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Posted inLocal News

Five takeaways from California’s primary election, from governor’s race to Congress

by Ben Christopher, CalMatters June 3, 2026June 3, 2026

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California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks during an election night event in Los Angeles on June 2, 2026. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)

IT WAS A GOOD NIGHT for normie Democrats, a bad one for self-funded campaigns, a mixed bag for state legislators aspiring to higher office and another electoral reminder of President Donald Trump’s dominant role in our politics — even in deepest blue California.

At the top of the ticket, Republican former Fox News host and British political adviser Steve Hilton and longtime Democratic politico Xavier Becerra hold the top two spots needed to progress to the November election for governor. Tom Steyer, the billionaire former hedge fund manager turned left-leaning political donor, is holding a distant though technically viable third. The Associated Press has not called the race.

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Tagged: Aisha Wahab, Ben Allen, Brad Sherman, California Governor, California Legislature, CalMatters, Chad Bianco, Congress, Democratic Party, Doris Matsui, Election 2026, Election Day, election results, Eleni Kounalakis, government, Jane Kim, politics, President Donald Trump, Rep. Mike Thompson, Republican Party, Steve Hilton, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra

Ben Christopher, CalMatters

CALmatters

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