Hilton, Becerra lead California governor's race as Steyer gains ground
California’s governor’s race stayed undecided as Steve Hilton led Xavier Becerra, with Tom Steyer closing in as ballots were still being counted.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Late-counted ballots kept California’s top-two primary unsettled, with Republican Steve Hilton ahead of Democrat Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer in third. The race has centered on affordability, housing, public safety and distrust over the pace of vote counting.
California is still counting votes to decide who gets the biggest job in the state. Steve Hilton is ahead for now, but Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer are still close enough that the finish could change, like a race where the last lap is still being run.
Analysis
What happened
California’s race to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom was still undecided Thursday night. Early and late returns showed Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton leading Democratic former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, with Democratic billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer in third.
Why the count matters
The article says some experts still see a path for Steyer to finish in the top two as counties keep processing ballots. Others note that Hilton has been doing well among late-counted votes, which could help him hold the lead. Under California’s top-two primary system, the two highest vote-getters advance to the November general election regardless of party.
The issues driving the race
Cost of living has been the central theme. A recent CBS News poll cited in the story found 70% of California registered voters describing the cost of living as "unmanageable." Candidates were also pressed on homelessness, energy policy, public safety, immigration, gas prices, and housing affordability.
Hilton has framed his campaign around making the state "Califordable" and restoring the chance for home ownership. He has criticized Newsom’s approach to housing, homelessness and regulation. Becerra and Steyer were the leading Democrats in preliminary results, while other major candidates such as Katie Porter, Matt Mahan and Antonio Villaraigosa conceded they would not become governor.
Broader political backdrop
The race reflects a crowded field with candidates drawn from federal, state, local government, business and media. It also takes place against political criticism over California’s slow vote count, which Republicans including President Donald Trump have attacked, while election officials say ballots must go through the same verification process no matter when they arrive.
Key points
- Steve Hilton was leading Xavier Becerra as California’s governor primary remained undecided Thursday night.
- Tom Steyer was in third and was said to still have a possible path into the top two.
- California’s top-two primary sends the two highest vote-getters to the November general election regardless of party.
- Cost of living dominated the race, with voters and candidates focused on housing, homelessness, gas prices and affordability.
- Katie Porter, Matt Mahan and Antonio Villaraigosa acknowledged they would not become governor.
If the count holds or shifts cleanly to produce a clear top two, the race can move from uncertainty to a focused November contest. The candidates would then have a sharper debate over affordability, housing and public safety, which are the issues voters say matter most.
If late counting continues to narrow the margins, the race could stay unsettled for longer and fuel more complaints about California’s election process. The article also shows that the core problems driving voter frustration, especially cost of living and housing, remain unresolved regardless of who advances.
