Sacramento, California: Xavier Becerra Wins Governor Race Over Steve Hilton, First Latino Governor Since 1875

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Orbit Post) Xavier Becerra will be California's next governor. The Associated Press called the race for the Democrat at 8 p.m. Pacific time on Tuesday, the moment polls closed, and NBC News and CNN called it for him minutes later. Becerra defeated Republican Steve Hilton to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was barred from seeking a third term.

In the AP count late Tuesday night, Becerra had 3,965,189 votes to 2,139,063 for Hilton, about 65 percent to 35 percent, with 11,085 of 23,860 precincts reporting. The call at poll closing reflected a race that was never expected to be close. A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times late in the campaign put Becerra at 61 percent among likely voters to 34 percent for Hilton.

Becerra, 68, will be California's first Latino governor since 1875. Born in Sacramento to a mother from Mexico and a father who was born in California and raised in Mexico, he built his campaign on more than 35 years in public office: state assemblyman, congressman, California attorney general from 2017 to 2021, and secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden.

"I'm running to be what the haters fear most: a proud son of immigrants with a law degree and a union card governing America's most diverse and successful state," Becerra said at a recent rally, in the AP account.

A primary that scrambled the field

Becerra and Hilton advanced from the state's June 2 all-party primary, finishing as the top two in a field of 61 candidates. Becerra did not start as a favorite. He admitted his campaign was "an afterthought, maybe even a punchline" in its first months. The field changed when former Rep. Eric Swalwell, an early front-runner, dropped out and resigned from Congress after allegations that he sexually assaulted several women, which he has denied. Party support consolidated behind Becerra, who finished ahead of billionaire Tom Steyer and other Democrats in the primary.

Hilton, 57, is a former Fox News host and a former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron. He has never held elected office. President Donald Trump endorsed him. Hilton argued that one-party rule was to blame for California's high cost of living and homelessness, and he promised splashy changes, including abolishing the DMV and cutting gas prices to $3 a gallon.

"This is what you get with one-party rule," Hilton said at a news conference before Election Day.

What the win sets up

Becerra tied Hilton to Trump throughout the race and promised to defend California against the administration on immigration, voting rights and more, which sets up two more years of fights between Sacramento and the White House. His win extends a 16-year Democratic winning streak in statewide California elections.

He is scheduled to take office on Jan. 4, 2027. Results remain unofficial: county officials must certify their results by Dec. 3 and send them to the secretary of state by Dec. 4.