Xavier Becerra, once a member of President Biden’s cabinet, is now set for a high-stakes face-off in November after securing a leading position in California’s gubernatorial primary, as reported by the Associated Press.
The former Health and Human Services Secretary has made notable gains against Republican front-runner Steve Hilton, thanks to the ongoing counting of ballots arriving late from across the state.
With more than 67% of the expected votes counted, Becerra holds a slight edge over Hilton, with 26.7% compared to Hilton’s 26.4%, according to the AP. This slim lead highlights the competitive nature of the race.
As of Friday afternoon, the margin between the two candidates was fewer than 22,000 votes, illustrating the race’s increasing competitiveness since Election Day.
This tightening contest is influenced by the ongoing counting of ballots from Democratic and left-leaning voters, who traditionally submit their votes closer to deadlines—a trend likely to favor Becerra, the former state attorney general.
Meanwhile, Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer remained in third place with 21% of the vote, while Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco held onto fourth place with 10.7% of the vote.