Becerra Braces As Hilton Shatters Records

A Trump-backed Republican just punched his ticket to the California governor’s race — and for the first time in years, conservatives have a real shot at flipping the nation’s most liberal state.

Story Highlights

Steve Hilton finished in the top two of California’s all-party primary and will face Democrat Xavier Becerra in November.
Hilton earned more than 1.9 million votes, setting a new record for a Republican gubernatorial candidate in California.
President Trump and Vice President Vance both backed Hilton, boosting his campaign in the final stretch of the primary.
Becerra, a former Biden Cabinet secretary and California attorney general, enters the general election as the heavy favorite in a deeply blue state.

Hilton Clears the Primary Hurdle

Steve Hilton secured one of two spots in California’s November governor’s race after finishing in the top two of the June 2026 all-party primary. The Associated Press and NBC News both projected his advancement. ^[3] He will face Democrat Xavier Becerra, the former California attorney general and former Biden administration health secretary. ^[1] The race decides who replaces term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in the nation’s most populous state. ^[1]

Hilton shattered a long-standing record in the process. He pulled in more than 1.9 million votes, the most ever cast for a Republican candidate in a California governor’s primary. ^[14] That number reflects real energy behind his campaign — not just a protest vote. California uses a top-two primary system, meaning the two highest vote-getters advance regardless of party. Hilton cleared that bar convincingly. ^[8]

Trump’s Stamp of Approval

President Trump publicly urged his supporters to vote for Hilton on primary day, calling on followers to back the former Fox News host and conservative political commentator. ^[12] Vice President JD Vance also threw his support behind Hilton. ^[12] That kind of direct backing from the top of the Republican Party gave Hilton’s campaign a major boost in visibility and turnout. For conservatives, it signals that this race matters at the national level — not just in Sacramento.

Hilton’s background is unconventional by California political standards. He was born in Britain and worked as a political adviser before moving to the United States and hosting a show on Fox News. ^[5] His campaign focused on cutting taxes, fixing California’s housing crisis, reducing government red tape, and reforming the state’s election system. ^[11] He frames himself as an outsider ready to break up the political machine that has run California into the ground for decades.

An Uphill Fight in November

The general election will be tough. Politico noted that Becerra is likely to win, given California’s heavily Democratic voter base. ^[2] Democrats, labor unions, and major donors are expected to pour resources into the general election now that the primary is settled. ^[2] Becerra also carries a long resume — he served as California’s top law enforcement officer and then ran the federal Department of Health and Human Services under President Biden. ^[1]

Republican Steve Hilton has advanced to the general election for California governor after making the case that the state desperately needs new leadership following more than 15 years of Democratic dominance.https://t.co/cBF7oylRgx

— FOX26 News (@KMPHFOX26) June 10, 2026

Still, Hilton’s record-breaking primary performance shows that California voters are frustrated. The state faces sky-high housing costs, rampant homelessness, high taxes, and a struggling business climate — problems that have grown worse under years of one-party Democratic rule. Hilton is betting that enough voters are ready for something different. Whether that bet pays off in November depends on whether he can turn primary momentum into a broader coalition. For conservatives across the country, this race is worth watching closely.