Sacramento, California – June 8, 2026
Xavier Becerra Advances to November General Election for California Governor
Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has secured a position in California’s November gubernatorial election. CNN’s Decision Desk projected on Friday that Becerra would advance after establishing a commanding lead in the primary.
The outcome ensures that Democrats will have a candidate on the general election ballot under the state’s top-two primary system. Becerra released a statement following the projection.
“I’m so humbled and honored to be moving on to the general election to become your next governor. Let’s go win this thing.”
California Democrats viewed the result as a significant relief. Party leaders had expressed concern that a divided field could allow two Republican candidates to advance to the November ballot.
Second-Place Contest Remains Open
The race for the second spot on the November ballot is still unresolved. Republican Steve Hilton, the former Fox News host endorsed by President Donald Trump, remains in contention alongside Democratic activist and billionaire Tom Steyer. Election officials have not yet determined which candidate will advance.
Becerra continued to widen his lead over both Hilton and Steyer in the days following the primary. If Hilton ultimately secures the second position, he would enter the general election in a state where Democrats hold a substantial voter registration advantage of roughly 4.6 million more registered Democrats than Republicans.
The last Republican to serve as California governor was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who won reelection twenty years ago.
Democratic Primary Dynamics
The Democratic primary exposed notable challenges for the party. Several prominent potential candidates, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, chose not to run. Without a dominant frontrunner, the field remained fragmented for much of the campaign period.
Former Representative Katie Porter gained early momentum before her campaign ended amid the release of controversial videos. Attention later turned to then-Representative Eric Swalwell, who entered the race in late 2025. His campaign concluded after reports of alleged sexual misconduct emerged. Swalwell denied the allegations but withdrew from the race and resigned from Congress.
Becerra, who previously served as California attorney general and as a member of Congress, positioned his campaign around government experience and leadership during crises. Critics focused on aspects of his record, including the federal response to the child migrant crisis and the mpox outbreak. He also faced questions after a former chief of staff pleaded guilty to fraud involving campaign funds, although Becerra was not accused of personal wrongdoing.
Supporters, including former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, stated that Becerra inherited challenging circumstances and worked diligently to address them.
Additional Races and Context
In the Los Angeles mayoral contest, Mayor Karen Bass has already advanced to the November ballot. The battle for second place between reality television personality Spencer Pratt and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman continues as additional ballots are processed.
For Democrats across California, Becerra’s advancement resolved one major source of uncertainty. Regardless of the final outcome for second place, Becerra will appear on the November ballot as the Democratic nominee for governor.
