Xavier Becerra Wins Top Spot in California Gubernatorial Primary, Advances to General Election

Javier Becerra here. California, thank you for standing with us. To every volunteer who sent the text, made a call, or showed up, you built this. No billionaire's checkbook, just people power. I will never forget it. I'm so humbled and honored to be moving on to the general election to become your next governor. California has spoken loudly and proudly. We want a working class governor who cannot be bought, cannot be bullied, and will never back down. California, we're just getting started. You stayed in the fight with me, and on election night, we proved this state is worth fighting for. Now we take that fight all the way to November. Let's hit the ground running. Let's go win this thing. Thank you. Democrat Xavier Becerra advanced to the for California governor on Friday. California uses a nonpartisan top two primary system with the top two vote getters advancing to the general election regardless of party. Becerra is likely to face Republican pundit Steve Hilton or billionaire Democratic donor Tom Steyer in the general election, whoever wins second place in the primary. Currently, millions of primary ballots are still being counted. Born and raised in Sacramento by Mexican immigrant parents, Becerra has a wife and three daughters. He has said his family's immigrant background mirrored his underdog gubernatorial campaign, in which he initially failed to garner substantial support before surging in the final months. Becerra leaned on his more than 35 years in public office, including as state attorney general and U.S. health secretary, to argue that he was the most qualified candidate in a crowded field. If elected, Becerra would be the first Latino to hold the office since the late 1800s. As attorney general, he filed more than 120 legal actions against the first Trump administration on everything from immigration to climate policy. Becerra has vowed to maintain the state's mantle as a chief antagonist to President Donald Trump. He promised to declare states of emergency to address high energy costs and housing shortages, and to freeze home insurance rates if elected.