Politics 3 min read By Lauren Baxter
Xavier Becerra wins California governor’s race over Republican Steve Hilton
Democrat Xavier Becerra has been declared the winner of the California governor’s race, defeating Republican Steve Hilton and becoming the state’s first Latino governor.
Democrat Xavier Becerra has been declared the winner of the California governor’s race, easily turning back a challenge from Republican Steve Hilton. The Associated Press called the race on Tuesday night, and Becerra had long been projected to defeat Hilton by a wide margin. He will succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom, and he becomes the first Latino to hold the state’s highest office.
Becerra built his campaign around lowering energy costs and working toward universal health care, two issues that resonate strongly with California voters. The dominant theme of his campaign, however, was opposition to President Donald Trump. Becerra pointed to his record of suing the Trump administration as evidence that he would defend California against federal policies he views as harmful to the state.
The outcome was never seriously in doubt. Becerra, a former congressman and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, entered the general election as the heavy favorite in a state that has long leaned strongly Democratic. Hilton, a Republican, ran as an alternative to the prevailing direction of state politics, but he struggled to close the gap in a contest that reflected the state’s deep blue political landscape.
The race unfolded against a backdrop of national attention on California, the largest state in the country and a frequent counterweight to Washington on policy fights. Becerra’s campaign framed the contest as a choice about who would stand up to the federal government, and his lawsuits against the Trump administration became a central part of that argument. Hilton, by contrast, presented himself as a Republican voice for change in a state where Republicans have held few statewide offices in recent decades.
The result gives Democrats continued control of the governor’s mansion in Sacramento and sets the stage for Becerra’s first months in office. He will inherit a state government facing ongoing debates over housing, energy prices, and the cost of health care, issues that dominated much of the campaign. Becerra’s stated priorities centered on affordability and access to care, and those commitments will now be tested in the state capital.
Becerra’s victory also carries symbolic weight. As the first Latino elected governor of California, he joins a short list of Latino officials who have reached the top of statewide office in the largest state in the country. His win comes as Latino voters have become an increasingly influential bloc in California politics, a shift that Democrats have worked to consolidate in recent election cycles.
Source: variety.com
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