Trump-Backed Steve Hilton Knocks Billionaire Tom Steyer Out of Cali Governor’s Race

Republican Steve Hilton will advance to the November gubernatorial election after nearly a week of counting late-arriving ballots, locking Democrat Tom Steyer out of the race.

The former Fox News host and businessman built a sizable lead on election night and has so far withstood troves of late-arriving ballots that have broken heavily in favor of Democratic candidates.

With 84% of the vote counted, Xavier Becerra holds 27.6%, Hilton in second at 25.1%, and Steyer places third with 22.4%. Decision Desk HQ projected the race at 8:37 p.m. EDT.

Decision Desk HQ projects Steve Hilton wins the second of two spots in the CA Governor Top-Two Primary #DecisionMade: 8:37 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/VDwoKFUcLr

— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) June 9, 2026

Monday’s projection effectively ends Steyer’s campaign, which dumped more than $200 million of his own money into the race. The billionaire climate activist supported raising taxes on corporations, a single-payer “Medicare for All” universal healthcare system, and prosecuting ICE agents.

Hilton, who was endorsed by President Trump, pushed Republicans to coalesce behind his candidacy over fears of a conservative lockout. Not having a Republican at the top-of-the ticket would have likely suppressed GOP turnout this November, according to political analysts. 

Republican Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco managed to pull about 10% of the vote. 

Hilton’s survival comes one day after The Daily Wire reported leftist Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman will advance to the November mayoral election, locking Republican Spencer Pratt out of the race. 

The race to succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential contender, has been marked by a turbulent primary season filled with scandals and viral missteps.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris turned down the opportunity to lead the Golden State, opening an unusually crowded and wide-open field. 

The first major shakeup came when a leaked viral video showed former Rep. Porter (D-CA) berating a congressional staffer, a controversy she never recovered from. 

“Get out of my f*cking shot,” Porter shouted at a staff member when making a video message for the Biden administration. 

Eric Swalwell, the former Bay Area congressman, capitalized on Porter’s collapse in the polls. He quickly amassed key Democratic endorsements and was widely viewed as the race’s frontrunner.

But his hopes to lead the Golden State came crashing down following explosive allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Multiple campaign staffers accused their boss of sending sexually explicit social media messages and inappropriate behavior beyond the halls of Congress. Days later, he dropped his gubernatorial bid and resigned from Congress ahead of an expected expulsion vote. A fifth woman then accused Swalwell of rape in 2018, alleging the lawmaker drugged and raped her in Southern California. 

As polling showed Republicans could lock out Democrats, blue voters consolidated behind former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. 

Dan Schnur, who teaches political communications at USC and UC Berkeley, said Democrats were spooked by the Swalwell scandal. 

“Becerra is this year’s version of the Biden 2020 campaign. He is a stable, reassuring presence, and that seems to have attracted voters, Democratic voters who are worried about less familiar objects,” Schnur told The Daily Wire, “Eric Swalwell was, it was a near-death experience for California Democrats.”

The Cook Political report ranks California’s gubernatorial general election as solidly Democratic.