Decision Desk HQ is projecting that Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host who has been backed by President Donald Trump, is set to secure the second position in California’s jungle primary for governor. Hilton is now projected to face off against former Biden Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, in the November general election.
California’s primary system advances the top two vote-getters regardless of party affiliation. Becerra advanced earlier in the week after consistent leads in updated counts, though Hilton had been locked in a tightly-contested race for the second spot against Democrat billionaire Tom Steyer.
As of the latest tallies, Becerra had received approximately 27.7 percent of the vote with over 2.17 million votes, followed by Hilton at 25.1 percent with roughly 1.975 million votes. Steyer trailed in third at 22.4 percent with about 1.76 million votes, while a number of other candidates, including former Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, trailed further behind.
Vote counting continued after Election Day, as California processes mail-in ballots postmarked by June 2 and received by June 9, along with provisional ballots. Counties must complete canvassing by early July, with final certification by the Secretary of State on July 10.
At the time of DDHQ’s projection for Hilton, roughly 7.87 million votes had been counted out of an expected total that left millions still outstanding, primarily from urban and mail-heavy areas.
Hilton maintained a lead for second place through much of the counting process despite some narrowing from later ballots favoring Steyer. Models from DDHQ and others had given Hilton a high probability of advancing, often cited around 93 percent in pre-call analyses, due to remaining ballots in areas more favorable to him.
Steyer closed the gap somewhat but ultimately failed to overtake Hilton’s position.
Decision Desk HQ projects Steve Hilton wins the second of two spots in the CA Governor Top-Two Primary #DecisionMade: 8:37 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/VDwoKFUcLr
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) June 9, 2026
The primary featured a large field of over 60 candidates. Becerra, a former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, California Attorney General, and longtime member of Congress, emerged as the top finisher after a late surge.
Polling showed Becerra emerging as the top Democrat after former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, who had been leading the crowded Democratic Party field, resigned from Congress after being accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women.
Hilton, a former Fox News commentator and political outsider endorsed by President Trump, positioned his campaign around issues such as affordability, housing, energy costs, and reducing regulations.
With the primary phase concluding, attention turns to the general election. Becerra enters as the strong favorite given California’s voter registration advantage, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly two-to-one margin.
Hilton faces an uphill battle in November due to the state’s partisan makeup and historical voting patterns. However, the contest could prove competitive on certain issues. Concerns over high housing costs, homelessness, utility rates, and overall affordability have been central to voter discussions.
One 2025 survey from veteran pollster David Wolfson found that 48 percent of California voters would consider voting for a Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2026. A large majority of voters expressed concerns over affordability, homelessness, and rising costs of living.
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