Becerra and Hilton move on in California gubernatorial race

In the race to become California’s next governor, Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton received the most votes during last Tuesday’s primary election and are both moving on to the November general election.

At 5 p.m. on June 5, the Associated Press called Becerra as the first candidate to move onto the November runoff. For days, Becerra had been trailing closely behind Hilton until he ultimately passed the Republican with 26.7% of the votes counted at the time (66%).

At 4:45 p.m. on June 9, exactly one week after the election, AP called the race with Hilton as the second finisher. Hilton received 24.9% of the vote with roughly 88% of votes counted.

Becerra, California’s former attorney general and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, could stand to be California’s first Latino governor since 1875.

Hilton, a former Fox News host, immigrated to California from the United Kingdom in 2012. The Republican was endorsed by President Donald Trump and has embraced many of the president’s policies, while insisting his relationship with the administration will be of benefit to California. 

Hilton was the frontrunner in most polls until Becerra ultimately broke through following the former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell’s departure from the race after sexual assault allegations were made against him.

The two candidates will now campaign directly against each other until November, when voters choose their next governor.

Hilton's second place finish knocks Democrat Tom Steyer out of the running for governor. Steyer was solidly in third place throughout the entirety of the ballot counting process and as of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, had received roughly 22.6% of the vote. 

Throughout his bid for governor, Steyer’s campaign became the most expensive gubernatorial campaign in California’s history. The billionaire climate activist poured over $200 million of his own money into the race, according to data from the California Secretary of State.