Republican candidate Steve Hilton is projected to advance to the November general election for governor of California [1].
The projection follows the results of the state's unique top-two primary system. Because California does not use traditional party primaries, the two candidates with the most votes advance regardless of party affiliation, setting the stage for a direct clash between the Republican and Democratic parties for the state's highest office.
Multiple outlets reported the projection on June 9, 2026 [1]. Hilton secured his place in the general election by finishing as one of the top two vote-getters in the primary field [2]. The process significantly narrowed the race, reducing a field of 61 candidates down to the top two [3].
Hilton will face Democrat Xavier Becerra in the final contest [4]. The general election is scheduled for November 2026 [1].
Under the current system, the primary serves as a winnowing process to ensure the general election features the most popular candidates among the total electorate. This often leads to matchups between candidates of opposite parties, though it allows for the possibility of two candidates from the same party facing off in November.
The projection of Hilton's advancement marks a critical milestone in the race for the California governorship. By surviving the primary, Hilton has consolidated the Republican base and positioned himself as the primary challenger to Becerra in a state with a significant Democratic registration advantage.
“The process significantly narrowed the race, reducing a field of 61 candidates down to the top two.”
The advancement of Steve Hilton ensures a partisan divide in the general election, preventing a potential all-Democratic final. This setup focuses the campaign on a clear ideological contrast between Hilton's Republican platform and Xavier Becerra's Democratic approach, while testing whether a Republican can gain enough traction in California's top-two system to challenge a Democratic frontrunner.
