Becerra wins California governorship, ending 16-year run with same-party control

Xavier Becerra is the projected winner of the California governor's race.

The Associated Press called the election for the Democrat on Tuesday night. Becerra advanced to the general election after receiving 28 percent of the vote in the June 2 primary. He faces off against Republican Steve Hilton in this midterm contest.

Becerra serves as a former U.S. congressman and attorney general of California. He also held the position of Health and Human Services Secretary in President Joe Biden's administration. Hilton, a former Fox News host, has never held elected office. He previously served as an adviser to former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron.

The result maintains the Democratic Party's 16-year winning streak in statewide California elections. Becerra becomes the state's first Latino governor since the late 19th century. His mother is from Mexico, and his father was born in California but raised in Mexico.

Hilton attempted to break the one-party rule by blaming it for the state's high cost of living and homelessness crisis. He argued that the current leadership fails to adequately address housing issues. At a news conference before Election Day, he criticized the status quo.

"This is what you get with one-party rule," Hilton said. "You get a bunch of people in charge who think that they can get away with anything."

Becerra positioned himself as a defender of California against the policies of President Donald Trump. He frequently tied Hilton to the president during the campaign. Hilton received an endorsement from Trump, who has been deeply unpopular in the state.

Becerra's campaign launched a website listing quotes from Hilton expressing support for the president. The site included illustrations of the two Republicans standing side by side. Becerra referenced Trump's 2015 presidential announcement during a recent rally.

"In so many ways, this election is a choice between reaching higher for California's golden dream or descending further down Donald Trump's golden, infamous escalator," Becerra said.

Becerra was not considered a top contender for the first months of the race. He admitted at a rally that his campaign was an afterthought and a punchline. That perception changed when former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out. Swalwell resigned from Congress following allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied.

Swalwell's departure led party establishment members and voters to seek a more reliable alternative. They found that candidate in Becerra. The former congressman has served more than 35 years in state and federal office.

Hilton tried to appeal to voters by making ambitious promises. He pledged to abolish the Department of Motor Vehicles and cut gas prices to $3 a gallon. The state has not seen that rate in years. His campaign released ads using AI-generated content to encourage voters to try a new option.