LOS ANGELES — Xavier Becerra, former President Joe Biden’s health and human services secretary, advanced to the general election in California’s gubernatorial race on Friday.With roughly 66% of the vote counted, Becerra emerged from a crowded field of more than 60 candidates with about 26.7%, according to the Associated Press, inking the first spot for the general. Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, and Democrat Tom Steyer are in a battle for the second and final spot, with 26.4% and 21%, respectively.California uses an all-party primary system. If no candidate clears 50%, the top two finishers, regardless of party, advance to a Nov. 3 runoff. It had been a nightmare scenario for Democrats, who feared for weeks that a fractured field could allow two Republicans to claim both spots in the deep-blue state. Democrats make up nearly 45% of registered voters, while Republicans are just over 25%, effectively relegating the GOP to third-party status in a state where independents make up about 30% of the electorate.
California’s last Republican governor was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who left office in 2011. The candidates are competing to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who is term-limited and widely expected to launch a 2028 presidential bid.
