California Gubernatorial Primary Too Close to Call Early Wednesday, With Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra Leading

California’s gubernatorial primary remained unresolved early on June 3, 2026, with Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer and Republican Steve Hilton positioned to advance under the state’s top-two system. Hilton and Becerra led the vote count, while Steyer ran slightly further back, Fortune reported. The Associated Press had not called the race for any candidate.

About 60 candidates appeared on the ballot for the state’s roughly 23 million voters. The top two finishers will face each other in November.

Becerra, who served in Congress, as California attorney general, and as federal health secretary, pitched himself as the steady hand against intrusions from the Trump administration. He told supporters, “The underdog stayed in the fight,” and noted that he filed more than 120 legal actions as attorney general during Trump’s first term.

Becerra, the son of two Mexican immigrants, would be the first Latino governor in more than a century if elected.

Steyer, a former hedge fund manager turned climate activist, pledged to raise taxes on corporations and the ultrawealthy, eliminate private health insurance in favor of a government-run system, break up major utilities, and take on fossil fuel companies.

” Pacific Gas & Electric spent money to defeat him. Steyer spent more than $215 million of his own money on the primary, including more than $195 million on broadcast TV, cable, and radio ads, the most expensive primary campaign in the country.

Some rivals accused him of trying to buy the election. Voters cited the state’s high cost of living. The typical California home costs about $775,000, more than double the national average, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.

U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Republican Rosamaria Cerezo, a 57-year-old substitute teacher, voted for Hilton, saying both she and her husband hold two jobs each to make ends meet. Democrat Tamara Alton, a 65-year-old marriage and family therapist, voted for Becerra because of his experience.

California has roughly 39 million residents.