Hilton, Becerra hold leads in tight, still too-close-to-call California governor’s race

California’s heavy reliance on mail-in voting and lengthy ballot verification process frequently delays definitive outcomes in tightly contested elections.

Among the most watched races are: a New Jersey Democrat who could oust a Republican incumbent absent with a mystery medical issue for months; several Iowa Democrats hoping to flip their red-leaning state; and California’s redrawn maps that have given Democrats an advantage in the heavily blue state.

Voters across several states headed to the polls Tuesday in one of the busiest primary election days of the 2026 cycle, selecting nominees for high-profile gubernatorial, Senate and local races as candidates campaigned on issues ranging from affordability and trade to immigration and public safety.

The California governor's race remains up in the air a day after the primary vote, with British-American former TV host Steve Hilton and onetime Biden cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra at the top of a crowded field.