California Governor Primary Too Close To Call As Xavier Becerra And Steve Hilton Lead

California’s all-party primary for governor was too close to call as vote counting continued Wednesday, with Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican business executive Steve Hilton leading and Democrat Tom Steyer in third place.

The top two candidates in the nonpartisan “jungle primary” advance to the general election regardless of party, even as the field included 60 names for governor.

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NPR reported that incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom is at his two-term limit, while NBC News said the top two candidates advance to the general election in the 2026 midterm election.

NBC News also said the race separated Hilton, Becerra, and Tom Steyer from a larger pack that included Democrats like former Rep. Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Republicans like Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

At his watch party in Los Angeles, Becerra framed his comeback in Hollywood as an underdog story, saying, "Here in Hollywood's hometown, we love a good underdog success story," while NPR described his rise after Eric Swalwell’s campaign imploded.

Hilton, a former Fox News commentator endorsed by President Trump in April, told supporters in Huntington Beach, "Change is coming to California and it's long overdue," as KTLA reported Hilton had opened a three-point lead over Becerra with 54% of votes counted.

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NPR said Steyer spent more than $213 million of his own money to boost his candidacy, and it quoted Steyer telling supporters, "Together, we've scared the hell out of the corporate interests used to getting their way."

CalMatters added that Steyer spent nearly a quarter of a billion dollars on his gubernatorial bid and quoted Garry South saying, "They wear out their welcome."

With the governor primary unsettled, the next step is the general election in November, where the two top finishers from the June primary will face off after the top-two rule described by NPR.

“California Democrats persuaded voters to let them redraw the state's congressional map so the party could potentially gain five seats in the U”

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NBC News said the governor primary is part of a wider set of elected state offices on the ballot, including California treasurer, controller, secretary of state, insurance commissioner, and lieutenant governor.

NPR said the winner will lead the country’s most populous state, where leaders often take on national political prominence, while it also noted that Newsom could be a Democratic contender for president.

USA Today reported early vote shares with Hilton leading at about 27% and Becerra at roughly 26% with about half the votes counted by 2 a.m. ET on June 3, leaving the second spot in the runoff still in play as counting continued.