Xavier Becerra has secured his spot in California's November general election, moving past a fractured primary field that included a former Fox News personality and a billionaire Democrat willing to spend nearly $200 million of his own money to win.
With roughly two-thirds of votes counted, Becerra held 27% of the primary vote. Steve Hilton, a Republican and former Fox News host, trailed at 26%, while progressive activist Tom Steyer sat at 21%. The identity of Becerra's general election opponent remains uncertain, though either Hilton or Steyer is expected to claim the second spot in California's top-two primary system.
Becerra, who served as California's attorney general and spent 12 terms in Congress before joining President Biden's cabinet as Health and Human Services secretary, had spent much of the campaign touting his government experience. Yet he entered the race deeply underwater in polls, stuck in single digits for months before his numbers surged following Eric Swalwell's abrupt exit in April over sexual assault and misconduct allegations that Swalwell has denied.
His path to the primary winner's circle was complicated by a bruising stretch. Biden administration colleagues questioned whether his Cabinet tenure proved he lacked the management chops to run California's sprawling bureaucracy. A bungled interview with a local Los Angeles station drew criticism, and two of his former campaign consultants pleaded guilty to stealing funds from a dormant account tied to his campaign. These missteps arrived as the field remained deeply crowded, preventing any clear Democratic consolidation behind a single candidate.
Hilton, born in the United Kingdom and a onetime aide to British Prime Minister David Cameron, became a U.S. citizen in 2021. He obtained that crucial Trump endorsement in April, a move that essentially locked down Republican voters and quieted Democratic fears that two GOP candidates might advance from the primary. His campaign platform centers on tax cuts, slashing business regulations, and expanding homeownership.
Steyer has run hard from the left, championing single-payer health care, taxes on oil company profits, and a billionaire tax expected to land on the fall ballot. His willingness to spend nearly $200 million of his personal fortune has saturated California's airwaves and kept him competitive despite launching the race with no political office on his resume.
The race to replace term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom drew dozens of contenders. Former Representative Katie Porter, ex-Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, state schools chief Tony Thurmond, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan all competed for votes but failed to gain traction. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, had polled strongly before Trump's backing shifted momentum to Hilton.
California's mail-in voting system extended the counting timeline. All registered voters receive ballots by mail, and ballots postmarked on Election Day can be counted if they arrive within seven days, meaning final tallies arrive well after primary night.
Should Becerra face Steyer in November, the establishment Democrat would carry significant advantages. Facing two Republicans would be far tougher, but California's deep Democratic lean makes any Democratic nominee the clear favorite to win the governorship.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Becerra survived a brutal primary in a state that punishes weakness, but he limps into the general carrying real baggage that his November opponent will gleefully exploit."
Comments