Becerra Edges Steve Hilton to Finish First in California Governor Primary, Both Advance to November

Xavier Becerra finished first in California's primary election for governor and will advance to the November general election. 7 percent of the vote, according to results reported Friday by The Associated Press. 4 percent.

It remained unclear whether Becerra would face Hilton or another Democrat in the general election, as an estimated 3 million ballots were still to be counted. California's top-two primary system advances the two candidates who receive the most votes regardless of party. The race is to succeed term-limited Gov.

Gavin Newsom. Becerra, who was born in Sacramento to a Mexican immigrant family, previously served in the California state legislature, in Congress from 1993 to 2017, and as state attorney general before joining the Biden administration in 2021 as HHS secretary. Early polling showed Becerra with support around 3 percent in late March.

He did not qualify for a planned March debate at USC that was canceled after criticism that the six invited candidates, selected by a mathematical viability formula, included no candidates of color. In April, one leading Democratic candidate withdrew from the race following sexual misconduct and assault allegations. The candidate denied the allegations.

Becerra subsequently rose in the polls. A poll of likely voters conducted just before the primary by professors at three California universities found that 37 percent of Latino voters said they would support Becerra. The two other candidates with the highest support among Latino voters in that poll were the Republicans.

On the campaign trail, Becerra has frequently shared anecdotes about being the son of Mexican immigrants. After the Associated Press projected that he would advance, Becerra posted a video on X saying, "California, we're just getting started. Let's hit the ground running.

In a separate contest, the incumbent advanced from the Los Angeles mayoral primary to that city's general election.