Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra are leading the race for governor of California following the June 2, 2026 [1] primary election.
The results signal a potential partisan clash in the general election, as the state's top-two primary system determines who will compete for the governorship.
Under California's unique electoral laws, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation [2]. Current vote counts and reporting from June 3, 2026, indicate that Hilton and Becerra are the top two contenders in a tightly contested field [3].
The vacancy in the governor's office occurs because Governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot run for another term [4]. This has opened a wide field of candidates seeking to lead the most populous state in the U.S.
Early polling before the vote had indicated that Hilton, Becerra, and Tom Steyer were the primary frontrunners [5]. While the race remains tight, the current trajectory suggests a general election matchup between the Republican Hilton and the Democratic Becerra.
Election officials continue to process ballots as the state determines the final two candidates. The transition from the primary to the general election will focus on the ideological divide between the two leading candidates, a dynamic that often shapes the political direction of the state for years to come.
“Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra are leading the race for governor of California”
A general election matchup between Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra would represent a stark ideological divide in California. Because the top-two system can occasionally result in two candidates from the same party advancing, the current lead by both a Republican and a Democrat ensures a traditional partisan contest to replace Gavin Newsom.
