Hilton, Becerra take early lead in California governor primary race

Under California's "jungle primary" system, the two highest vote-getters will advance ‌to the November 3 general election regardless of party. Becerra is a former state attorney ‌general and U.S. congressman from Los Angeles who was secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden.

Republican ​television commentator Steve Hilton and Democratic former ​cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra took the ‌early lead ​in the open primary race for California governor on Tuesday. They each had about 26% of the vote with 42% of ‌election night precincts partially reporting about an hour after polls closed, according to official results.

Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer trailed them by about 6 points. Under California's "jungle primary" system, the two highest vote-getters will advance ‌to the November 3 general election regardless of party.

Becerra is a former state attorney ‌general and U.S. congressman from Los Angeles who was secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden. If he were to prevail in November, he would become the first Latino elected governor in a state where ⁠40% ​of the population is ⁠Hispanic or Latino. Hilton is a British-born former Fox News host who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Hilton, ⁠once an adviser to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, became a U.S. citizen in 2021.

He campaigned ​against the Democrats' record on homelessness, affordability and government regulations in a state where Republicans ⁠have been shut out of statewide office since former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's term ended in January 2011. Hilton had ⁠26.6% ​of the vote and Becerra 26% in the early tally. Steyer, who has spent about $200 million of his own money on the campaign, had 19.8%. Of the dozens of ⁠other candidates on the ballot, none cracked double digits.

The Democratic field appeared to coalesce around ⁠Becerra after former frontrunner Eric ⁠Swalwell left the race and resigned from the U.S. Congress in April following accusations of sexual assault from a former staffer. Swalwell denied ‌the allegations.