The dust is beginning to settle in California’s high-stakes primary election, bringing a massive sigh of relief to the state’s Democratic Party leadership. Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has officially secured his spot on the ballot for the November general election.
Here is a complete breakdown of the latest results, the dramatic primary dynamics, and what lies ahead for the Golden State:
Becerra Clinches the Democratic Slot
The Projection: CNN’s Decision Desk officially projected that Becerra will advance to the general election after establishing a commanding lead over the crowded field.
Party Relief: Under California’s top-two primary system, state Democrats were deeply anxious that a highly fragmented progressive vote could accidentally allow two Republican candidates to sweep the top spots and shut them out of November. Becerra’s decisive win completely eliminates that nightmare scenario.
The Candidate’s Response: Following the projection, Becerra expressed his gratitude, stating he is deeply humbled, honored, and fully focused on winning the upcoming general election.
The Fight for Second Place: Hilton vs. SteyerThe Unresolved Battle: While Becerra has locked down first place, the race for the second general election slot remains entirely up in the air as election officials continue to tabulate results.
The Contenders: Former Fox News anchor Steve Hilton, who carries the high-profile endorsement of President Donald Trump, remains in a tight contention with billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer.
The Uphill Climb: Becerra’s lead over both candidates has continued to widen. If Hilton manages to secure the second spot, he faces an incredibly steep uphill battle in November, given that registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in California by a staggering 4.6 million voters. Notably, a Republican hasn’t occupied the California governor’s mansion since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reelection victory two decades ago.
A Dramatic and Fragmented Primary Campaign
The road to the primary was anything but smooth for California Democrats, marked by major strategic decisions, dropouts, and sudden scandals:
High-Profile Absences: Heavyweight incumbents like U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and former Vice President Kamala Harris opted out of the race entirely, leaving the field wide open without a dominant frontrunner for most of the cycle.
Campaign Collapses: Early favorite Katie Porter saw her momentum evaporate after controversial videos surfaced. Later, Representative Eric Swalwell entered the race in late 2025, but abruptly exited the campaign and resigned from Congress altogether following allegations of sexual misconduct, which he firmly denied.
Becerra’s Record under Scrutiny: Leveraging his extensive background as a former Congressman and California Attorney General, Becerra centered his platform around government experience and crisis leadership. While critics targeted his federal handling of the mpox outbreak and the child migrant crisis—as well as questions regarding a past campaign fraud scandal involving his former chief of staff (though Becerra faced no personal accusations of wrongdoing)—heavyweights like former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain have fiercely defended his record and diligence.
Bonus Update: The L.A. Mayoral Landscape
The election drama extends directly down the ballot into the Los Angeles mayoral race.
While incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has safely secured her spot on the November ballot, the high-profile showdown for the second runoff position between reality TV star Spencer Pratt and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman remains completely unresolved as additional ballots are processed.
