California Gubernatorial Primary Remains Uncalled as Three Candidates Lead

2026-06-03

The BareStory

The 2026 California gubernatorial primary to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom remains uncalled, with approximately half of the votes tallied. Preliminary results indicate that Republican Steve Hilton and Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer are leading the field. Under the state’s primary system, the top two candidates will advance to the November general election regardless of their political party affiliation.

Early vote counts show Hilton securing about 28 percent of the vote, followed by Becerra at 25 percent and Steyer at 20 percent. Hilton, who received an endorsement from Donald Trump, focused his campaign on reducing the state's cost of living. Becerra emphasized his past government experience, while Steyer positioned himself as a progressive alternative, criticizing Becerra for relying on corporate campaign donations.

Following the close of voting, several contenders conceded the race after acknowledging they would not advance. Candidates who ended their campaigns include former Representative Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco remained in the race as of Tuesday night.

The primary election also narrowed the field in other key California races. In Los Angeles, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass secured a position in the November mayoral runoff, though her general election opponent remains undetermined pending further vote tabulation. Additionally, State Senator Scott Wiener and Connie Chan will advance to face each other in the general election for the state's 11th Congressional District.

Left Perspective

Challenge Established Corporate Influence
Shield Against Regressive Threats
Anchor Progressive Local Infrastructure

Right Perspective

Restore Basic Economic Order
Leverage Non-Partisan Structural Mechanics
Capitalize on Establishment Exhaustion

Left Perspective

• Challenge Established Corporate Influence The Reformer wing views Tom Steyer's 20 percent vote share as a vital push for government accountability. By specifically attacking Xavier Becerra’s reliance on corporate campaign donations, progressives are prioritizing a rejection of the institutional status quo. They reason that true social progress and protection of the vulnerable cannot be achieved if leadership remains tethered to wealthy, extractive interests.

• Shield Against Regressive Threats With Trump-endorsed Steve Hilton securing 28 percent of the early vote, the Left perceives a severe threat to the state’s civil liberties and progressive safeguards. The fragmented Democratic field in the top-two primary system creates a vulnerability where a conservative might capture executive momentum. Reformers view Hilton’s "cost of living" messaging as a populist Trojan horse that masks a broader traditionalist agenda intended to dismantle social equity programs.

• Anchor Progressive Local Infrastructure The advancement of established progressive figures like Karen Bass in Los Angeles and Scott Wiener in the 11th Congressional District demonstrates the underlying resilience of the reform agenda. The Left prioritizes these down-ballot victories as essential bulwarks against any potential executive-level fragmentation. Maintaining control of major municipalities and legislative seats ensures continuity for civil rights and equity-focused governance, regardless of top-ticket vulnerabilities.

Right Perspective

• Restore Basic Economic Order The Traditionalist camp views Steve Hilton’s 28 percent early lead as a clear mandate to fix the state's broken economic environment. By focusing his campaign strictly on reducing the cost of living, Hilton appeals to the Right’s core priority of systemic stability and practical governance. They interpret the current affordability crisis as a direct failure of progressive hegemony, requiring a return to civic discipline to restore a functioning social order.

• Leverage Non-Partisan Structural Mechanics California’s top-two primary system is seen by the Right as a crucial mechanism to bypass a deeply entrenched Democratic establishment. Consolidating early behind a single Trump-endorsed candidate allows conservatives to guarantee a spot in the November election, sidestepping the state's heavy blue partisan lean. Traditionalists recognize that exploiting this institutional rule is the most viable strategy to reintroduce political competition and check one-party rule.

• Capitalize on Establishment Exhaustion The early exit of high-profile Democrats like Katie Porter, Matt Mahan, and Antonio Villaraigosa exposes severe fractures within the ruling party's coalition. The Right interprets the ongoing feud between Xavier Becerra’s emphasis on government experience and Tom Steyer’s progressive critiques as proof of ideological decay. They believe these internal left-wing divisions alienate everyday voters, creating an opening for traditionalist leaders to pitch a platform of institutional continuity over endless progressive infighting.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• In the short term, the advancement of candidates in the state's 11th Congressional District primary sets the stage for a November general election that will determine a seat in the U.S. Congress, directly impacting federal legislation that affects the entire country.

• Over the long term, the ultimate winner of the gubernatorial race will dictate regional approaches to the cost of living and social equity programs, which could alter the local economic environment and the handling of civil liberties under either traditionalist or progressive leadership.

• The success of a conservative candidate utilizing a non-partisan, top-two primary system to bypass a deeply entrenched political establishment demonstrates a structural campaign strategy that could influence how elections are contested in heavily partisan areas nationwide.

• The ongoing public feud between progressive and establishment candidates over reliance on corporate campaign donations may shape future expectations for government accountability and how campaigns interact with wealthy financial interests.

California Gubernatorial Primary Remains Uncalled as Three Candidates Lead

The BareStory

Left Perspective

Right Perspective

How it may affect me

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