Former Fox News presenter Steve Hilton is set to compete against a Democrat in the race for California Governor Gavin Newsom’s position, with media sources reporting this electoral matchup a week after the polls closed.
The Associated Press indicates that former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, representing the Democrats, led with 27.9% of the votes, closely followed by Hilton, a Republican and Trump supporter, who garnered 25.0%. As of Tuesday, 91% of the votes had been tallied.
California’s all-party primary system allowed Becerra and Hilton to move forward to the general election in November as the top candidates. The Associated Press noted that it took a week after the June 2 voting for Hilton to confirm his runner-up position.
In a similar vein, the Los Angeles mayoral primary results were also delayed, with reports coming in six days after polls closed. Despite being ahead, Republican Spencer Pratt saw his position shift as Socialist Democrat Nitya Raman advanced to the runoff.
California traditionally takes longer to count ballots compared to many states. Roughly 80% of votes are cast via mail, which can extend the counting period to as long as 30 days, according to reports.
Hans von Spakovsky, a lawyer and former Federal Election Commission commissioner, remarked that mail-in voting has essentially become the norm in California. While in-person voting is an option, the vast majority of ballots are mailed, leading to slower processing times.
Billionaire climate advocate Tom Steyer placed third with 22.5% of the vote, effectively ending his campaign despite his substantial expenditure of $213 million from his own funds. Meanwhile, Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco of Riverside County finished fourth with 10.2%, followed by the troubled former Democratic representative Katie Porter at 4.4%, and Democratic San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan at 3.6%. Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa came in last with 1.2% of the votes.
A poll from Emerson College released on May 30 showed Becerra ahead with 28%, Steyer at 22%, and Hilton at 21%. The landscape shifted dramatically after former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell abruptly withdrew from the race in April amid serious allegations, ultimately finishing 11th with just 0.3%.
In earlier surveys, Swalwell and Hilton were mentioned as potential candidates. Notably, President Trump endorsed Hilton in early April.
An earlier Emerson College poll in December revealed Bianco leading with a meager 13%, while Hilton followed at 12%. These fluctuations have led to speculation about the positioning of Democrats in the upcoming Hilton-Bianco general election.
Hilton had confidently predicted that a singular Republican would likely emerge in the final race, firmly believing he would be that candidate.
At 56, Hilton’s political roots trace back to England, where he previously served as Strategy Director for Prime Minister David Cameron. Upon announcing his candidacy, Hilton expressed a desire to “make California golden again,” reflecting on the need for… well, balance after years of Democratic control.
Becerra, now 68, faced significant scrutiny during the Biden administration concerning the management of unaccompanied minors at the U.S.-Mexico border.
During a gubernatorial debate in May, an opponent questioned Becerra about the criticisms surrounding child immigrants, invoking a critical narrative of the policies in place.
Becerra had previously held the role of California Attorney General and served as a U.S. Representative for over two decades.
Steyer, age 68 and worth approximately $2.4 billion, is well-known for his financial support of various leftist causes. His previous attempts at running for office included a strong bid for the 2020 presidential nomination.
Newsom, who cannot run again due to term limits, did not endorse any candidates leading up to the primary.
Given California’s strong Democratic leanings, Becerra is the favored candidate over Hilton for the November election, particularly in light of significant victories in previous cycles.
