Xavier Becerra Advances to California Governor’s Race After Primary Upset

On June 2, former state attorney general Xavier Becerra captured roughly 27 % of the vote in California’s top-two primary, narrowly outpacing Republican former congressman Steve Hilton, who earned just over 26 % as two-thirds of ballots were counted. About three million votes remain uncounted, so the final list of the two candidates advancing to the November ballot will be set after the remaining count, though Becerra’s lead makes a second-place finish for either Hilton or Democrat Tom Steyer likely.

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California’s top-two primary advances the two highest-vote-getters regardless of party, enabling intra-party contests. The state grapples with a crushing cost of living, record gas prices tied to the war in Iran, heightened wildfire risk that has driven insurers away, an unstable budget and looming federal health-care cuts. Becerra, son of Mexican immigrants, served 24 years in the U.S. House, then as state attorney general (2017-2021) and U.S. health secretary. If elected, he would be the first Latino governor chosen by voters in more than a century, and his campaign stresses continuity with Governor Gavin Newsom’s policies.

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Becerra’s campaign says it will keep Newsom’s agenda, proposing a state of emergency to freeze utility and home-insurance rates and to enforce existing housing laws to spur construction. He also signaled willingness to temper greenhouse-gas reduction mandates. Labor unions and industry groups have endorsed him for his experience and delivery record. Republican officials, including Hilton, portray Becerra as a symbol of the Newsom administration’s status-quo.

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Democratic critics have questioned Becerra’s pandemic leadership and his agency’s vetting of homes that housed migrant children later found in exploitative work. Steyer’s campaign highlighted a surge of corporate and special-interest donations to Becerra in the final weeks. Hilton’s messaging frames Becerra as an establishment figure resistant to reforms on California’s high costs and regulations.

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• “Guess what? The underdog stayed in the fight,” — Xavier Becerra, candidate

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• “the everyday miracle of living in a state that regularly makes the improbable seem inevitable.” — Xavier Becerra, candidate

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• “You can have all these great inflated promises,” — Xavier Becerra, candidate

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• “A for effort” — Xavier Becerra, candidate

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Because roughly one-third of ballots remain uncounted, it is unclear whether Steyer will concede or overtake Hilton for the second slot, leaving the final November matchup uncertain. Becerra has not presented new policy initiatives beyond those aligned with Newsom, creating a gap in voter-facing proposals.

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The November general election will pit Becerra against either Republican Steve Hilton or Democrat Tom Steyer, depending on the remaining count. If Hilton advances, Becerra would be heavily favored given California’s Democratic majority; if Steyer secures the spot, the race is expected to become a high-spending contest between the party’s establishment and progressive wings.

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