Xavier Becerra wins California race for governor with vows to resist Trump’s agenda

Xavier Becerra has been declared the winner of California's gubernatorial race, marking a historic moment as he becomes the first Latino elected governor of the state. The Associated Press (AP) announced Becerra's victory at 8 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday evening, based on a broad array of evidence, including past vote results, pre-election polling, campaign fundraising, and results from AP's own Voter Poll. The Democratic candidate triumphed over his Republican opponent, Steve Hilton, a Trump-endorsed figure.

According to a poll conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and supported by the Los Angeles Times, Becerra was expected to secure 61% of likely California voters, while Hilton garnered only 34%. Becerra's political career has been marked by significant public service roles, including his tenure as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025.

Prior to that, he served as California's Attorney General from 2017 to 2021 and represented California in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2017.

Born and raised in California, Becerra earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and a Juris Doctor from Stanford University. His path to the gubernatorial race was challenging, with initial low polling and a competitive primary field. The pressure on lower-polling candidates led to some dropping out, including Democratic contender Tom Steyer, who left the race in April following allegations of sexual misconduct and assault, which he denies.

After these developments, Becerra secured the Democratic nomination and faced off against Hilton in the general election.

Regarding Hollywood, Becerra supports a federal film tax incentive and intends to defend and expand California's $750 million tax credit cap. However, his stance on including "above the line" salaries or uncapping the program remains ambiguous, potentially impacting California's competitiveness with other states like New York and New Jersey.

Becerra has consistently criticized Trump, pledging to resist the president if elected. In contrast, Hilton has advocated for an end to what he perceives as "16 years of one-party rule" in California, advocating for a change from the Democratic-led status quo. Hilton, who moved to California in 2012 from the United Kingdom, where he served as strategy director for former British Prime Minister David Cameron, has received Trump's endorsement, which might have complicated his campaign in California, where the former president lost the 2024 presidential election by a significant margin.