Tom Steyer trails in California governor primary as vote count tightens

Billionaire progressive Tom Steyer is falling behind in the California gubernatorial primary. With about 54% of ballots counted, he holds roughly 20% of the vote, trailing former Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who sits at 25%, by an estimated 288,000 votes. Republican Steve Hilton leads with around 28%.

Steyer’s campaign manager Heather Hargreaves told supporters that “there is still a lot to see” and urged voters to check the state’s ballot‑tracker. The campaign has spent about $216 million of Steyer’s own money. Analysts note that the gap may only be closed by late‑mail ballots, which could shift the final tally, but Steyer has not conceded.

The race remains open as county officials continue to process remaining ballots, with final results expected in the coming days.