Becerra and Hilton Take Early Lead in Chaotic California Gubernatorial Primary

The outcome of California’s gubernatorial election remains uncertain one day after the primary, with former UK political strategist Steve Hilton and former Biden cabinet member Xavier Becerra occupying the top spots in a fiercely competitive field. Due to the massive volume of mail-in ballots cast on Tuesday to select the top two contenders for November’s general election, final results may take several days to finalize.

Becerra, a Democrat, has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of President Donald Trump. In contrast, Hilton, a Republican backed by Trump, previously served as a top adviser to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron and later hosted a program on Fox News. As votes continued to be counted, billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer held third place among the Democrats. The race is particularly significant because current Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, is stepping down due to term limits.

Becerra, who served as Health Secretary under President Joe Biden, has pledged to cap insurance and utility rates. Hilton, known for his unconventional style in California—often campaigning without a tie or even shoes—has promised to improve affordability by reducing taxes and regulations. He has also vowed to "disrupt the system," proposing solutions to the homelessness crisis and advocating for closer federal cooperation on immigration enforcement, including the rollback of sanctuary policies.

The contest, which was expected to be a straightforward Democratic affair, descended into disorder. The absence of a dominant star politician attracted a large field of candidates, resulting in the most expensive California gubernatorial race in history. This surge in spending was driven largely by Steyer and Silicon Valley backing for San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, another Democrat. Former Congresswoman Katie Porter also entered the race.

The dynamics shifted further when leading Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell withdrew from the race and resigned from Congress in April, following allegations of sexual assault that he denied. With Democrats potentially splitting the vote, party leaders expressed fear that two Republicans might advance in the deeply liberal state. California’s unique "jungle primary" system allows the two candidates with the most votes to move forward, irrespective of party affiliation. The ballot featured over 60 candidates, including one individual who legally changed his name to "Barack Obama Shaw."

Hilton’s background includes helping shape Conservative Party strategy in the UK during a turbulent era that led to Brexit. However, advancing to the general election would present a significant hurdle for Hilton, as Democratic voters outnumber Republicans in California by approximately two to one. The last Republican to hold the governor’s office was Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose tenure ended in 2011.

Given California’s heavy reliance on vote-by-mail, residents may need to wait another day or more to confirm the two candidates who will compete in November. As the most populous US state and the fifth-largest economy globally, California has long been a battleground for contentious issues such as immigration, climate policy, housing affordability, and homelessness. Recently, soaring petrol prices—attributed to high fuel taxes and the impact of the US-Iran war—have added to the political tension.

Concurrently, Los Angeles voters are awaiting results in their mayoral primary, where political veterans competed against a reality television star. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass secured enough votes on Tuesday night to advance to the general election. As counting continues, Angelenos are watching to see if Bass will face Democratic City Councilmember Nithya Raman or Republican candidate Spencer Pratt, the former reality TV star.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 15:32:30 UTC