California voters advance Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra to governor runoff

Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra led in unofficial early returns Wednesday morning in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. Hilton, a former Fox News Channel host backed by President Donald Trump, and Becerra, a former California attorney general and Cabinet secretary in former President Biden's administration, appeared positioned to advance to the November general election.

Votes remained uncounted and results were not yet certified as additional mail and provisional ballots continued to be tallied.

Primary field and rules California's jungle primary placed all 61 candidates on a single ballot regardless of party. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election. " In a subsequent Fox News Digital interview he said speaking "honest, simple truths" helped his campaign and pledged to cut costs for residents.

Becerra told his supporters that the campaign's success represented "more than a Hollywood ending. More than a milestone. That's the everyday miracle of living in a state that makes the improbable seem inevitable.

context Hilton is seeking to become the first Republican elected governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2006 re-election. During his speech he displayed the American and California flag lining of his blazer, noting that Schwarzenegger had encouraged him to wear it.

The race lacked a clear frontrunner for more than a quarter-century after former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla declined to run. It was overshadowed for much of last year by the Los Angeles-area wildfires and federal immigration enforcement actions.

Earlier this year one leading Democratic candidate dropped out and resigned from Congress after facing multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct that he continues to deny. That departure opened space for additional candidates to gain traction.

Outside spending exceeded $80 million, with one candidate alone spending more than $200 million of personal funds on advertising. A Republican county sheriff who launched his campaign last April had been among the top contenders until President Trump's endorsement of Hilton in early April shifted momentum.