National

Hilton, Becerra take early lead in California governor primary race

By Daniel Trotta Reuters
Election workers extract mail-in ballots at the registrar of voters' office during the California primary election in San Diego, California, U.S., June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Election workers extract mail-in ballots at the registrar of voters' office during the California primary election in San Diego, California, U.S., June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Mike Blake Mike Blake Reuters

Republican television commentator Steve Hilton and Democratic former cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra took the early lead in the open primary race for California governor on Tuesday.

They each had about 26% of the vote with 42% of election night precincts partially reporting about an hour after polls closed, according to official results.

Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer trailed them by about 6 points.

Under California's "jungle primary" system, the two highest vote-getters will advance to the November 3 general election regardless of party.

Becerra is a former state attorney general and U.S. congressman from Los Angeles who was secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden. If he were to prevail in November, he would become the first Latino elected governor in a state where 40% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Hilton is a British-born former Fox News host who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Hilton, once an adviser to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, became a U.S. citizen in 2021.

He campaigned against the Democrats' record on homelessness, affordability and government regulations in a state where Republicans have been shut out of statewide office since former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's term ended in January 2011.

Hilton had 26.6% of the vote and Becerra 26% in the early tally. Steyer, who has spent about $200 million of his own money on the campaign, had 19.8%. Of the dozens of other candidates on the ballot, none cracked double digits.

The Democratic field appeared to coalesce around Becerra after former frontrunner Eric Swalwell left the race and resigned from the U.S. Congress in April following accusations of sexual assault from a former staffer. Swalwell denied the allegations.

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Michael Learmonth and Jamie Freed)

Election workers process ballots during the California primary election at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center in City of Industry, California, on Tuesday.
Election workers process ballots during the California primary election at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center in City of Industry, California, on Tuesday. Daniel Cole Reuters
California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra signs a banner during a campaign event at the Yosemite Hall of Sacramento State University in Sacramento, California, U.S., May 11, 2026. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra signs a banner during a campaign event at the Yosemite Hall of Sacramento State University in Sacramento, California, U.S., May 11, 2026. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Carlos Barria Reuters
Election workers extract mail-in ballots at the registrar of voters' office during the California primary election in San Diego, California, U.S., June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Election workers extract mail-in ballots at the registrar of voters' office during the California primary election in San Diego, California, U.S., June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Mike Blake Mike Blake Reuters
FILE PHOTO: Candidates Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer talk at the end of a debate in the race for governor of California, hosted by the San Francisco Examiner and CBS, in San Francisco, California, U.S., May 14, 2026. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Candidates Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer talk at the end of a debate in the race for governor of California, hosted by the San Francisco Examiner and CBS, in San Francisco, California, U.S., May 14, 2026. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Carlos Barria Reuters
California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks to the media at the Wilshire/La Brea Metro station on the day of the primary election in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Cole
California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks to the media at the Wilshire/La Brea Metro station on the day of the primary election in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Cole Daniel Cole Reuters
California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton speaks at a press conference outside the San Jose Diridon Station in San Jose, California, U.S., May 26, 2026. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo
California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton speaks at a press conference outside the San Jose Diridon Station in San Jose, California, U.S., May 26, 2026. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo Manuel Orbegozo Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 12:43 AM.

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