California celebrates, watches and waits as Governor's race takes shape on Primary night

Steve Hilton, a political commentator and businessman, emerged as the leading conservative candidate. Hilton’s campaign focused on reducing environmental regulations, lowering middle-class income taxes, and challenging the long-standing Democratic majority in Sacramento. According to campaign filings, Hilton attracted more than 20,000 contributors.

As Democrats hold a supermajority in the state legislature and have a significant advantage in voter registration, Hilton’s strategy relies on building a broad coalition. While securing the conservative base through endorsements from local Republican groups, his campaign has also actively courted independent voters and moderate Democrats. He led with the message, "Change is coming to California, and it's long overdue."

Xavier Becerra, former US Health and Human Services Secretary and former California Attorney General, secured substantial support from institutional and moderate Democrats. Becerra’s platform emphasized his governance experience, focusing on stabilizing the state budget, addressing the ongoing wildfire insurance crisis, and managing federal-state relations.

Tom Steyer, a businessman and progressive activist, heavily self-funded his campaign, investing over $213 million in advertising and outreach focused on addressing economic inequality, regulating public utilities, and real estate reforms. He thanked his family in his remarks, "To my family, thank you for everything. None of this would be possible without your love and support."

The primary campaign to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom highlights a shifting electoral landscape in California, driven by voter concerns about rising costs of living, housing infrastructure, and public safety. The election results reveal clear ideological and strategic divisions within the electorate, setting the stage for a competitive general election in November.

California’s governor’s race is expected to be competitive. With Governor Gavin Newsom facing term limits, at least 61 contenders are running to succeed him. Some local races are also attracting nationwide attention. In Los Angeles, reality TV star Spencer Pratt has launched a surprisingly competitive bid for mayor against incumbent Karen Bass, leveraging local outrage over wildfires and homelessness.