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Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra held the top two spots Tuesday night in California’s crowded gubernatorial primary and appeared likely to advance to the November general election.
With 49 percent of precincts partially reporting as of late Tuesday, California Secretary of State results showed Hilton leading with 26.8 percent of the vote, followed closely by Becerra at 25.8 percent.
“Change is coming to California, and it’s long overdue,” Hilton said after polls closed.
Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer was running third with 19.7 percent, while Chad Bianco, a Republican and Riverside County sheriff, had 11.4 percent.
Democrat Katie Porter received 5 percent of the vote, while Matt Mahan had 4.3 percent. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa trailed with 1.4 percent.
Hilton, a former Fox News host and former political adviser in the United Kingdom, campaigned as an outsider focused on economic and government reform. Becerra previously served as California attorney general, a member of Congress and secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the Biden administration.
In the race for California attorney general, incumbent Democrat Rob Bonta led with 53.8 percent of the vote. Republican Michael E. Gates followed with 41.7 percent, positioning both candidates to advance to the general election. Marjorie Mikels received 4.5 percent of the vote.
The governor’s race featured roughly 61 candidates, filling the entire first page of the statewide ballot. Most candidates were listed as having no party preference.
Democrats fielded 24 candidates in the gubernatorial contest, while Republicans fielded 12. The ballot also included one Libertarian candidate and one Peace and Freedom Party candidate.
