NBC projects that Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra will advance to the November runoff in the California governor’s race [1].
The projection sets the stage for the general election in the most populous U.S. state, though the final field of challengers remains undecided as officials process a massive volume of votes.
Millions of ballots still need to be counted following the June 2026 primary election [1], [2]. This delay leaves the identity of the second candidate in the November [1] runoff uncertain. While Becerra has a projected path forward, the competition for the remaining spot is still taking shape.
Republican commentator Steve Hilton and Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer have emerged as leading contenders to join Becerra in the general election [3], [4]. Some reports suggest it remains to be seen whether Hilton will be the final challenger, as the tallying process continues [4].
The governor's race is unfolding alongside other high-profile contests in the state, including the mayoral race in Los Angeles [1]. Because California uses a top-two primary system, the party affiliation of the final two candidates is not guaranteed to be split between Republicans and Democrats.
Election officials are working through the remaining ballots to finalize the results of the June 2026 primary [2], [5]. The final slate of candidates will be confirmed once the official count is complete.
“Xavier Becerra will advance to the November runoff”
The projection of Xavier Becerra's advancement signals a strong start for the Democratic candidate, but the uncertainty regarding his opponent highlights the volatility of California's nonpartisan primary system. Depending on the final count, the November runoff could feature a traditional partisan clash or an unconventional matchup between candidates of the same party.
