Becerra Wins California Governorship, Ends Republican Streak
The Democrat defeated Steve Hilton to become the state's first Latino governor in 150 years, capping a campaign focused on healthcare and housing.
By Naomi Tesfaye ·
Xavier Becerra defeated Republican Steve Hilton on Tuesday to become California's next governor. The Associated Press called the race shortly after the polls closed at 8 p.m., with Becerra holding a substantial lead as of 9:30 p.m. with 49 percent of ballots counted. This victory makes him the state's first Latino governor in more than 150 years.
Hilton conceded defeat on Tuesday night. He acknowledged the difficulty of running as a Republican in California, noting that the state has not elected a Republican to statewide office in two decades. The last Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, ended his term in 2011. Hilton said the change voters hoped for might be delayed, but that the fight continues.
The election played out in a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 4.6 million voters. Hilton, a former Fox News host, campaigned on government waste, high living costs, and public safety. He proposed eliminating state income tax on the first $150,000 of earnings, lowering gas prices to $3 per gallon, and banning homeless encampments statewide. He also proposed a film tax credit of up to 60 percent to support Hollywood.
Becerra, the former California attorney general and 25th U.S. secretary of health and human services, focused his campaign on lowering the cost of living and expanding healthcare. He had a slow start in the Democratic primary but surged after rival Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign. Becerra used a seven-figure ad blitz to defeat Tom Steyer and other rivals in the June primary.
In his victory speech, Becerra described the past two years as tough due to higher prices and wars. He called the effort a mission necessary and invoked the words of Dolores Huerta, stating that Californians fought and won. He emphasized his background as the son of immigrants from a union household.
Becerra plans to double the rate of home building in the state and work toward a universal single-payer healthcare system. He also aims to propose a tax on the state's highest earners. For the entertainment industry, he proposes a law requiring studios and streamers to provide performance data and expand entertainment tax credits in areas losing work.
Becerra will be sworn into office on Jan. 5, 2027, succeeding Governor Gavin Newsom. The transition follows a campaign marked by Hilton's viral moments, including a blunder involving a street taco ad, and Trump's criticism of California in October.
