Democrat Xavier Becerra Wins California Governor's Race, Defeating Republican Steve Hilton
Photo: The Daily SignalDemocrat Xavier Becerra won California's governor's race, defeating Republican Steve Hilton, according to projections and race calls from CBS News, the AP, Fox News and Decision Desk HQ. Becerra, a former state attorney general and Health and Human Services secretary under President Joe Biden, will succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. He will be the first Latino governor of California in more than 150 years, since Romualdo Pacheco. Decision Desk HQ called the race at 11:13 p.m. EST. Becerra and Hilton advanced from the June top-two primary, where Becerra took about 28% and Hilton about 25%, ahead of billionaire Tom Steyer at about 23%. An October UC Berkeley poll had Becerra at 61% to Hilton's 34%. Becerra spent 24 years in Congress representing Los Angeles and became a top candidate after Eric Swalwell left the race in April amid misconduct allegations, which Swalwell denied. The campaign centered on the cost of living, housing, energy policy and relations with Washington.
Left-leaning CBS News leads with the projection and the historic Latino milestone. It details the campaign issues, the primary and polling numbers, and Becerra's congressional career, including his chairmanship of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Swalwell exit. Right-leaning outlets frame the result around party control and Becerra's Biden ties. The Daily Signal's headline says California "stays blue" and calls him Biden's former health secretary, and cites Decision Desk HQ's 64.6%-35.6% margin. Fox News stresses his three decades in office, his HHS tenure and the continuation of Democratic dominance, and includes Hilton's Skid Row tour and a link about illegal immigrant healthcare costs. Both sides agree on the outcome, the primary figures and Becerra's résumé. They differ in what they emphasize: history and issues versus Biden ties and Republican criticisms. Alternative outlets Variety and Deadline add Becerra's anti-Trump campaign theme and Democratic gains elsewhere on election night.
How the sides differ Left sources stress Becerra's historic Latino milestone and campaign issues; right sources emphasize his Biden-administration ties and continued Democratic control; alternative sources add the national Democratic election-night context.
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CBS News leads with its projection and Becerra's history-making Latino milestone, backing it with primary results, polling and details of his congressional career, the Swalwell exit and the campaign's key issues.
Variety highlights Becerra's energy-cost and universal health care platform and his opposition to President Trump; Deadline places the win within broader Democratic gains in the House, Senate races and governorships.
The Daily Signal and Fox News identify Becerra as Biden's former health secretary and stress continued Democratic control, citing vote margins, his career history and Hilton's focus on homelessness and spending.