California Governor Race: Xavier Becerra Faces Steve Hilton

Voters across California headed to the polls on Tuesday to decide the outcome of the state's gubernatorial election to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom. The general election matchup features Democrat Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and California attorney general, against Republican Steve Hilton, a former policy advisor and television host.

The contest was set during the June 2 primary election, where Becerra finished first with 28 percent of the vote, and Hilton secured the second spot with 24.6 percent. Another Democrat, Tom Steyer, finished third and did not advance to the general election ballot.

Heading into Election Day, polling and prediction markets heavily favored the Democratic candidate. A University of California, Berkeley poll conducted in late October showed Becerra holding a substantial lead over Hilton among likely voters. Prediction markets similarly positioned Becerra with a commanding advantage as the final stretch of voting concluded.

The candidates presented starkly different approaches to major state issues during their campaign, particularly concerning housing and development. Becerra pledged to double homebuilding, cut bureaucratic red tape, and pursue legal action against cities that fail to meet state housing targets. In contrast, Hilton proposed eliminating state-imposed housing quotas, capping fees on new home construction at $50,000, and building ten new cities.

Real estate figures and major industry players split their financial backing between the two campaigns. Following the elimination of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan in the primary, numerous real estate investors and developers shifted their financial support to Becerra, with several donors contributing the maximum allowed amount. Hilton's industry support remained narrower, drawing backing from specific prominent developers and founders.

The gubernatorial election unfolds alongside several other high-profile statewide contests, legislative races, and local ballot measures addressing taxation, housing, and public policy. While in-person voting ended on Tuesday evening, county election offices will continue processing mail-in ballots over the following weeks to finalize the official tally.