Race details
California Governor Primary
Candidates
Xavier Becerra (D)
Former HHS secretary and California attorney general; led the fragmented Democratic field into November.
2,591,855 votes · 28.06%
Steve Hilton (R)
Former Fox News host; consolidated the GOP lane after President Trump's endorsement to take the second general-election slot.
2,277,315 votes · 24.65%
Tom Steyer (D)
Billionaire climate activist; finished third after a nine-figure ad blitz could not pass Hilton.
2,110,704 votes · 22.85%
Chad Bianco (R)
Riverside County sheriff; led early GOP polling but split the conservative vote with Hilton.
941,701 votes · 10.19%
Katie Porter (D)
Former Orange County congresswoman; remained in single digits in a crowded Democratic field.
403,908 votes · 4.37%
Why this race matters
Governor Gavin Newsom was term-limited. California's June 2 top-two primary sent former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra (28.1%) and Trump-endorsed Republican Steve Hilton (24.7%) to the November ballot, edging billionaire Tom Steyer (22.9%) and Sheriff Chad Bianco (10.2%). Steyer's late spending could not overtake Hilton for the second slot. Vote totals are AP's count via NPR (~99.7% of precincts).
How this context is used
California’s top-two primary and very large electorate create a different strategic environment than party-nomination systems.
These indicators are educational context for understanding turnout environments and campaign strategy. They are not deterministic predictors of who will win.
Profile updated: March 27th
Demographic context
2
Candidates advancing from primary to general election (top-two)
California uses a top-two open primary where all candidates appear on one ballot and the top two advance.
Why it matters: Primary strategy focuses on broad vote accumulation rather than only intra-party competition.
Limitations: Primary format does not by itself determine who advances or wins.
Source: California Secretary of State - Top Two Candidates Open Primary (State of California) · Vintage: Current election administration guidance
39.4M
Estimated population, July 1, 2024 (Census Bureau; rounded)
40.3%
Hispanic or Latino share, July 1, 2023 estimate (QuickFacts)
California’s statewide electorate is among the largest in the country, spanning diverse regional and demographic blocs.
Why it matters: Statewide campaigns must balance region-specific messages within a broad coalition framework.
Limitations: Large electorate size does not imply a specific electoral outcome.
Source: California QuickFacts (U.S. Census Bureau) · Vintage: QuickFacts and population estimates