In the latest political development, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, is projected to move forward to the November election in the California governor’s race, according to CBS News. No second candidate has been projected to advance as of yet, which has made the race increasingly intriguing.
The fiercely contested race to replace the term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom had been a nail-biter since its inception. Republican candidate Steve Hilton had been leading the race throughout the ballot counting process. However, the latest ballot drops on Friday turned the tables in favor of Becerra, who managed to take over the top spot in the race.
The race now has an intensified focus on the battle for the second spot in the general election. Steve Hilton and Democratic billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer are locked in a tightly contested race. Steyer has been steadily closing the gap with the former Fox News host, Hilton, making the race even more thrilling.
California elections operate under a top-two primary system. This means that the two candidates with the most votes will face off in the general election scheduled for November. This unique system places significant emphasis on each candidate’s performance in the primaries, making every vote count.
Xavier Becerra, who previously served as the California attorney general, took to social media to acknowledge his advancement in the race. He posted a heartfelt message thanking Californians for their support. His message read, “California has spoken. Thank you for standing with us. To every volunteer who made a call, sent a text, knocked on a door, or showed up when it mattered most — this victory belongs to you,” Becerra wrote on Facebook. He added, “We’re just getting started. On to November.”
If elected, Becerra would make history as the first Latino governor of the state of California in 150 years, since Romulado Pacheco. This potential milestone adds another layer of significance to Becerra’s campaign.
Becerra’s campaign received a significant boost after the exit of former Rep. Eric Swalwell from the race in April. When the first ballot returns started to come in on Tuesday, Becerra was shown as a leading candidate. He then positioned himself to his supporters as the underdog in the race who “never gave up,” which further solidified his standing among his supporters.
However, the state’s vote-counting process has not been without controversy. Some Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have criticized the pace of the ballot counting without providing any evidence of wrongdoing. Steve Hilton also criticized the process during a press conference in the San Francisco Bay Area on Friday. He vowed that if elected, he would “end this FARCE and make sure all votes are counted within 48 hours of the mail-in deadline.”
Despite the criticism, state and local election officials have defended the process. They maintain that all ballots are subject to the same verification requirements, regardless of when they are received. This has been an important point of contention in the race and continues to be a hot topic of debate.
The race for the governor’s seat attracted a diverse field of candidates from various backgrounds, including politics, business, and media. This is seen as a reflection of the competitive nature of the governor’s race in California, which has been one of the state’s most competitive open-seat contests in recent years.
Pre-election polling had suggested that no candidate had established a significant lead. Surveys conducted before Election Day consistently showed large numbers of undecided voters, while Hilton, Becerra, and Steyer generally occupied the top tier of the field.
The campaigns of several high-profile candidates came to an end shortly after the polls closed on Tuesday. Former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa each acknowledged that they would not become California’s next governor.
Other notable candidates included State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, a Democrat, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican. These candidates brought a diverse set of perspectives and priorities to the race, making for an engaging and dynamic campaign season.
Since 2010, California voters have consistently elected Democratic governors. Former Gov. Jerry Brown succeeded former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger when the latter reached his term limit. The state’s political leanings have played a significant role in shaping the governor’s race and will likely continue to do so in the upcoming election.
The state’s affordability crisis has been a dominant issue throughout the campaign. A recent CBS News poll found that 70% of registered California voters described the cost of living where they live as “unmanageable.” This issue has been a central focus of the campaign, with each candidate offering their solutions to address it.
The same survey found widespread skepticism about economic opportunity in the state, with just 7% of registered voters saying the “California Dream” remains attainable today and 64% saying they were not confident it is still within reach. This underscores the importance of the economic issues at stake in the governor’s race and the urgency with which the next governor will need to address them.
As the race moves forward to the November general election, the stakes are high and the candidates are fiercely competitive. The coming months will undoubtedly bring more intense campaigning, debates, and hopefully, a clear vision for the future of California.
