Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra advance to November election for California governor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — Republican Steve Hilton on Tuesday secured a spot in November’s election for California governor.

With an estimated 874,000 ballots remaining to be tallied, the British-born political commentator had received 2,108,641 votes, or 25%. Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, had 2,355,626 votes, or 27.9%.

The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election in California.

Becerra ensured his spot on November’s ballot a few days ago. It appeared Hilton was headed there as well, though Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire, still had a chance to advance to the general election.

Steyer on Tuesday had 1,905,742 votes, or 22.6%. On Tuesday, he conceded the race and endorsed Becerra, as did Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.

Hilton posted a meme of himself on X with the words “Change is coming!” after multiple media outlets reported he’d be on November’s ballot.

Hilton and other Republicans have expressed criticism at how long California takes to tally votes. Election officials can count ballots received seven days after the June 2 election. The secretary of state has until July 10 to certify the election.

The delay has led many conservatives, including President Donald Trump, to claim without evidence the vote was rigged.

Many point to former reality TV personality Spencer Pratt in their arguments, claiming the Trump-endorsed candidate for Los Angeles mayor fell to third place in the vote tally because of a rigged system.

Pratt’s initial votes put him in the top two for days, though as officials counted ballots, Nithya Raman, a Los Angeles council member, took the second spot with 245,490 votes. Mayor Karen Bass is in first with 290,761 votes.

Many other races up and down the ballot remain in the air.

One contest — who will complete the term of U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa, who died in January — is certain. Assemblymember James Gallagher, a Republican, delivered a farewell speech Monday on the Assembly floor. He’s expected to take his new oath of office this week.

Gallagher in his speech called himself and his colleagues stewards, as their time in the Assembly isn’t permanent because of term limits. He expressed hope that he left his North State district better than when he first arrived.

“I’ll let history be the judge of whether that’s so,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher won 121,919 votes, or 62.1%, avoiding an Aug. 4 runoff. However, the special election was held under an old district map. The November election will use a map drawn under Proposition 50, a voter-approved measure that redrew districts to favor Democrats.

The primary for the next two-year term also happened June 2. In that election, Gallagher took 74,911 votes, or 43.9%. State Senator Mike McGuire won 68,517 votes, or 40.2%. It appears both are headed to the November election.

Several other congressional districts have closely watched races.

U.S. Representative Ami Bera is fighting for his job in the newly redrawn 3rd Congressional District. Bera, a Democrat, got 70,754 votes to Republican Robb Tucker’s 60,336 votes, or 35% to 29.8%.

A similar race is happening in another redrawn district, the 6th, where former Republican and now independent U.S. Representative Kevin Kiley received 45,006 votes. Former Democratic state Senator Richard Pan has 42,587 votes, or 24.5% to 23.2%.

State Senator Aisha Wahab, a Silicon Valley Democrat, is in first place for the 14th Congressional District, a Bay Area seat formerly held by U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell. Wahab has 56,684 votes to Democrat Melissa Hernandez’s 25,140 votes, or 38.5% to 17.1%.

A special election to fill the remainder of Swalwell’s term is set for June 16.

U.S. Representative Adam Gray in the 13th District has 37,006 votes compared to former Stockton Mayor and Republican Kevin Lincoln’s 24,603 votes, or 42% to 27.9%.

Gray was one of six Democrats who sided with Republicans to end last year’s federal government shutdown. Two Republicans sought to unseat him in the swing district that includes Modesto and Merced.

In the 22nd District race, Republican U.S. Representative David Valadao took 26,642 votes to Democrat Randy Villegas’ 20,010 — 41.8% to 31.4%.

Democratic U.S. Representative Derek Tran won 84,024 votes, or 53.7%, in his bid to keep his Orange County seat in the 45th District. Coming in second was Republican Chuong V. Vo, who took 24,075 votes, or 15.4%.

The 48th District, at the state’s southern border, drew nine Democrats, two Republicans and one unaffiliated candidate in a race to succeed outgoing Republican U.S. Representative Darrell Issa.

Republican Jim Desmond took the most votes with 65,001, or 39.4%. Democrat Marni von Wilpert came in second with 34,793, or 21.1%.