As vote counting stretches on across California, the nation’s most populous state, former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra has emerged as the presumptive candidate advancing to the November general election for governor, with the race for the second spot on the ballot still too close to call.
U.S. political journalism outlets confirm that Becerra, a veteran California politician who previously led the state as attorney general, is set to claim one of the two top spots in Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary election, a requirement to move forward to the general contest. Two candidates remain locked in a tight battle for the second slot on the November ballot: Steve Hilton, a British-American former conservative television host running as a Republican, and Tom Steyer, a billionaire Democratic climate activist.
With roughly 23 million registered voters casting ballots across the state, final results are not expected for weeks. The delay stems from the large volume of mail-in ballots, a staple of California’s election system that often pushes final result confirmation well past election night. A total of more than 60 candidates appeared on the primary ballot, a majority of whom identify as Democrats, all vying to replace incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom, who is barred from running again by state term limits.
The winner of the November general election will take charge of one of the largest subnational governments in the world, overseeing a multibillion-dollar annual budget, a workforce of thousands of state employees, and hundreds of separate state agencies that touch every aspect of California life.
A native son of California, Becerra has built a decades-long career spanning both state and federal office, holding seats in Congress before serving as state attorney general and later U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden. If he wins the general election in November, he will make history as California’s first Latino governor since 1875, a milestone for a state where Latino residents account for roughly 41% of the total population.
Becerra has centered his primary campaign on his long record of public service, highlighting his experience working across both state government in Sacramento and federal institutions in Washington, D.C. to deliver for California constituents. Key policy pledges from his campaign include a firm commitment to push back against any policy agenda put forward by former President and 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, as well as a promise to freeze rising insurance and utility rates for working and middle-class Californians.
Becerra’s path to front-runner status was cleared earlier this year when Democratic U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race in April. Swalwell, who also resigned his congressional seat amid public allegations of sexual assault and misconduct—allegations he has repeatedly and vehemently denied—had been widely seen as the clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for months leading up to his exit. His departure from the race left the Democratic field wide open, creating internal rifts within the party as no replacement frontrunner immediately emerged in the deep-blue state, which has been controlled by Democratic governors since 2011.
This cycle’s gubernatorial contest has already made history as the most expensive in California’s record, driven by massive independent advertising spending from Steyer and major backing from Silicon Valley donors for another Democratic contender, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. As county election officials continue to process the remaining uncounted ballots, political observers across the state are watching closely to see which candidate will claim the second spot and set the stage for a high-stakes general election this fall.