California gubernatorial primary remains close Tuesday night, Republicans Steve Hilton and democrats Xavier Becerra Tom Steyer emerged as the leading contender in a scattered race.
Millions of votes still need to be counted across the state, meaning final results may not be known for days, The Guardian reported. California relies heavily on mail-in voting and a lengthy ballot verification process that often delays final results in hotly contested elections.
Race to replace term-limited governor Gavin Newsome It attracted 61 candidates, an unusually large number. Under California’s “jungle primary” system, all candidates appear on one ballot regardless of party affiliation, and only the two candidates with the highest votes advance to the general election.
Top contenders concede early when they are ahead
The early returns were strong enough that San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa acknowledged it shortly after the polls closed.
Steyer, the billionaire investor and climate activist who has poured nearly $200 million of his own money into the campaign, told supporters in San Francisco that he must be patient before drawing any conclusions.
“It may take some time to figure out where this is going. We’re going to wait until every vote is counted. We’re going to give democracy time to work,” Steyer said, according to The Guardian.
Becerra, a former California attorney general and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary, initially performed poorly in polls but gained momentum in the final weeks of the campaign.
Steve Hilton promotes anti-establishment message
Hilton, a former Fox News commentator and adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, has campaigned aggressively against what he calls “one-party rule” in California.
Backed by President Donald Trump, Hilton sees voters becoming increasingly frustrated with issues such as housing affordability, homelessness and public safety.
The race took another dramatic turn in April when Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct and assault, allegations he denied.
Also read: Who is Steve Hilton’s wife Rachel Whetstone? All about their families and children
Swalwell’s sudden exit reshaped the Democratic landscape and opened the door to Becerra’s later rise, The Guardian reported.
The Los Angeles mayoral race also attracts attention
In Los Angeles, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass advanced to the general election despite criticism over her handling of deadly wildfires in 2025.
Reality TV personality Spencer Pratt is vying for second place in the November vote over progressive City Council member Nithya Raman, turning the mayoral race into another unexpectedly competitive race.
