California voters today gave Xavier Becerra a resounding victory in his bid to be the first Latino governor of the nation’s most populous state.
The California Secretary of State reported a more than 125,000-vote margin in the evening's early count at 8:23pm.
CNN and NBC called the race in favor of the 68-year-old Democrat just minutes after the first reports.
Less than 60 minutes after polls closed, Hilton delivered a brief concession speech: "Maybe this wasn't the best year to be running for office as a Republican," he said, while remaining upbeat and thanking his supporters.
Becerra, a former state attorney general and congressman, followed almost immediately with a televised victory speech.
“Si, Si, Puede! Yes, we can!” he told a crowd of cheering supporters in a 9pm victory speech, quoting “the battlecry of our beloved Dolores Huerta,” the United Farmworkers co-founder who died Oct. 28 at 96.
“What a great night to be an American, to be the son of immigrants, from a union household, to be standing in victory with all of you,” Becerra said, flanked by his wife, Dr. Carolina Reyes, and his three daughters.
Less than an hour after polls closed, Becerra held an insurmountable 64%-36% margin over Hilton, the former Fox news host who couldn’t escape the fatal weight of an endorsement by President Donald Trump.
The president’s endorsement had propelled Hilton to a top-two position in the state’s primary in June, but Hilton’s support grew only slightly in the months that followed, while Becerra’s support among voters continued to swell. Becerra had led the primary field of 61 candidates with 28%, while Hilton tallied 25%.
After the primary, it appeared as if the California governor campaign was Becerra versus Trump.
Democrats outnumber both Republicans and independents in California by two-to-one margins. Hilton’s connection to Trump and the GOP doomed his chances among the state’s independents, virtually assuring Becerra’s success.
Becerra’s primary campaign benefited from the scandalous withdrawal of early frontrunner Eric Swalwell. In less than a month after the East Bay congressman left the race, the Democratic establishment and organized labor – and the middle ground of undecided voters – pivoted to the former attorney general.
In those few short weeks, Becerra’s polling numbers increased from 3% to nearly 30%.
In the primary debates, he avoided any direct criticism of Gov. Gavin Newsom, repeatedly cited his government experience to set him apart from his party rivals, and worked hard to focus on the Trump Administration and the president’s endorsement of Hilton.
He was able to beat back opposition from Big Tech, was outspent by billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, while avoiding any major controversy and any hint of scandal.
Even from the start of his campaign in late 2025, Becerra’s focus was on President Trump, more than his Democratic opponents. The first page of his campaign website spotlights what he called the failures of the Trump Administration, and Becerra’s past efforts on the front lines of efforts against Trump.
As California’s Attorney General, for example, Becerra sued the Trump Administration more than 120 times, and won landmark victories “protecting Obamacare, working Californians and Dreamers from attacks.”
During his campaign he touted his role as the US Secretary for Health and Human Services, he expanded health coverage to more than 24 million Americans and stood up to drug companies to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Becerra also is a former Congressman and state Assemblyman.
Becerra was a quiet, street-level campaigner, avoiding big rallies and firm positions or detailed promises on the state’s big challenges of energy, immigration, health care and homelessness. He said he favored “health care for all,” federal cuts to state aid, and was sharply critical of ICE enforcement actions.
His administration will benefit not only from his margin of popular support, but also from the Democrats’ continued super-majority in the Legislature and its clean sweep of other statewide posts.
He will be sworn in three weeks before his 69th birthday. Becerra is married with three daughters, His wife, Dr. Carolina Reyes, is an American maternal-fetal medicine specialist (perinatologist), associate clinical professor at UC Davis Health, and is a prominent women's health advocate. She is a graduate of Stanford University and earned her M.D. from Harvard University. The likely governor-elect also is a Stanford alum, and earned his law degree from Stanford Law School.
In the other statewide races, Democrat Fiona Ma was leading Gloria Romero for lieutenant governor and incumbent Shirley Web was ahead of Republican Don Wagner. Incumbent Democrats Rob Bonta, attorney general, and Malia Cohen, controller, were also leading their Republican opponents, Michael Gates and Herb Morgan, respectively.
Initial returns also show Democrats leading in the contests for treasurer, Eleni Kounalakis over Jennifer Hawk; insurance commissioner, Ben Allen over Jane Kim; superintendent of public instruction, Richard Barrera over Sonja Shaw.
