Hilton, Becerra Hold Wide Leads In California Governor Primary

Businessman Rick Hilton and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra were maintaining their leads in California’s primary race for governor as results continued to be tallied, according to reports published Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

Multiple outlets, including Reuters, The Washington Post, the Sacramento Bee, CNBC and the San Francisco Examiner, reported that Hilton and Becerra were out in front in a tight contest, with the two candidates keeping a measure of separation from the rest of the field as the count progressed. The Washington Post published live results tracking the primary, while the Sacramento Bee described the late Tuesday picture as the same: Hilton and Becerra in front.

The early snapshot matters because California’s governor’s race is one of the highest-profile statewide contests on the ballot this year, and the primary is the key narrowing point that determines which candidates stay viable moving toward the general election. With Hilton and Becerra leading, the race is increasingly being framed as a competition between two prominent figures with very different public profiles.

Becerra, a well-known Democrat who serves in President Joe Biden’s Cabinet, brings national visibility and a long record in government. Hilton, a businessman, is running as a high-profile figure from outside elected office. Their position at the top of the field, as described in the published reports, underscores how quickly a large primary field can consolidate around a pair of frontrunners.

The developing results also carry implications beyond the governor’s race. CNBC reported that in Los Angeles, Karen Bass was ahead in the mayoral race, a separate contest that is closely watched statewide and nationally. The combination of competitive statewide and city elections adds to the political stakes in California and shapes how candidates and party leaders allocate attention and resources in the weeks ahead.

For voters, the initial returns provide a clearer picture of which campaigns are likely to have staying power. For candidates further back, the evolving count raises immediate questions about next steps, including whether to continue aggressive campaigning, seek endorsements, or focus on future races. For the leading campaigns, maintaining a top position is essential to building momentum, fundraising and organizing for the next phase of the election calendar.

Election officials will continue counting ballots as additional results are reported. News organizations are expected to keep updating tallies and race calls as they receive new data from counties across the state.

The primary results remain fluid as counting continues, but the central takeaway from the latest reports is consistent: Hilton and Becerra were still leading a closely watched California governor’s race as the state’s vote count moved forward.