Democrat Xavier Becerra has advanced to the November general election for California governor, succeeding term-limited Gavin Newsom. The race for the second spot remains undecided between Trump-backed Republican Steve Hilton and billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer. Becerra, a former U.S. health secretary, staged a political comeback, benefiting from the exit of Rep. Eric Swalwell amid sexual assault allegations.
Becerra advances to general election
- ▪Democrat Xavier Becerra advanced to the general election in the race for California governor
- ▪Becerra has over 35 years of public office experience, including as California attorney general and U.S. health secretary
- ▪If elected, Becerra would be the first Latino governor of California since the late 1800s
- ▪Becerra's campaign surged in the final months after initially failing to gain substantial support, staging a surprising political comeback
- ▪During the campaign, rivals scrutinized Becerra's leadership as health secretary during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 unaccompanied migrant children crisis
Hilton leads for second place
- ▪Hilton previously served as a political adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron
- ▪A general election with Hilton would be an uphill battle for any Republican, as no GOP candidate has won statewide in California in 20 years
- ▪Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator backed by Donald Trump, is a top rival for the second spot in the general election
Steyer gaining in ballot count
- ▪Steyer has spent more than $213 million of his own money on his campaign, with one source citing the figure as $215 million
- ▪Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire climate activist, is also a top contender for the second spot and has been gaining ground as ballots are counted
- ▪A runoff between Becerra and Steyer would set up a costly intraparty fight between two Democrats
California top-two primary system
- ▪In California's primary system, the top two candidates advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation
- ▪An estimated 3.5 million ballots remained uncounted when Becerra's advancement was announced
- ▪California counts mail-in ballots that arrive up to seven days after Election Day if they are postmarked by that day
Swalwell campaign collapse impact
- ▪Becerra's campaign benefited from Swalwell's exit, gaining key endorsements from labor groups and Latino legislative leaders
- ▪The race was disrupted when Democratic contender Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out amid allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied
California gubernatorial race stakes
- ▪As California's attorney general, Becerra filed more than 120 legal actions against the first Trump administration
- ▪The winner of the election will succeed term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom
- ▪The next governor will face challenges including a large state deficit, high cost of living, homelessness, and wildfire risk
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