Hilton and Becerra to Face Off in California Governor General Election
9 verified8 unconfirmed1 contested
Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra have advanced to the November general election in California’s gubernatorial race, according to multiple projections. Hilton, a former Fox News host and former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, secured one of the two spots in the state’s top-two primary. Becerra, a former California attorney general and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, finished second after a late surge. Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, a Democrat, placed third despite spending more than $200 million of his own money. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race in April after facing sexual assault and misconduct allegations, which he denies. If elected, Hilton would be the first Republican governor of California since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office. Vote counting in the primary took weeks due to the state’s heavy reliance on mail-in ballots. Hilton received an endorsement from President Donald Trump, which helped consolidate Republican support.
What’s verified
Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and former adviser to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, advanced to the November general election.
Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former California attorney general and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, also advanced.
California uses a top-two primary system where all candidates appear on the same ballot and the top two finishers move to the general election.
President Donald Trump endorsed Hilton.
Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer finished third in the primary.
Hilton would be the first Republican elected California governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Steyer spent over $200 million of his own money on his campaign.
Former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out after facing sexual assault and misconduct allegations, which he denies.
California’s vote counting process takes weeks due to mail-in ballots.
Where accounts differ
Sources differ on the precise description of when a Republican last won the California governorship. One source states Hilton would be the first Republican elected “since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011.” Another states “since then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006 re-election.” A third says “California voters haven’t elected a Republican governor in 20 years.” Additionally, two sources give slightly different figures for Steyer’s self-financed spending: one reports “over $200 million,” while another reports “more than $215 million.”
Not yet confirmed
Only one source reports that candidates Katie Porter, Matt Mahan, and Antonio Villaraigosa each acknowledged they would not become California’s next governor.
Specific vote percentages (Becerra 28%, Hilton 25%, Steyer 23%, Bianco 10% with 88% counted) come from a single source.
Hilton’s criticism of the state’s vote counting and his pledge to count all votes within 48 hours if elected appear in only one source.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s seizure of hundreds of thousands of ballots in March as part of a purported election investigation is mentioned by only one source.
The claim that registered Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 2 to 1 in California comes from a single source.
Hilton’s birthplace in the UK and his U.S. citizenship in 2021 are reported by only one source.
Unfounded claims of a “rigged” election from President Trump and some Republicans are addressed by only one source.
Debate exchanges between Hilton and Becerra are described by only one source.
Misconceptions
Sources address unfounded claims from President Donald Trump and some Republicans that the California election was “rigged” due to the lengthy mail-in ballot counting process. The reporting notes these claims are not supported.
Key figures
Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer, Chad Bianco, Eric Swalwell, Gavin Newsom, Donald Trump, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan, Antonio Villaraigosa, Tony Thurmond
Sources: CBS News, foxnews.com, NBC News
