Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has secured a place in California’s November gubernatorial election, according to Decision Desk HQ, marking a significant milestone in the race to succeed outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom.
While Becerra’s advancement appears increasingly certain, the battle for the second spot on the general election ballot remains competitive. Trump-backed Fox News commentator Steve Hilton and billionaire businessman Tom Steyer are locked in a closely watched contest as vote counting continues across the Golden State.
As of late Thursday night, Hilton led the field with 27.18 percent of the vote, while Becerra stood at 26.03 percent. Steyer trailed in third place with 20.18 percent. Despite Hilton’s current lead, Decision Desk HQ reported that Becerra has been performing strongly among mail-in voters throughout California’s 58 counties and is expected to overtake Hilton if the present counting trends continue.
California’s unusual primary system often creates unexpected political matchups. Rather than holding separate party primaries, all candidates compete on the same ballot regardless of political affiliation. The two candidates receiving the highest vote totals move on to the general election, even if they belong to the same party.
Becerra entered the race with substantial name recognition from his years in public office. Before joining former President Joe Biden’s administration as secretary of Health and Human Services, he served as California’s attorney general. That experience helped provide a foundation for his campaign as voters evaluated potential successors to Newsom.
The former cabinet secretary has also drawn support from Latino voters, a major and influential voting bloc within California. Should he ultimately win the governorship in November, Becerra would become the first Latino governor of California since Romualdo Pacheco, whose tenure lasted from February through December of 1875.
His campaign also benefited from a major development earlier in the race. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell withdrew from the contest after facing multiple allegations involving sexual assault and misconduct. Following Swalwell’s departure, Becerra’s standing improved significantly.
Early in the campaign, Becerra struggled to gain traction and registered only single-digit support in polling. However, his numbers steadily increased over time. After Swalwell exited the race in April, Becerra emerged as the contest’s front-runner, a shift reflected in polling conducted by Emerson College Polling and Inside California Politics.
The remaining uncertainty centers on who will join him in November.
If Hilton ultimately secures the second spot, voters would see the more familiar Democrat-versus-Republican matchup that has characterized recent California gubernatorial races. If Steyer overtakes Hilton and advances instead, the state could be headed toward a rare all-Democrat general election contest.
With vote counting still underway, the final order of finish remains unsettled. But one thing appears increasingly clear: Becerra has positioned himself as a leading contender in the race to become California’s next governor, setting the stage for a high-profile campaign in the months ahead as voters prepare to choose Newsom’s successor.
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