Republican Steve Hilton has advanced to the November general election for California governor, setting up a partisan battle with Democrat Xavier Becerra. The Associated Press called the race on June 9, a week after the primary election, with 88% of the vote counted. Hilton secured 24.9% of the vote, while Becerra led with 27.9%. Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer, who spent heavily on his campaign, finished in third place with 22.4% of the vote.
Hilton, a conservative commentator and former Fox News host, received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Becerra, a former California attorney general and Biden administration Cabinet secretary, is vying to become the state's first Latino governor in modern history.
The race highlights California's unique jungle primary system, where all candidates, regardless of party, compete in a single primary, with the top two advancing to the general election. Hilton and Becerra emerged from a crowded field that included Steyer, who spent over $213 million of his own money on the campaign.
Hilton has called for major reforms to California's election process, while Becerra has defended the integrity of the state's voting system. The two candidates have sparred over electoral integrity, with Trump previously alleging without evidence that California's elections are rigged. Hilton has not endorsed Trump's claims but has expressed concerns about the election process.
The general election in November will determine the successor to term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who is steering the nation's most populous state and the world's fourth-largest economy.