The first results from the open primary in California show that Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra are leading the race for governor. If the trend continues, the general election on November 3 will pit a Republican and a Democrat in a direct contest for the governorship of the nation’s most populous state.
With 76.1% of electoral districts counted, Republican candidate Hilton has 26.9% of the votes, while Democrat Becerra reaches 25.7%. This is indicated by official data cited by the news agency Reuters. Both have surpassed over one million votes and lead the election race.
The open primary system in California allows the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of political party, to advance to the next round. This time, they left behind a long list of candidates, including billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer. The businessman finished in third place with 19.8% of the votes, about 260,000 votes behind the leaders.
What Did the Candidates Say After Learning the Initial Results?
During Tuesday’s election day, Hilton led the voting with a message of change. The candidate, a former Fox News presenter born in Great Britain and naturalized as a U.S. citizen, thanked voters for their support. “It’s the first time I’m running for public office and more than a million people get up and vote for me this time with a funny accent,” Hilton said, according to Reuters.
For his part, Becerra, former Secretary of Health and Human Services and former state Attorney General, expressed optimism before hundreds of supporters in downtown Los Angeles. “One step closer to the son of those hardworking immigrants, María and Manuel Becerra, becoming the next governor of the great state of California,” said the Democratic candidate. Becerra emphasized that votes are still being counted, but he is confident about advancing to November.
At Becerra’s campaign headquarters, hundreds of attendees listened to the candidate recall his family history and reaffirm his commitment to the community. As described by Dinorah Pérez, a reporter for local television station Telemundo 52, those present included workers, union members, and community leaders who chanted “Yes we can!”
What Does Xavier Becerra’s Candidacy Represent for Latinos?
Becerra’s candidacy carries historical weight for the Hispanic community. If he wins in November, he would become the first Latino governor elected in California history. This is significant in a state where 40% of the population belongs to the Latino community.
