California's gubernatorial primary election remained too close to call Tuesday night, with early results showing a tight three-way contest at the top of the race. With many ballots still uncounted, the Republican Steve Hilton and Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer emerged as the leading candidates.
Two Democratic candidates conceded shortly after polls closed. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa both withdrew from contention as results came in. However, the final standings could shift significantly in the coming days, as California's mail-in voting system and careful ballot verification process means counting could take weeks.
Becerra and Hilton expressed confidence about advancing to the general election. Steyer told supporters in San Francisco that he remained a contender, noting that all ballots needed to be counted before determining the race's direction.
California's gubernatorial primary featured an unusually crowded field of 61 candidates, making it one of the most chaotic elections in recent state history. The race to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom lacked a clear frontrunner after several prominent Democrats declined to run, including Senator Alex Padilla and Attorney General Rob Bonta.
The state's "jungle" primary system, which advances only the top two vote-getters regardless of party affiliation, created concerns among Democrats. Some worried that a fragmented Democratic field could inadvertently allow two Republicans to advance, potentially resulting in the state's first Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger's reelection in 2006.
Voters expressed frustration about housing affordability, homelessness, wildfire risk and rising cost of living. These issues defined much of the campaign as candidates presented competing visions for governing a state whose economy ranks among the world's largest.
Becerra's path to the top was unexpected. The former Biden administration health secretary and California attorney general had languished near the bottom of early polls and faced pressure to drop out. Instead, he mounted a late campaign surge, positioning himself as an experienced public servant capable of navigating economic and political uncertainty. His campaign highlighted his government expertise through a "hot competence summer" effort, though his leadership at HHS faced scrutiny from rivals and former Biden officials.
Steyer, a billionaire investor and climate activist, offered a contrasting progressive approach. He spent over 200 million dollars of his own fortune on the race, presenting himself as an outsider capable of disrupting Sacramento's political establishment. His campaign centered on the unusual proposition that billionaires and corporations should pay higher taxes.
The Democratic Party convention had ended without endorsing any candidate, as no one cleared the required 60 percent threshold. Party leadership largely remained on the sidelines, while labor unions and environmental groups split their support among multiple candidates.
In the Los Angeles mayoral race, incumbent Karen Bass advanced to the general election, with reality TV personality Spencer Pratt leading to capture the second spot against Democrat Nithya Raman.