California Governor Primary Results 2026 Live Updates: Who Won the Governor Race in California? Check County Wise Full Winner List | Steve Hilton vs Xavier Becerra

California Governor Primary Results 2026 Live Updates: California voters have begun shaping the state’s political future as results from the 2026 governor’s primary continue to emerge across dozens of counties. With Governor Gavin Newsom leaving office because of term limits, one of the most closely watched races in the country remains too close to call.

Early returns show Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra pulling ahead of a crowded field of candidates, positioning themselves as the leading contenders for a potential November showdown. As millions of ballots continue to be counted, the primary is already offering an early glimpse into the issues and candidates that could dominate California politics for the rest of the year.

California Governor Primary Results 2026 Live Updates

California’s top-two primary system has produced a highly competitive race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom. Candidates from both major parties appeared on the same ballot, with only the top two vote-getters advancing to the November general election regardless of party affiliation.

Former US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Republican commentator Steve Hilton and billionaire Tom Steyer emerged as the leading contenders throughout election night, while several other high-profile candidates struggled to gain momentum.

Who Won the Governor Race in California?

California has not officially declared a winner in the governor’s primary race.

However, early results show Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra occupying the top two positions statewide, giving both candidates a strong chance of advancing to the general election.

Election officials continue counting ballots across California, meaning the final outcome could take several days or even weeks to confirm.

Full Winner List: County Wise, US Primaries

Several counties reported strong performances for Steve Hilton, particularly in Republican-leaning regions.

County-level results remain subject to change as additional ballots are counted.

Who are the Top Names in the California Governor Race?

The race attracted a large and diverse field of candidates. Major contenders included:

• Xavier Becerra
• Steve Hilton
• Tom Steyer

As counting continued, Hilton and Becerra separated themselves from the rest of the field and emerged as the strongest contenders.

Steve Hilton Total Secured Votes

Republican Steve Hilton secured 1,355,710 votes so far and performed strongly across many suburban and inland counties.

He led in several major population centres, including Orange County, San Diego County and Fresno County, while also posting strong results throughout much of Northern and Central California.

His support base has been driven by voters focused on affordability, public safety and government reform.

Xavier Becerra Total Secured Votes

Democrat Xavier Becerra secured 1,241,964 votes so far and maintained strong support in California’s major urban centres and heavily Democratic regions.

He led in Los Angeles County, Alameda County, Santa Clara County and several other population-heavy counties that could prove crucial as more ballots are processed.

Becerra’s campaign focused heavily on housing affordability, healthcare access and environmental protections.

Steve Hilton vs Xavier Becerra

The emerging contest between Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra highlights two sharply different visions for California’s future. Steve Hilton has campaigned on reducing regulations, improving public safety and addressing the state’s affordability challenges.

Becerra has emphasised healthcare expansion, housing construction and protecting progressive policies that have defined California politics for years.

If current trends continue, voters could see a highly competitive Hilton-Becerra matchup in November.

California Governor Primary Results 2026 Live Updates: What’s Next in the Governor Race?

The focus now shifts to the completion of California’s lengthy vote-counting process.

Election officials must continue processing mail-in ballots, provisional votes and ballots received after Election Day but postmarked on time. Until that process is complete, the final order of finish remains uncertain.

If Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra maintain their current positions, California voters will head into November with one of the most closely watched gubernatorial contests in the United States. The race will not only determine Gavin Newsom’s successor but could also shape the national political landscape ahead of the 2028 presidential election.