Staff Reports
Steve Hilton has cleared the first big hurdle in California politics. The Republican earned roughly 1,975,062 votes — about 25.1% in the June primary — and will now face former Biden administration Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in the general election. This result hands Republicans a rare, real shot at the governor’s mansion in a state that has been one-party territory for years.
What Hilton’s advance really means
California’s top-two primary sent the matchup many conservatives wanted: a clear choice for voters tired of the status quo. Hilton’s advance is not a fluke. It reflects real anger over high taxes, out-of-control homelessness, public safety concerns, and an economy that often favors connected insiders. For once, the GOP enters a statewide race with momentum, solid messaging, and a model of outsider energy that can cut through the usual Sacramento spin.
Who is Steve Hilton?
Hilton is a conservative commentator turned candidate who ran as an outsider. He brought a straight-shooting tone and a focus on practical problems that matter to Californians: public safety, budget common-sense, and local control over schools and services. He doesn’t have the decades-long Sacramento resume, and that’s a feature, not a bug for many voters who want fresh leadership instead of more recycled promises.
Xavier Becerra: The Democrat to beat
On the other side is Xavier Becerra, best known for his role as the Biden administration’s HHS Secretary and for years in California public life. Becerra will lean on the usual Democratic script: regulatory promises, social programs, and big-government solutions. But in a state where voters see streets that aren’t safe and living costs that keep rising, that script may not play as well as his handlers expect.
What to watch in the general election
The fall race will be about contrast. Expect Hilton to hammer on crime, spending, and local control while Becerra defends Washington-style policies and the Democratic playbook. Republican voters should show up and stay energized; this is a rare chance to replace the old Sacramento machine with a candidate promising accountability. For Democrats, it’s time to worry — not panic — but worry. California could be about to teach the coastal political elite a lesson in consequences.
