Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has secured a spot in California’s November gubernatorial election after CNN’s Decision Desk projected his advancement Friday based on an insurmountable lead over rivals.
Becerra’s advancement guarantees that Democrats will have a nominee on the general election ballot, eliminating concerns that the crowded primary field could allow two Republicans to advance under California’s top-two voting system. The result provides relief to California Democratic Party officials who had worried about vote-splitting among multiple candidates.
CNN’s Decision Desk made the projection after Becerra built a commanding lead over his competitors vying for one of two available spots in the November race. “I’m so humbled and honored to be moving on to the general election to become your next governor,” Becerra said in a video posted to X. “Let’s go win this thing.”
The race for the second position remains undecided, with Republican Steve Hilton, who has backing from President Donald Trump, and billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer still in contention. Election officials have not yet projected which candidate will ultimately secure the second runoff spot.
Since Election Day, Becerra has steadily expanded his margin over both Hilton and Steyer. His performance eliminated any uncertainty regarding his advancement to the general election.
The primary campaign exposed significant fractures within the Democratic field. Several high-profile Democratic figures declined to enter the race, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, leaving voters without a clear frontrunner.
Former Representative Katie Porter briefly emerged as an early favorite before her campaign collapsed following the circulation of controversial videos. Later, former Representative Eric Swalwell entered the race in late 2025 but withdrew after reports surfaced alleging sexual misconduct, which he denied.
Swalwell’s departure created an opening that Becerra successfully exploited. He centered his campaign on government experience and leadership capabilities, arguing that California’s complex challenges required a leader with a proven record managing crises.
Throughout the campaign, opponents attacked Becerra’s tenure handling various issues. Critics targeted his role in managing the child migrant crisis and the federal government’s response to the mpox outbreak during his time as HHS Secretary.
Becerra also faced political complications after a former chief of staff pleaded guilty to fraud involving campaign funds, though Becerra himself has not been accused of wrongdoing in that matter. Supporters defended his record as inherited difficult situations that he worked to address.
Former Biden White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain previously told CNN that Becerra inherited challenging circumstances and worked tirelessly to manage them effectively.
California remains one of the most heavily Democratic states in the nation, with approximately 4.6 million more registered Democrats than Republicans according to current voter registration data. The last Republican governor elected in the state was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who won reelection two decades ago.
Regardless of which Republican ultimately joins Becerra on the ballot, he will compete in a state where Democratic registration significantly outnumbers Republican registration, positioning him with a substantial structural advantage heading into November.
This story has been updated. CNN’s political team contributed to this report.