UMVA has learned that Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra are leading in the unofficial early returns for the California gubernatorial election, positioning them to advance to the November general election.
The two candidates, with vastly different backgrounds, are vying to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom as the leader of the nation's most populous state and one of the world's largest economies. Hilton, a one-time British political strategist turned American conservative commentator, is backed by President Donald Trump, while Becerra, a former California attorney general and Cabinet secretary, has garnered significant support from his party.
"Change is coming to California, and it's long overdue," Hilton declared to his supporters at a primary night watch party in Orange County. He attributed his campaign's success to speaking "honest, simple truths" to voters, promising to cut people's costs in a state where everything has become too expensive.
Becerra, who would make history as California's first Latino governor if elected, told his supporters that his campaign's success is a testament to the power of the everyday people in the state. "More than a Hollywood ending. More than a milestone. That's the everyday miracle of living in a state that makes the improbable seem inevitable," he said.
The California gubernatorial election is unique, with all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appearing on the same ballot in what's known as a jungle primary. The top two finishers then advance to the general election, making the competition fierce among the 61 candidates on the ballot.
Among the notable candidates who did not advance to the next round is Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge fund founder turned environmental activist who spent over $200 million of his own money on his bid for governor. Other prominent candidates, including Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, also fell short.
Hilton is now hoping to become the first California Republican to win a gubernatorial election since Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2006 re-election. The stage is set for a thrilling general election contest between Hilton and Becerra, with the winner poised to shape the future of the Golden State.
