CBS News projects Steve Hilton advances in California governor race

Steve Hilton, the former Fox News host and adviser to David Cameron, advanced to California’s November governor’s race, turning a sprawling 61-candidate primary into a rare Republican opening in a state that has not elected a GOP governor in years. With Gavin Newsom term-limited, California’s top-two system sent the two highest vote-getters to the general election regardless of party, and the contest quickly hardened into a test of whether voter frustration can break through the state’s deep-blue lean.

The race stayed unsettled for days after Election Day as ballots were still being processed. Hilton initially led the count, then Xavier Becerra moved ahead as more votes came in. At one point, with about 88% of the vote counted, Hilton held 25.0% and Becerra was at 27.9%, underscoring how narrow the margin was in a primary with no runaway favorite.

Hilton has run as a sharp critic of California’s political status quo, arguing the state needs a dramatic reset after more than 15 years of Democratic rule. His message has centered on slashing spending and regulations, tapping concerns over affordability and the cost of living that have lingered in a state where housing, taxes and everyday expenses remain central political issues. He has also pushed for changes to California’s voting and counting system, including an election count acceleration plan, as ballots continued to be tallied and officials warned that preliminary results could still change.

Becerra, the former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and a longtime Democratic figure, has already begun shaping a general-election campaign in Los Angeles. His presence in the race gives Democrats a well-known establishment contender, but Hilton’s advance means Becerra cannot treat November as a coronation. Instead, he must defend a state he is expected to win on paper, while Hilton tries to turn crime, cost-of-living anger and distrust in government into a credible statewide coalition.

Hilton’s candidacy has also drawn attention because his election-integrity rhetoric has not always mirrored Donald Trump’s broader claims about rigged elections, even as Trump has backed Hilton. That mix of media savvy, outsider branding and Republican support makes the race an early read on whether California voters are ready to give a conservative challenger a serious opening against one of the state’s best-known Democrats.