Full Breakdown
California’s Gubernatorial Primary: Becerra and Hilton Lead in Tight Jungle Race
6/4/2026, 2:16:32 AM
Core Contest
California’s June 2, 2026 top-two primary puts all candidates on one ballot; the two highest vote-getters advance to November. Early returns show Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra leading, with Democrat Tom Steyer third. Mail-in counting continues. The jungle primary raised lockout concerns.
Key Figures
Xavier Becerra, former state attorney general, congressman and former HHS secretary, pledges to freeze insurance and utility rates. Steve Hilton, Fox News host and adviser to UK PM David Cameron, proposes tax cuts for incomes under $100,000 and rollbacks. Tom Steyer, billionaire climate activist, has spent over $200 million on a health and climate platform.
Data & Statistics
About 60 candidates ran. Vote shares differ: Hilton 27-28 % (?1.3 M), Becerra 25-26 % (?1.2 M), Steyer 19-20 % (?980 k). Campaign spending tops $315 M; Steyer contributed >$200 M, Becerra received $18.7 M from labor and Latino groups. California has ~23 M registered voters, 40 % Hispanic/Latino, and a $4 trillion economy.
Why It Matters
The governor will shape water policy, housing affordability and homelessness in a state with living costs and wildfire risk. A Becerra win would make him the first Latino governor since the 19th century; a Hilton win would be the first Republican governorship since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2011 term. The result signals national party momentum.
Official Statements & Responses
Becerra describes his run as an underdog story and says his experience will protect Californians from federal overreach. Hilton frames the contest as a change election, arguing his tax plan will lower living costs. Steyer says his campaign will wait for all ballots to be counted and believes it finished strong. Trump posted a congratulatory message to Hilton, promising support.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics cite Becerra’s HHS record on migrant-child shelters. Steyer is accused of trying to “buy” the election, which he denies. Hilton’s Trump endorsement draws skepticism in a state where only ~25 % approve of the president. Democrats warn a Hilton advance could jeopardize party control of statewide offices.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Vote shares differ: Reuters (Hilton 27.8 %, Becerra 25.4 %); NBC (Hilton 27 %, Becerra 26 %); Fox LA (Hilton 28 %, Becerra 25 %); Local News Matters (Hilton 26.8 %, Becerra 25.8 %). The final top-two order remains unsettled pending the count of late-arriving mail ballots.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Change is coming to California and it's long overdue,” — Steve Hilton, Republican gubernatorial candidate
- “Guess what? The underdog stayed in the fight. Like my parents, I never gave up. Never stopped putting one foot in front of the other. Never stopped believing in the beacon-like goodness of California. And thankfully, neither did you.” — Xavier Becerra, Democratic gubernatorial candidate
- “We're going to wait until every ballot is counted.” — Tom Steyer, Democratic gubernatorial candidate
- “Congratulations to Steve Hilton on coming in first, last night, in the California Vote for Governor,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
What’s Next
Election officials will count mail-in ballots for up to 30 days before the Secretary of State certifies the results. The final two vote-getters will determine whether the November ballot pits Becerra against Hilton, Becerra against Steyer, or Hilton against Steyer, shaping California’s policy for the next four years.
