Steve Hilton Wins California Runoff Spot With 25% Vote as GOP Eyes First Statewide Victory Since 2006
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 10
Steve Hilton Wins California Runoff Spot With 25% Vote as GOP Eyes First Statewide Victory Since 2006
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 10
Summary
Hilton locked in second place for California’s November governor runoff after slow-counted returns left him at 25%, 2.9 points behind Xavier Becerra and 2.4 points ahead of Tom Steyer.
The result gives Republicans their first serious statewide opening in years, though Hilton still faces steep odds in a heavily Democratic state where the party has not won statewide office in 20 years.
Since election night, Hilton has started pivoting from Donald Trump—despite Trump’s endorsement—saying Joe Biden won in 2020 and rejecting claims that California’s vote was rigged.
Steyer has now conceded, clearing the field for a Hilton-Becerra contest that will likely center on California’s cost of living, housing shortages and Democratic governance, while Hilton tries to outrun Trump’s drag in November.