All articles tagged with #california governor
Steve Hilton, a Trump‑endorsed former UK adviser and Fox News host, advanced from California's crowded primary, edging out Tom Steyer to face Xavier Becerra in November; a Hilton win would be the first Republican California governor in 15 years amid a historically expensive, high‑stakes race.
Democrat Xavier Becerra officially qualified for California's gubernatorial general election, setting up a likely showdown with either Republican Steve Hilton or Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer, while SFist’s Saturday Links also highlights other Bay Area news items.
Democrat Xavier Becerra is projected by the AP to advance to California's governor race general election after a late surge in a crowded primary. It remains unclear who will join him on the November ballot, with Republican Steve Hilton and billionaire Tom Steyer in strong positions as mail ballots continue to be counted. Becerra would be the first Latino governor in modern California history if elected; his moderate stance contrasts with Steyer's populist approach and with other rivals who trailed in the primary.
Six states vote in primaries Tuesday, led by California's governor’s race—where Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer vie with Republican Steve Hilton after Eric Swalwell's exit—and a crowded Los Angeles mayoral field including Spencer Pratt facing incumbent Karen Bass and Democrat Nithya Raman; Democrats seek to expand their Senate map with Iowa and Montana open seats, while other California and New Jersey House races are watched for clues ahead of November.
Xavier Becerra, the front-running California gubernatorial candidate, faces a wave of anonymous criticism from former Biden administration officials over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and unaccompanied migrant children, amid broader Beltway tensions. Supporters highlight accomplishments from his HHS tenure, like drug-price relief and ACA expansion, while critics allege unpreparedness and limited visibility during crises. The debate blends legitimate concerns with partisan hostility, and voters deserve a transparent, evidence-based appraisal beyond anonymous soundbites as the primary race tightens.
A PPIC poll of 986 likely voters shows Democrat Xavier Becerra leading the California governor’s race with 23%, followed by Steve Hilton at 20%, Tom Steyer at 15%, Chad Bianco at 13%, and Katie Porter at 12%. The race is shaped by California’s open-primary system, with Becerra gaining momentum after Swalwell dropped out amid misconduct allegations; the survey also highlights broader national mood and other political trends ahead of midterm elections.
In Emerson College Polling’s latest survey, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass leads the mayoral field with about 30% but remains short of a majority, making a runoff with Spencer Pratt or Nithya Raman likely; Pratt is at 22% and Raman at 20%. In California’s governor race, Xavier Becerra has surged to 19% with Tom Steyer and Steve Hilton tied at 17%, signaling a tight primary as undecided voters shrink ahead of the June 2 vote.
CNN's two-hour Los Angeles debate placed Xavier Becerra under heavy attack over his HHS tenure and campaign-finance ties, while rivals sparred on single-payer health care and California’s CalCare concept, sanctuary-state policy, housing, and a proposed billionaire tax; with no clear frontrunner in a sprawling field, the high-stakes race for California’s next governor remains volatile ahead of the June primary.
Seven California governor candidates faced CNN in Monterey Park, trading sharp lines on housing affordability, energy, AI, healthcare, and immigration. Xavier Becerra touted his experience and readiness to fight the Trump administration, Antonio Villaraigosa pressed for reform, Steve Hilton attacked Democratic policies, Tom Steyer pushed tax reforms and anti‑corporate stands, and Chad Bianco defended his law‑enforcement record while keeping questions about his Oath Keepers ties in play. The lively debate highlighted policy divides as mail ballots arrive and the field narrows in the race.
Democrats are warning Kamala Harris about a potential 2028 presidential run, arguing she would face a substantial burden defending her past DC record and that a California governorship could have been a stronger path; the party is divided as Harris weighs a national bid amid a competitive California governor race and lingering concerns about nominating her.
Xavier Becerra is gaining steam in California’s governor race, buoyed by high-profile endorsements (including Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas) and a recent poll bump that put him level with Tom Steyer after Eric Swalwell dropped out; his fundraising has surged with over $1 million raised on ActBlue in a week from mostly first-time donors, signaling a growing grassroots movement ahead of the June 2 primary.
Former California state Controller Betty Yee dropped out of the 2026 governor’s race due to weak donor support and a lack of traction in a crowded field; she had raised about $583,000 in 2025, did not endorse another candidate yet, and noted that California’s top-two primary and expensive media markets made it hard to compete.
San Jose Mayor and California gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan urged a temporary suspension of the state’s gas tax to provide relief as California pump prices near $5.50 per gallon. He argued that working families are strained by fuel costs and that Californians shouldn’t subsidize global conflicts, tying high prices to a California-specific tax and climate-fee structure while pitching affordability as a key issue in his campaign.
With no breakout candidate in California’s open Democratic governor race, Rep. Eric Swalwell and billionaire Tom Steyer have surged into the top tier in recent polls. Swalwell has gained visibility through cable news presence and a strong endorsement from Sen. Adam Schiff, while Steyer has saturated major media markets with ads, leveraging his wealth to stay front and center. The field remains unsettled, helping both veterans’ campaigns to endure, though Porter remains a contender and other rivals attack them to slow momentum.
Silicon Valley executives and investors have channeled about $3.3 million into a committee backing San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s bid for California governor, a critical boost as he tries to close a wide gap in a crowded, high-spend race. The independent expenditure group includes $1 million gifts from Michael Seibel and Marc Merrill (and $500,000 from Neil Mehta) and has booked considerable airtime, underscoring tech industry influence in California politics ahead of the June 2 primary.