California Governor's Primary
California Governor's Primary: Vote Count Continues as Top Contenders Vie for General Election Spots
California's 2026 gubernatorial primary remains too close to call as vote-counting continues. Democrat Xavier Becerra leads with roughly 27% of early returns, followed closely by Republican Steve Hilton at 26%, according to Associated Press. Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer sits in third at 20%, refusing to concede as mail-in ballots continue to arrive.
Under California's top-two primary system, only the top two finishers — regardless of party — advance to the November general election. That means one Democrat could be locked out entirely. A record 23.1 million Californians were registered to vote, per California Secretary of State, and just 57.4% of votes had been counted as of June 3.
Becerra and Hilton Fight for the Top Two Spots
Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, entered election night as the frontrunner. He has pledged to declare a "state of emergency" over California's cost-of-living crisis. His campaign slogan centers on fighting for "the California Dream" for all residents, per CalMatters.
Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, trails Becerra by just one point in early returns. He secured a key endorsement from Donald Trump, which helped him consolidate the Republican base, according to PPIC. Hilton argues: "This state needs change, and it can't be provided by a Democrat." If he holds second place, it would mark the first time a Republican has been a serious contender for governor in over a decade.
Steyer's $250 Million Bet May Not Pay Off
Tom Steyer has spent nearly $250 million of his own money on this race — the most ever in California history, according to CalMatters. Opponents fought back hard. A group called "California Is Not For Sale" spent $32 million specifically to block him. Outside spending overall hit $79.6 million total, doubling the 2018 record.
Strategist Garry South argues the self-funding backfired, saying rich self-financing candidates "wear out their welcome" when spending becomes a liability. Steyer is not giving up yet. "We're going to wait until every ballot is counted," he said. "We're going to give democracy time to work."
Mail-In Ballots From LA and SF Could Flip Second Place
A large number of mail-in ballots from Los Angeles and San Francisco still need to be counted, The Guardian reports. Those cities lean heavily Democratic. That pattern historically favors Democratic candidates over Republicans. The final result could shift Steyer past Hilton — or cement Hilton's lead.
Katie Porter, the former U.S. Representative, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan both conceded on election night after early data showed them out of contention, per KPBS. Porter finished around 12%. She told supporters: "Coming up short is hard, but democracy is worth doing hard things for. Stay in the fight."
What Comes Next for California's Open Governor's Race
Incumbent Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot run again, making this the state's most open race in years, per Ballotpedia. County officials have until July 2, 2026 to certify the final results. The Associated Press has not yet called the second-place spot for any candidate.
UC Berkeley analyst Dan Schnur says the results will reveal whether Democrats want a traditional insider like Becerra or a progressive disruptor like Steyer, according to Sacramento Bee. The winner in November will face a massive affordability crisis, soaring housing costs, and a state budget under pressure.
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