In a significant development for the California political landscape, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has officially secured his place in the upcoming November gubernatorial election. This victory, projected by CNN’s Decision Desk on Friday, marks a critical milestone in the race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom. For the Democratic Party, Becerra’s advancement provides a massive sigh of relief. Under the state’s unique “top-two” primary system, there were genuine fears that a crowded field of Democratic candidates would split the vote so thinly that two Republicans might have advanced to the general election, shutting out the dominant party entirely. Becerra’s insurmountable lead has effectively neutralized that threat, guaranteeing a Democratic presence on the ballot this fall.
While Becerra has locked in his candidacy, the identity of his general election opponent remains shrouded in uncertainty as ballot counting continues. The battle for the second runoff position is currently a high-stakes contest between Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and Republican backed by Donald Trump, and Tom Steyer, the billionaire Democratic activist. If Hilton ultimately secures the second spot, he faces an incredibly steep uphill battle. California remains one of the most reliably blue states in the United States, with the latest registration figures showing approximately 4.6 million more registered Democrats than Republicans. The historical weight of this partisan gap is underscored by the fact that the last Republican to hold the governorship was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who won his reelection bid two decades ago.
The road to this primary victory was fraught with internal party challenges and several high-profile campaign collapses that left the party without a clear frontrunner for much of the cycle. Initially, the field suffered from a lack of consolidation, as heavyweights such as Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla opted not to enter the race. The primary campaign of former Representative Katie Porter showed early promise but eventually faltered following the release of controversial videos that damaged her standing with the electorate. Even more dramatic was the exit of Representative Eric Swalwell, who entered the race in late 2025 only to resign from Congress and withdraw from the race following allegations of sexual misconduct. Although Swalwell denied the claims, his abrupt departure cleared a strategic path for Becerra to emerge as the experienced choice for the party.
Throughout his campaign, Xavier Becerra has leaned heavily on his extensive resume, which includes roles as a Congressman, California Attorney General, and a member of the Biden administration cabinet. He positioned himself as a seasoned leader with a proven record of managing complex government crises. However, his record at the federal level has been a primary target for critics, who attacked his handling of the child migrant crisis and the federal response to the mpox outbreak. Additionally, he faced political fallout after a former chief of staff pleaded guilty to fraud involving campaign funds, though Becerra himself was not accused of wrongdoing. Supporters, including former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, have defended Becerra, arguing that he inherited difficult situations and worked tirelessly to resolve them. As the gubernatorial race moves toward November, California voters are also watching a closely contested mayoral race in Los Angeles. While incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has comfortably secured her spot on the general election ballot, the fight for second place remains undecided. Reality television personality Spencer Pratt currently holds a slim lead for the runner-up spot, but he is facing a strong challenge from City Councilwoman Nithya Raman as more ballots are processed. For now, however, the primary focus for the state Democratic Party is the relief that Xavier Becerra will be competing to maintain their control of the governor’s mansion in Sacramento.
