By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-10 00:51:05 | Updated at 2026-06-10 18:04:15
17 hours ago
Republican Steve Hilton captured a spot in the high-stakes California governor's general election that will pit him against former Democratic Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in the fall.
After days of waiting, the Associated Press made the race call at 7:43 p.m. ET Tuesday.
Instead of voters from each party choosing a candidate that will advance to the general election, California uses a jungle primary, meaning the two top vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to November.
Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer did not make the runoff after landing in third place.
Hilton's win came after days of Trump and other Republicans suggesting the election was 'rigged' due to LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, a registered Republican, moving from second to third place, eventually being bested by progressive Democratic City Council member Nithya Raman as more mail-in ballots were counted.
Most Californians vote by mail, and the count is a tedious process.
On Monday night, Hilton said in a social media post that he wouldn't pop the champagne until the AP made the race call - but cracked a beer while he waited.
The Trump-endorsed Hilton is a London-born US citizen who became a Fox News star on the heels of the President's 2016 victory.
Republican California gubernatorial hopeful Steve Hilton speaks to the press earlier Tuesday. The race was finally called Tuesday night, a week after the election, with Hilton joining former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on the November ballot
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra became the frontrunner in the California governor's race after Representative Eric Swalwell was forced to bow out. He's photograhed addressing supporters in Los Angeles Tuesday night
He previously served as part of British Prime Minister David Cameron's government before giving politics a try across the pond.
Hilton portrayed himself as someone who could get along with the current administration - instead of fighting them tooth and nail like the term-limited California Governor Gavin Newsom.
He also pledged to make California 'Californable' - by lowering income and business taxes and expanding domestic energy production to push gas prices down to $3.
Representative Eric Swalwell bowed out of the race after his campaign was derailed by sex abuse allegations in April, which also prompted the California Democrat to resign from Congress. Swalwell has denied the claims.
That opened the door for Becerra, who came to the race as an experienced politician.
Besides serving in President Joe Biden's Cabinet, he was formerly California's Attorney General and a former US House member representing portions of Los Angeles.
Becerra is favored to win the general election due to California's deep blue tilt.
The state hasn't seen a Republican governor since movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger's tenure, from 2003 to 2011.
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Steve Hilton shows off his jacket that has a California and USA flag stitched inside as he addresses supporters Tuesday night
Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton greets supporters at an election night shindig in Huntington Beach Tuesday
Supporters of Republican Steve Hilton cheer during an election night gathering in Huntington Beach, California
Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton exits his pickup truck emblazoned with the campaign slogan 'Golden Again'
Hilton gave a hat-tip to Schwarzenegger onstage with supporters last Tuesday night, revealing he had a jacket made that had American and California flags stitched inside.
'Arnold, that was for you!' he said.
Catering to the independents and Democrats he'd need to win in a general election, Hilton vowed that his run wasn't 'ideological.'
'It's time for positive, practical things,' Hilton said.
Hilton was able to capture most of the GOP-leaning vote in California, despite Sheriff Chad Bianco staying in the race even after Hilton pleaded with him to drop out just days before the election.
Steyer was a 2020 Democratic hopeful for the White House, who dropped out of the race after a poor showing in the South Carolina primary.
His plaid ties and decision to sing 'Back the Azz Up' alongside rapper Juvenile at his final event in the Palmetto State could not overcome powerful Representative Jim Clyburn's endorsement of former Vice President Joe Biden - who went on to win the primary and the presidential race.
Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra knocked off billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer, who previously ran for the Democratic nomiation for President in 2020
Steyer rebooted his political career with the California run, where he spent more than $200 million just on advertising, according to the Associated Press - topping every other candidate across the nation in spending.
He used gimmicky social media posts to enhance his candidacy, too.
On Monday night, Steyer visited a West Hollywood gay bar for a karaoke session to kick off Pride month. In a social media post, Steyer admitted that while he can't sing, he and his wife, Kat, belted out Tom Petty's I Won't Back Down.
And then on Election Day, the candidate shared a post that said: 'I'm Tom Steyer and I'm about to ride the D.' The 'D' he was referring to was LA's D Line, a branch of the Metro that opened earlier this year.
A handful of other Democrats remained in the race, which also allowed Hilton to slip through.
Notably, former Democratic Representative Katie Porter stayed the course.
She was elected to Congress in 2018 as part of a substantial anti-Trump blue wave and became a household name thanks to viral moments during committee hearings.
But her political career hit a roadblock when she lost the 2024 California Senate primary to now Senator Adam Schiff.
She appeared to be well-positioned in the governor's race, but her brand got tainted after videos went viral of her berating a staffer and walking out on a CBS interview.
Porter was tracking to end the race earning under 5 percent of the vote.
