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Steve Hilton advances to November general election for California governor, set to face Xavier Becerra
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Politics/The Apex Times/Jun 9, 8:16 PM EDT

Steve Hilton advances to November general election for California governor, set to face Xavier Becerra

Republican Steve Hilton won a spot in California’s November general election after emerging from the state’s top-two primary, where Democrat Xavier Becerra also advanced.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Republican Steve Hilton advanced to the November general election for California governor after winning a top-two spot in the state’s primary, where votes are counted among all candidates regardless of party. NBC News and other outlets projected that Hilton would face former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, the Democrat who also advanced from the June contest.

The primary field included dozens of candidates, and California’s election calendar can stretch as mail ballots continue to be processed after Election Day. NBC News reported that with about 88% of the expected vote counted one week after polls closed, Becerra was leading with about 28% support, while Hilton had about 25%, and billionaire Tom Steyer was in third with about 23%. NBC News said Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco was the only other candidate in double digits at about 10%.

Under California’s top-two system, the two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the general election, even if they are from the same party. NBC News reported that counting can take weeks because California allows ballots postmarked by Election Day and received afterward to be included, contributing to delays in final tallies.

Hilton, a former Fox News host, consolidated support late in the race after being endorsed by President Donald Trump, NBC News reported. According to NBC News, Hilton was also born in the United Kingdom, worked as an aide to then-Prime Minister David Cameron, and became a U.S. citizen in 2021.

The general election matchup sets up a test between Becerra, a Democrat and former attorney general, and Hilton, the Republican nominee after a crowded primary. NBC News reported that the seat is open in the context of a state electorate that has not elected a Republican governor in two decades, and that registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by nearly 2 to 1.

In the final stretch of the primary vote count, NBC News reported that the prolonged tallying period has fueled repeated claims by President Trump and some Republicans that California’s election process is “rigged,” claims election officials and courts have not credited. California election law continues to govern what ballots may be counted and when, leaving the official certification timeline to the state’s election agencies.

With the top-two outcome projected, the November general election will determine who takes office as California governor. Barring changes from late-counted ballots, Hilton will campaign as the Republican nominee against Becerra as the Democratic nominee.

While several news outlets projected the same pairing, final official results depend on the state’s canvass and certification of the primary vote, after all eligible ballots are processed. California’s vote-counting schedule will therefore remain the key procedural step between the projected outcome and the certified record.

Why It Matters

  • The top-two primary outcome determines which two candidates will be on the November ballot, shaping the focus of statewide campaigning and debates on governance issues.
  • California’s mail-ballot rules and extended processing period affect the timing of public certainty, even after initial projections, and can influence how parties dispute or accept vote totals.
  • The governor’s race is likely to hinge on voter turnout and the general election alignment of California’s largely Democratic electorate versus a Republican nominee emerging from a crowded primary.
  • The Hilton-Becerra matchup centers attention on state-level administration and policy priorities as both candidates move from primary messaging to general election contrast.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Steve Hilton advanced to the November general election for California governor after the June top-two primary.
  • Hilton is set to face Democrat Xavier Becerra in the general election, according to multiple projections including NBC News.
  • NBC News reported that with about 88% of expected votes counted one week after polls closed, Becerra led at about 28% and Hilton followed at about 25%.
  • NBC News reported Tom Steyer was third at about 23% and Chad Bianco was in double digits at about 10% in that vote snapshot.
  • California’s primary vote totals can take weeks to finalize because of extended mail ballot processing and rules allowing certain postmarked ballots received after Election Day to be counted.