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.

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.

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.