Trump-Backed Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra Advance in California Governor's Primary

Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra led California's governor primary and were on track to advance to the November general election, according to returns from the June 2 contest, setting up a closely watched race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom.

California's all-party primary sends the top two finishers to the general election regardless of party. As ballots were tallied, Hilton, a Republican businessman and former Fox News host endorsed by President Donald Trump, held a narrow lead with about 28 percent of the vote, just ahead of Becerra, the former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and California attorney general, at roughly 26 percent. Billionaire activist Tom Steyer trailed in third with about 20 percent, followed by Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at around 11 percent.

Hilton anchored his campaign on affordability, hammering the cost of housing, gas and groceries in a state where the high cost of living has become a potent political issue cutting across party lines. His rise gives Republicans a credible standard-bearer in deep-blue California for the first time in years, even as the GOP faces steep odds in a statewide general election in a state Trump lost by a wide margin.

Becerra, who served in President Joe Biden's cabinet and previously spent more than two decades in Congress, entered the race as a known quantity with deep ties to the state's Democratic establishment. His advance keeps a seasoned party figure in contention to hold the governorship for Democrats, who have controlled it since 2011. He has pitched himself as a steady, experienced hand capable of defending California's progressive priorities against Washington.

The crowded field reflected the stakes of an open-seat race to lead the nation's most populous state and fifth-largest economy. Steyer poured personal fortune into his bid but could not break into the top two, while Bianco sought to rally the state's conservative base around immigration and public safety. Several other candidates from both parties split the remaining vote.

Officials cautioned that it could be days or even weeks before the count is complete, as California continues to process its large volume of mail-in ballots. Margins in the lower tiers of the field remained fluid, but the order at the top appeared settled as Hilton and Becerra pulled away from the rest of the pack.

The November showdown will test whether an affordability-focused Republican backed by Trump can broaden his appeal in a state the president lost decisively, or whether Becerra can consolidate the Democratic majority that has dominated California politics. The race is expected to draw enormous national attention and spending as both parties treat the contest to lead California as a marquee battleground and a potential bellwether for the country's mood.