Democrat Xavier Becerra wins California governor race, defeating Republican Steve Hilton
The gist
Democrat Xavier Becerra defeated Republican Steve Hilton to become California's first directly elected Latino governor.
His win keeps California and the White House as adversaries on immigration and healthcare.
How it unfolded
- Apr 2, 2025Becerra, a former California attorney general and HHS secretary, announced his campaign for California governor with a short video promising to "rebuild the California Dream."
- Jun 2, 2026California held its all-party primary; Becerra narrowly defeated businessman Tom Steyer.
- Jun 5, 2026The Associated Press called the top spot in the primary for Becerra, who had nearly 27% of the vote with about two-thirds counted, advancing him to face Republican Steve Hilton in November.