Becerra and Trump-Backed Hilton Advance in California Governor's Race; Wiener Surges Toward Pelosi's Seat

California's June 2 primary set up a marquee general-election showdown for governor, with former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and Trump-backed Republican Steve Hilton advancing to November under the state's top-two system, while state Sen. Scott Wiener moved a step closer to claiming Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat.

In the governor's race, Becerra led with about 26.7% of the vote to Hilton's 26.4%, with billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer in third at roughly 21%. Under California's nonpartisan primary, all candidates appear on a single ballot and the top two finishers advance regardless of party — meaning the deep-blue state will field a competitive Democrat-versus-Republican contest for the governorship this fall.

Hilton, a former Fox News commentator endorsed by President Donald Trump, anchored his campaign on affordability, seeking to channel voter frustration over the cost of living in one of the nation's most expensive states. Becerra, who served as attorney general of California before leading the Department of Health and Human Services, enters the general election as the favorite in a state where Democrats hold a commanding registration advantage, but Hilton's advance guarantees Republicans a high-profile platform.

Steyer, who poured a reported $215 million of his own fortune into the race, fell short despite the enormous personal investment — a stark reminder that money alone cannot guarantee a spot on the November ballot in California's crowded field. His third-place finish reshuffles the Democratic field and consolidates Becerra's standing as the party's standard-bearer.

In San Francisco, Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener advanced in the race for California's 11th Congressional District, the seat long held by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, who was endorsed by Pelosi, finished second and will also advance, setting up an intra-party battle between two Democrats for one of the most storied seats in the House.

The primary, held alongside contests in five other states, served as an early test of the political mood heading into the 2026 midterms. The results underscored both the durability of Democratic dominance in California's statewide and urban races and the Republican Party's determination to compete on pocketbook issues. With the field now narrowed, the governor's race in particular promises to be one of the most closely watched contests of the cycle, as Becerra and Hilton turn toward a five-month sprint to November.

The down-ballot results carried their own intrigue. Beyond the governor's race and the fight for Pelosi's seat, voters weighed in on a Los Angeles mayoral contest and a slate of congressional districts that could help determine control of the U.S. House in November. Strategists in both parties cautioned against reading too much into primary turnout, which tends to skew toward the most engaged voters, but agreed that California's results offered an early snapshot of an electorate weighing affordability, housing and the direction of the country heading into the fall campaign.