Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has advanced to the general election in California’s race for governor, giving Democrats a major contender in the contest to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The Associated Press projected Friday night that Becerra, a Democrat and former California attorney general, had secured one of the two available spots in the November election. Under California’s top-two primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party, and the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election.
At the time of the projection, the second slot had not yet been officially called by the AP. Republican Steve Hilton was in second place in reported vote totals, while Democrat Tom Steyer remained in third. Because results had not been certified and ballots were still being counted, the final November matchup was not fully settled.
Becerra’s advancement marks a major moment in one of the country’s most closely watched governor’s races. California, the nation’s most populous state and one of the Democratic Party’s strongest political bases, will choose a new governor in November because Newsom is barred by term limits from seeking another term.
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Becerra celebrated the result as a victory for working Californians and framed his campaign as one focused on standing up for voters across the state. In a statement after the race call, he said Californians had spoken “loudly and proudly” and said his campaign would continue into the fall.
Becerra also posted a message on X after the race was called, writing that California needed “our voices and our values” and telling voters, “Este es tu estado,” meaning “This is your state.”
His campaign also highlighted the historic nature of the result, saying Becerra is the first Latino candidate to advance from a California gubernatorial primary to a general election. If elected in November, he would become California’s first Latino governor since Romualdo Pacheco, who briefly served as governor in 1875.
Becerra enters the general election campaign with a long record in Democratic politics and government. He previously served in Congress, later became California’s attorney general, and then served as secretary of Health and Human Services under former President Joe Biden. His campaign is expected to emphasize experience, health care, consumer protection, and Democratic values as the race moves toward November.
The race, however, remains complicated by California’s unusual primary system and the still-uncertain second-place outcome. Hilton, a Republican and former Fox News host, appeared to be in position to advance based on reported vote totals, but outlets noted that the AP had not yet officially projected him as the second general election candidate. Steyer, a billionaire Democrat and former presidential candidate, was also still in the race as counting continued.
That uncertainty matters because the shape of the November race could change dramatically depending on who finishes second. A Becerra-Hilton matchup would give California voters a traditional Democrat-versus-Republican general election. A Becerra-Steyer matchup, by contrast, would create an all-Democratic contest in a state where the top-two system sometimes produces same-party general elections.
California’s vote-counting process can take days or even weeks because of the state’s heavy use of mail ballots and its large electorate. Results are not final until they are certified, meaning campaigns and voters may need to wait for the official conclusion before the full general election field is confirmed.
Still, Becerra’s projected advancement gives his campaign a clear path into the next phase. For Democrats, the result offers a familiar and experienced statewide figure at the center of the race. For Republicans, Hilton’s strong showing, if it holds, would give the party a chance to compete in a high-profile statewide election, even in a state where Democrats hold a major registration advantage.
The November contest will likely focus on affordability, housing, crime, homelessness, immigration, health care, taxes, and the future direction of California after Newsom. Becerra will likely argue that his government experience makes him prepared to lead the state. His opponents are expected to challenge Democratic leadership in Sacramento and argue that California needs a major change in direction.
The race is also likely to attract national attention. California remains central to Democratic politics, but voters in the state have expressed frustration over cost of living, public safety, and housing pressures. Those issues could make the governor’s race more competitive and more unpredictable than California’s partisan lean might suggest.
For now, Becerra has cleared the first major hurdle. The remaining question is who will stand across from him on the November ballot.
Why It Matters
California’s governor controls one of the largest economies in the world and leads the most populous state in the United States. The race to replace Gavin Newsom will shape policy on housing, health care, energy, crime, immigration, and taxes for nearly 40 million residents.
Becerra’s advancement is also historically significant because his campaign says he is the first Latino candidate to move from a California gubernatorial primary to the general election. If he wins in November, he would become the state’s first Latino governor since the 19th century.
What Comes Next
Vote counting will continue until the results are finalized and certified. The key question is whether Steve Hilton holds second place or whether Tom Steyer can close the gap.
Once the second candidate is officially confirmed, the general election campaign will begin in full. Expect both sides to focus heavily on California’s affordability crisis, homelessness, public safety, and the state’s political direction after Newsom.
After advancing to the general election, Xavier Becerra thanked voters and framed the result as a message about California’s values.
More than ever, California needs our voices and our values. To the people and the voters of California, this is your state.
Este es tu estado.
We will not be bought. We will not be bullied. And we are never backing down. pic.twitter.com/JnqmdKSobe
— Xavier Becerra (@XavierBecerra) June 6, 2026
