Steve Hilton Advances to November Showdown Against Xavier Becerra in California Governor’s Race
In a closely watched outcome from California’s June 2, 2026, nonpartisan primary, Republican Steve Hilton has secured the second spot to advance to the general election for governor, joining leading Democrat Xavier Becerra.
Election data account VoteHub projected Hilton’s advancement on June 9 as final ballots were tallied, confirming the matchup for November 3.
Under California’s top-two primary system, all candidates appear on a single ballot regardless of party, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. With roughly 88% of votes counted, results show:
Xavier Becerra (D): ~27.7–27.9% (around 2.17–2.33 million votes) – Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, state Attorney General, and longtime Democratic leader.
Steve Hilton (R): ~24.9–25.1% (around 1.98–2.08 million votes) – Former Fox News host and political commentator.
