In Los Angeles, the race for California’s governor has taken shape with Republican Steve Hilton securing a spot in the November general election. He will be competing against Democrat Xavier Becerra.
ABC News announced Hilton’s advancement on Tuesday afternoon, with 88% of the anticipated votes counted.
As early results started rolling in, candidates Matt Mahan and Antonio Villaraigosa exited the race. Later in the evening, Katie Porter also conceded as more votes were tallied.
Hilton is set to face a significant challenge in November, given that California’s voter registration leans heavily Democratic, with nearly double the number of Democrats compared to Republicans. A victory for Hilton would mark the first time a Republican has won a statewide office in California since 2006.
Despite the odds, Hilton remains optimistic.
“Change is coming to California,” Hilton declared following the election. “This is good news for everyone.”
The outcome means Democratic candidate Tom Steyer did not qualify for the November election.
During the campaign Hilton attacked Democrats over the state’s high cost of living, the homelessness crisis and other issues. He pledged to lower prices for everything from gas to housing; make Californians’ first $100,000 free of income tax; create a loan program for first-time homebuyers; and freeze in-state tuition at public colleges.
Hilton was endorsed in April by President Donald Trump, which helped him consolidate support among Republican voters in the primary but could be a liability in the general election.
Hilton, who has never held elected office, came to the United States in 2012 from the United Kingdom, where he was an adviser to Conservative Party officials including former Prime Minister David Cameron. He had a show on Fox News from 2017 to 2023 and became a U.S. citizen in 2021.
Hilton often mentions his parents’ experience fleeing communism in Hungary before migrating to the U.K. as a formative part of his family’s history that helped shape his conservative worldview.
Steyer has put more than $216 million of his personal fortune into his campaign.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Stay with us for the latest details on this developing story.
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