Steve Hilton advances to California governor race against Xavier Becerra

Former Fox News host and Republican Steve Hilton secured the second‑place finish in California’s top‑two primary, earning a spot in the November 3 general election for governor. Hilton received about 24.9‑25 % of the vote, while Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former U.S. health secretary and California attorney general, led with roughly 27.9 %.

Hilton, a dual U.S.–UK citizen endorsed by former President Donald Trump, will challenge Becerra, who seeks to succeed term‑limited Governor Gavin Newsom. The race marks a rare statewide opportunity for Republicans in the heavily Democratic state and is set to focus on issues such as housing costs, homelessness, public safety and energy prices. Final certification of the primary results is due by early July, with the general election deciding California’s next governor.