Full Breakdown
California's 2026 Gubernatorial Primary: Two Spots, Three Front-Runners
6/5/2026, 7:52:20 AM
Contest Overview
Partial results covering about 55 % of ballots show Republican Steve Hilton leading with 27-28 %, Democrat Xavier Becerra close behind at 26-27 %, and Democrat Tom Steyer in third with about 20 % (Decision Desk HQ, The Hill, CBS News). Sixty-one candidates are on the ballot; ad spend exceeds $316 M, with Steyer contributing $213-$216 M (? 64 %) and Becerra receiving $18.7 M from unions. Hilton’s campaign is buoyed by Trump’s endorsement.
Candidates
California’s open ‘top-two’ primary puts all 61 hopefuls on one ballot, eliminating separate party contests. The lack of high-profile Democrats raised runoff fears. Trump’s April endorsement of Republican Steve Hilton and Rep. Eric Swalwell’s withdrawal after assault allegations cleared a path for Democrat Xavier Becerra’s surge. Hilton, a British-born former Fox News host, pledges tax cuts. Becerra, former state attorney general and HHS secretary, stresses experience. Steyer, a hedge-fund billionaire, self-funds a progressive platform that includes higher taxes on the wealthy.
Official Statements
Becerra said his campaign is on track to advance as ballots continue to be counted. Hilton declared, “This is the first stage, but the fight really starts tomorrow,” and added, “change is coming to California.” Steyer urged, “We’re going to give democracy time to work.” Trump posted, “If Californians are smart… they will put Steve into the Governor’s Mansion.”
Criticism
Steyer’s self-funded bid drew accusations of buying the election. Hilton’s blame-the-Democrats narrative was criticized for oversimplifying housing and safety issues. Becerra faced calls to drop out and was attacked for his HHS record. The Swalwell scandal removed a leading Democrat, reshaping the field.
Conflicts
Sources differ on leaders’ exact shares—Hilton 27 % vs 28 %, Becerra 26 % vs 27 %—and on the counted share of ballots, reported between 53 % and 55 %. No final tally is available, and the number of late-postmarked mail ballots is unknown.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It might take some time to figure out where this is going. We’re going to wait until every ballot is counted. We’re going to give democracy time to work,” — Tom Steyer, Democratic candidate
- “Like my parents, I never gave up … and thankfully neither did you,” — Xavier Becerra, Democratic candidate
- “This is the first stage, but the fight really starts tomorrow,” — Steve Hilton, Republican candidate
- “If Californians are smart, which I know they are, they will put Steve into the Governor's Mansion, and watch their State get better.” — Donald Trump, former President
What’s Next
County officials must finish counting by June 15, with late-postmarked ballots processed afterward. The top two vote-getters will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot; a Hilton-Becerra face-off would pit a Republican against a Democrat, while a Becerra-Steyer runoff would keep the contest within the Democratic Party. The result will shape California’s policies on housing, climate and health care.
