People watch results at an election night event for California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra in Los Angeles on June 2, 2026.
| Photo Credit: AP
Republican television commentator Steve Hilton and Democratic former Cabinet Secretary Xavier Becerra took the early lead in the open primary race for California governor on Tuesday (June 2, 2026).
They each had about 26% of the vote with 42% of election night precincts partially reporting about an hour after polls closed, according to official results.
Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer trailed them by about 6 points.
Under California’s “jungle primary” system, the two highest vote-getters will advance to the November 3 general election regardless of party.
Mr. Becerra is a former State Attorney General and U.S. congressman from Los Angeles who was secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden. If he were to prevail in November, he would become the first Latino elected governor in a state where 40% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton speaks during an election night event in Huntington Beach, California, on June 2, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Mr. Hilton is a British-born former Fox News host who was endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Mr. Hilton, once an adviser to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, became a U.S. citizen in 2021.
He campaigned against the Democrats’ record on homelessness, affordability and government regulations in a state where Republicans have been shut out of statewide office since former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s term ended in January 2011.
Mr. Hilton had 26.6% of the vote and Mr. Becerra 26% in the early tally. Mr. Steyer, who has spent about $200 million of his own money on the campaign, had 19.8%. Of the dozens of other candidates on the ballot, none cracked double digits.
California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks during an election night event in San Francisco on June 2, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
AP
The Democratic field appeared to coalesce around Mr. Becerra after former frontrunner Eric Swalwell left the race and resigned from the U.S. Congress in April following accusations of sexual assault from a former staffer. Mr. Swalwell denied the allegations.
Published – June 03, 2026 10:47 am IST
