Former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra Advances in California Governor Race
Sacramento, Saturday, 6 June 2026.
Xavier Becerra has advanced to the November election, moving closer to becoming California’s first Latino governor since 1875. His final opponent remains undecided as ballot counting continues.
The High-Stakes Battle for Second Place
Under California’s single-ballot system, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of their party affiliation [4]. While Becerra’s spot is secure, the race for the second position remains a fiercely contested battle between Republican commentator Steve Hilton and Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer [2][4]. As of late Thursday, vote tallies remained razor-thin; Decision Desk HQ reported Hilton capturing 27.18% of the vote, holding a lead of 7 percentage points over Steyer’s 20.18% [4], though NBC News estimates placed the conservative candidate at 26% and the progressive activist at 21% [1] [alert! ‘Vote tallies are continuously updating during the canvass period and vary slightly between reporting agencies’].
The Mechanics of California’s Vote Count
The final shape of the November ballot hinges on a meticulous, weeks-long vote-counting process. As of June 4, approximately 3.5 million ballots remained uncounted [2]. California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber emphasized that “accuracy comes before speed,” noting that the state’s massive voter base requires careful processing to ensure election integrity [3]. Under Assembly Bill 5, which took effect this year, counties are mandated to count and report the majority of their ballots by June 15, 2026 [3].