California gubernatorial primary remains undecided as Becerra and Hilton lead race for top-two runoff

Jun 3, 2026

The California gubernatorial primary remains undecided, with Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton leading the race for the top two runoff spots. Becerra, a former HHS Secretary, has made a dramatic comeback after polling in the single digits in April. Hilton, a former Fox News host, was boosted by an endorsement from Donald Trump. Billionaire Tom Steyer, who self-funded his campaign with over $213 million, is in third.

California gubernatorial primary results

▪Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican business executive Steve Hilton are leading the race for the top two spots in the California gubernatorial primary.
▪Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire activist, was in third place in the early returns.
▪The California gubernatorial primary election is too close to call as of June 3, 2026, with vote counting still underway.
▪The winner of the election will succeed incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom, who is ineligible to run again due to term limits.
▪California's primary system allows the top two vote-getters to advance to the general election, regardless of their political party.

Becerra Democratic establishment support

▪Becerra’s position near the top of the field followed a late surge after earlier polling had him in the lower tier.
▪Xavier Becerra's campaign was seen as a primary beneficiary of U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell's exit from the race amid sexual assault allegations.
▪Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra is the former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, a former member of Congress, and a former California attorney general.

Hilton Trump endorsement

▪Donald Trump's endorsement helped Steve Hilton pull ahead of his main Republican rival, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
▪Republican candidate Steve Hilton is a former Fox News commentator and a past political adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron.
▪President Donald Trump endorsed Steve Hilton in April 2026.
▪Steve Hilton has campaigned on a platform of change, arguing it is needed after 16 years of one-party Democratic control in California.

Steyer self-funded progressive campaign

▪Tom Steyer ran on a progressive, populist message, styling himself as a "class traitor" who would challenge corporate special interests.
▪Billionaire activist Tom Steyer self-funded his progressive Democratic campaign with over $213 million.

California affordability crisis

▪Affordability and the cost of living have been dominant issues in the California gubernatorial race.
▪Key issues for California residents include a high cost of living, nation-topping gas prices, and wildfire risks.
▪Rivals Steve Hilton and Tom Steyer have both portrayed Xavier Becerra as a symbol of the political status quo.