Democrat Xavier Becerra advances to general election in California governor's race, AP projects
In the California gubernatorial race, Democrat Xavier Becerra will advance to the general election, the Associated Press projects.
The AP has not yet projected which candidate Becerra will face.
As of Friday evening with about 66% of the expected vote counted, Becerra, the former secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration, had about 26.7% of the vote, according to the AP tally.
Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, followed with 26.4% of the vote. Democrat Tom Steyer, an activist and billionaire, had 21% of the vote.
California hosts non-partisan primaries, which means all candidates are listed on one primary ballot and the top two candidates advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
"The people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on earth, have spoken -- loudly and proudly," Becerra said in a statement. "We will not be bought. We will not be bullied. And we are never backing down. November, here we come."
Becerra, a former state attorney general, congressman and state lawmaker, unexpectedly gained momentum in recent weeks, especially after former Rep. Eric Swalwell's exit from the race amid allegations of sexual assault.
Becerra would also become the first Latino to win a major party gubernatorial primary in California, according to his campaign. If elected governor, he would be the state's second Latino governor, after Romualdo Pacheco, who held the office for 10 months in 1875.
His team celebrated his projected win in the primary as "a breakthrough that reflects both the demographic transformation of California and the enduring power of a politics rooted in working people and underrepresented communities."
On the campaign trail, Becerra was on the receiving end of multiple attacks from his opponents in recent debates when asked about his handling of an increase in unaccompanied migrant children during his time as HHS secretary. He has called those criticisms a "MAGA talking point."
In the most expensive governor's race on record, the California gubernatorial primary election has now seen $327.6 million on ad spending and reservations, per AdImpact. Steyer shouldered 63% of that total sum.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
