SACRAMENTO, CA — California voters have elected Xavier Becerra to serve as the Golden State's next governor, according to the Associated Press, which has called the 2026 gubernatorial race in favor of the Democrat.
Becerra, a former California attorney general and former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary under President Joe Biden, will lead a state that has been governed by Democrats for the past 16 years.
Hilton, a former Fox News commentator and political adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, tried to give Republicans an opening in a state where Democrats hold a substantial voter registration advantage.
"If anyone wants to come after California or any one Californian, they better be ready for a fight," Becerra said at a rally near Sacramento Tuesday night.
"What a great night to be an American, to be the son of immigrants from a union household, to be standing in victory with all of you."
Becerra is poised to become the state's first Latino governor since the late 19th century and the state's first elected Latino governor. Becerra was born in Sacramento to a mother from Mexico and a father who was born in California and raised in Mexico.
Becerra's campaign has faced criticism over his relatively limited public appearances and debate participation. His Republican opponent has used that approach to question whether Becerra is adequately engaging with voters and explaining his plans for the state.
Experts say the next governor will determine the direction of state leadership on key issues including housing affordability, health care, transportation, public safety and the state's relationship with the federal government.
What's Ahead For CA's Next Governor
Beyond the candidates, California's fiscal outlook could become a major issue for the next governor.
The state's budget is particularly sensitive to fluctuations in capital gains and income tax revenue, making the performance of high-income earners and the technology sector important factors in state finances. A downturn in technology stocks could add pressure to an already challenging budget environment.
Matt Lesenyie, an assistant professor of political science at California State University, Long Beach, said the state's reliance on technology stocks could create significant budget challenges for the incoming administration.
"I think (Becerra) is going to have a real budget problem on his hands. Particularly with the Google stock news today. Our budget is highly reliant on tech stocks performing," Lesenyie said on Oct. 29, when Google's parent company Alphabet suffered its worst single-day stock drop in history.
Lesenyie also questioned the fiscal decisions made during Newsom's final year in office, suggesting the outgoing governor avoided difficult choices to protect his political standing ahead of a potential presidential campaign.
"I also think that Newsom skipped the tough choices in his final year so he didn't take a popularity hit going into the spring presidential run. I think Becerra is about to find himself in fiscal handcuffs with the budget," Lesenyie said.
Lesenyie also noted a lack of detailed policy proposals from Becerra on the campaign trail.
"On the campaign trail he's been pretty quiet about big plans, mostly 'you know I'm better than the Republican guy,'" he added.
California conducts most of its elections by mail. The AP reported that approximately 90% of ballots in the 2022 gubernatorial election were cast early or by mail. Mail ballot results are generally released early on election night, meaning initial returns may not reflect the final outcome.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow this developing story for updates.
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