Xavier Becerra advances in California governor race to replace Newsom
Jun. 5, 2026, 8:08 PM EDT By Julianne McShane
Xavier Becerra will advance to the general election in California’s gubernatorial race.
Becerra was barely leading the field when The Associated Press reported Friday he would go on to the general election. In second place with roughly 67% of the votes counted was former Fox News host Steve Hilton, trailed by billionaire businessman Tom Steyer.
The top two vote-getters will move on to the November general election.
Becerra previously served as the Health and Human Services secretary under President Joe Biden, was California attorney general from 2017 to 2021 and was a member of Congress for more than 20 years. He made a late-in-the-race surge in polling at 25% in late May, after coming in at 5% in early March.
The race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom became wide open after former Vice President and California Sen. Kamala Harris and the state’s senior senator, Alex Padilla, chose not to run. The race was further shaken when some candidates who were gaining popularity became embroiled in scandals. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell, viewed as a potential front-runner, dropped out after facing sexual misconduct allegations, while former Rep. Katie Porter came under scrutiny over allegations that she bullied staffers.
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Steyer is a billionaire and hedge fund investor who launched a Democratic bid for presidency in 2020, branding himself as a progressive climate activist.
British-born Hilton is a registered Republican who received backing from President Donald Trump. In a Truth Social post earlier Tuesday, Trump wrote that Hilton “will work with me and the Federal Government, the money will flow because I have confidence in him (but not any of the others!), and we will MAKE CALIFORNIA GREAT AGAIN.” California has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was first elected in 2003.
The next governor of California will inherit a range of challenges, including an unstable state budget, an affordability crisis and the fallout from ongoing clashes with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
Julianne McShane
Julianne McShane is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW who also covers the politics of abortion and reproductive rights. You can send her tips from a non-work device on Signal at jmcshane.19 or follow her on X or Bluesky.
Sophie Cunningham turned heads off the court before dominating Angel Reese, Spurs-Knicks ticket price & Saban!
Sophie Cunningham finished with a +11 off the bench as Indiana dominated Atlanta on both ends of the floor
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We did it! We made it to another Friday. To the first weekend of June. Whew. Everyone can exhale now.
And hey! For June, we have a pretty loaded weekend on tap.
NBA Finals (for those interested)
Stanley Cup
Super Regionals
Memorial tournament
Belmont Stakes
Honestly? It's not the worst lineup you'll see this summer. We're also experiencing a rare June cold front down here in Florida, which is nice. By "cold front," I mean it's 82 instead of 92, but that makes a big difference this time of year.
So, yeah, we're rolling right now. A lot of momentum. Let's pump out one final class this week and get on outta here.
Welcome to a Friday Nightcaps — the one where Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark dominate Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream, both on and off the court. You'll see.
What else? I've got the best of the rest from a loaded week of #content, Scottie ripping his caddie a new one after a water ball off the tee, and more Nick Saban talk in June.
HERE'S WHY NICK SABAN AND NOTRE DAME'S PETE BEVACQUA ARE WRONG ABOUT NIL RUINING COLLEGE FOOTBALL
OK, grab you a veggie burger for National Veggie Burger Day — throw it straight into the trash and get a Bubba Burger instead — and THEN settle in for a Friday 'Cap!
Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Caitlin and Sophie set the tone and take Game 1
Let's spin the wheel and start with ... the WNBA! That's right.
Look, I normally wouldn't do it, but when Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham and Angel Reese are all on the floor at the same time, I sort of have to. I'm nothing if not a sucker for the Google Algo.
The Fever won the first game of something called "The Commissioner's Cup" last night over Reese and the Dream. For those who don't know, that now makes Caitlin Clark 6-1 against Reese since the infamous finger-point in college, which I'm sure will delight most of you.
There were a few newsy moments from the game, most notably this little sequence in the first half that I reckon will now be used whenever an Angel Reese fan tries to say she's better than Caitlin Clark:
Lordy. Not great! Why is Angel Reese anywhere near the three-point line? Seems silly to me, but I admittedly ain't the biggest basketball fan.
The box score tells me that Reese finished with a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds), while Clark finished with 17 but shot just 6 of 17 from the floor. For those interested in the +/- stat, Reese was a -2, while Caitlin was a +2.
They all paled in comparison to Sophie, who finished with eight points off the bench and a +11 on the court.
WNBA'S SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM'S LATEST VIRAL ATTIRE CELEBRATES HER LOVE OF BBQ, CORNHOLE GOLF COURSE & HOT STEAKS!
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) plays in the first half against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 17, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
That's our girl! Remember where you met Sophie Cunningham first, boys and girls. Right here, in these spaces, last year.
She became famous last summer when she defended Clark after a hard foul, and it's been off to the races ever since.
Perhaps we should've known she was primed for a big game when she got to the arena dressed like someone ready to bash some skulls.
May you like
Choose your fighters, America:
SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM BELTS OUT A GARTH BROOKS CLASSIC IN HER SHREDDED JORTS AT INDY BAR, PGA BEER PRICES & MEAT
