Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra Advance to California Governor General Election
Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Democrat Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, have advanced to California's November general election for governor through the state's top-two primary system. Hilton secured the Republican spot by defeating billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, while Becerra overtook Hilton in vote count after former Rep. Eric Swalwell exited the race. If elected, Hilton would become California's first Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2011, in a state where Democrats hold a supermajority in the legislature.
Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and international political operative, and Xavier Becerra, a veteran Democratic politician and former federal health official, have secured spots in California's November gubernatorial general election following the state's top-two primary held on Tuesday. Hilton, who previously served as director of strategy for British Prime Minister David Cameron and unsuccessfully ran for a U.K. parliamentary seat in 2005, positioned his candidacy as a vehicle for change in California. Becerra, who served as California's attorney general and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary under President Biden, experienced a late surge in the race after former Rep. Eric Swalwell withdrew. Hilton defeated other Republican candidates including Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who had maintained competitive polling until President Trump's endorsement of Hilton in April. Several high-profile candidates, including former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, ended their campaigns after Tuesday's results. Hilton has already begun criticizing California's ballot-counting process and pledged to implement 48-hour vote counting if elected.
What's missing
The articles lack detailed policy comparisons between Hilton and Becerra on major California issues such as housing, homelessness, education, and water management. Additionally, there is limited discussion of Becerra's specific platform or accomplishments as attorney general beyond his federal HHS role.
What different sources said
- CBS NewsCenter
Hilton to face Becerra in election for California governor, CBS News projects
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