Becerra Seals Victory, Democrats Keep California

Xavier Becerra will be the next governor of California.

The Associated Press declared him the winner on Tuesday night as vote counting neared its halfway point. Becerra, the former U.S. health secretary and state attorney general, captured 65% of the reported vote. His Republican challenger, Steve Hilton, received 34%. The result extends the Democratic hold on the state’s top job to a sixteenth consecutive year.

Becerra’s path to the ballot was unsteady. Eight months before the general election, he was polling low enough that party insiders urged him to drop out. That calculus changed in April when the leading Democratic primary candidate exited the race following sexual assault allegations. Becerra emerged as the consensus choice among party regulars and interest groups. By the time he and Hilton finished first and second in the June primary, he was widely viewed as the presumptive winner of the general election.

Hilton conceded defeat approximately one hour after polls closed. He told supporters in Orange County that while change might be delayed, it was inevitable. He positioned his campaign as a start for a people powered movement aimed at breaking the Democratic legislative supermajority in 2028 and electing a Republican governor in 2030.

The campaign highlighted different approaches to the state’s problems. Hilton proposed abolishing the Department of Motor Vehicles, canceling the high-speed rail project, and ending state climate goals. He raised more than $33 million, slightly less than Becerra’s $38 million. Becerra focused on his experience in government, including representing Los Angeles in Congress and serving in the Biden administration. He avoided sweeping policy promises, instead pledging to prioritize working families.

Becerra’s victory ensures continuity with the administration of outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom. He supports the recent legislative moves to speed up housing construction and the transition to clean energy. He also aims to lower gas prices. Unlike Newsom, who campaigned on ambitious goals like single-payer healthcare, Becerra said he does not want to lose public trust by overstating what he can accomplish. He described his mission as delivering an affordable California and defending one that the state cannot afford to lose.

The election took place against a backdrop of economic pressure and political tension. Street homelessness had risen for years before beginning to decline in 2025. Wildfires have made homeowners insurance harder to buy. Inflation, driven partly by federal tariffs and immigration policies, has increased the cost of living. The state budget has become heavily dependent on the artificial intelligence industry. Both candidates acknowledged that many Californians feel the dream of home ownership is out of reach. Becerra stated that his parents, a construction worker and a clerical worker, saved every penny to buy a home. He said he ran to make a difference for the next generation of workers who want that same opportunity.

Becerra is the first Latino to serve as governor in 150 years and the first to be elected to the position. He will take office as the state navigates ongoing disputes with the Trump administration over environmental policies and federal funding.