Story perspectives

Becerra, Hilton Lead California Primary; Steyer 20%

6/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

Wearing an American-flag-lined jacket at his Huntington Beach event, Steve Hilton (candidate) and Xavier Becerra (former HHS secretary) each hold 26-27 % of the vote, placing them in California’s jungle primary top two.
Tom Steyer (candidate) trails in third with roughly 20 % after spending more than $213 million of his own money.
If elected, Xavier Becerra would become the first Latino governor of a state where 40 % of residents are Hispanic or Latino.

History

Historical Context

Barack Obama’s 2008 victory—becoming the first African-American major-party nominee and winning about 53 % of the popular vote while his campaign raised over $650 million—showed the power of diverse coalitions. That breakthrough spurred a Democratic focus on minority voters, a shift now evident in California’s 2024 jungle primary where Latino influence drives the race for governor.

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Story summary

Wearing an American-flag-lined jacket at his Huntington Beach event, Steve Hilton (candidate) and Xavier Becerra (former HHS secretary) each hold 26-27 % of the vote, placing them in California’s jungle primary top two.
Tom Steyer (candidate) trails in third with roughly 20 % after spending more than $213 million of his own money.
If elected, Xavier Becerra would become the first Latino governor of a state where 40 % of residents are Hispanic or Latino.

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