One day after California’s 2026 gubernatorial primary election wrapped up, the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom remains too close to call, with former British Conservative advisor and Fox News host Steve Hilton and ex-Biden Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra holding the top two spots in a historic field of more than 60 candidates.
Under California’s unique jungle primary system, the top two vote-getters advance to the November general election regardless of partisan affiliation. However, the state’s heavy reliance on postal ballots means a final result will not be confirmed for several more days, as election workers continue processing the large volume of ballots cast on Tuesday.
Becerra, a longtime California Democrat who previously served in Congress and as California’s Attorney General before joining President Joe Biden’s cabinet, has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of former President (and current President-elect) Donald Trump, matching the state’s deep liberal base. His key policy pledges include a freeze on health insurance and utility rates to address soaring cost-of-living pressures for state residents. Trailing the leading two candidates is billionaire Democratic climate activist Tom Steyer, who has poured unprecedented personal funds into his campaign as vote counting continues.
Hilton, a British-American conservative who served as a senior strategic advisor to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron during the Brexit period before moving to California and launching a media career on Fox News, secured the endorsement of Donald Trump for the governor’s race. He has campaigned on a platform of upending the state’s long-dominant Democratic political establishment, proposing broad tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks to make the state more affordable for working and middle-class households. On key contentious issues, Hilton has vowed to address the state’s intractable homelessness crisis, roll back California’s longstanding sanctuary immigration policies, and increase cooperation with the federal government on immigration enforcement. If he advances to the general election, analysts expect Hilton will face an steep uphill fight: Democratic registered voters outnumber Republicans by a roughly 2-to-1 margin in California, and the state has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011.
What was widely expected to be a straightforward Democratic hold of the governor’s office devolved into chaotic intraparty competition after Newsom’s term-limit-induced exit opened up the seat. With no clear consensus Democratic frontrunner to clear the field, more than a dozen Democratic candidates jumped into the race, splitting the party’s voter base. High-profile Democratic contenders included former congresswoman Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan (who earned significant financial backing from Silicon Valley), and billionaire Steyer, whose massive ad spending pushed the race to become the most expensive gubernatorial contest in California history. The race was further upended in April when leading Democratic candidate Congressman Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race and resigned his congressional seat following unproven sexual assault allegations that he has repeatedly denied.
The split in Democratic support sparked widespread anxiety among state party leadership, who warned that a fractured vote could result in two Republican candidates advancing to the general election in the deep-blue state. The unusually large candidate field even included a longshot hopeful who legally changed his name to Barack Obama Shaw.
Alongside the high-stakes gubernatorial primary, California voters also participated in a closely watched Los Angeles mayoral primary. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass secured enough support to guarantee her spot in the November general election, but the second place spot remains undecided as counting continues. The contenders fighting to advance against Bass are Democratic City Councilmember Nithya Raman and Republican reality TV star Spencer Pratt.
As the most populous state in the United States and the world’s fifth-largest national economy, California’s gubernatorial race carries national political significance. The state has been at the center of America’s most divisive policy battles in recent years, from immigration regulation and climate action to the ongoing homelessness and housing affordability crises. Currently, Californians are also grappling with record-high gasoline prices, driven in part by ongoing tensions from the U.S.-Iran conflict and the state’s status as having the highest fuel taxes in the country. Outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited from running for re-election, is widely rumored to be planning a potential 2028 presidential campaign.