The California primary operates as a jungle primary, with all candidates appearing on the same ballot regardless of party. The top two finishers will advance to the general election. As results were still being tallied, billionaire Tom Steyer, who has spent over $200 million of his own money on his campaign, occupied third place. Other notable candidates include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, former Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond. There are a total of 61 candidates on the ballot.
Hilton aims to become the first California Republican to win a gubernatorial election since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006 re-election. During his speech, Hilton displayed a blazer lined with American and California flags, saying Schwarzenegger once advised him to wear it. “Arnold, I did that for you,” Hilton said.
The race has been overshadowed in recent years by other political headlines, including wildfires and immigration enforcement. The race gained renewed attention after Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell withdrew amid allegations of misconduct, opening space for candidates like Steyer and Becerra to rise in the polls.
With no clear frontrunner in the Democratic primary last year, the contest has become more unpredictable. Outside spending has also played a significant role, with more than $80 million in outside money invested in the race, according to reports.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
