Key facts
- Xavier Becerra is projected to advance to the California governor general election.
- Steve Hilton is projected to advance to the California governor general election runoff.
- Steve Hilton received an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
- Federal authorities are investigating alleged election fraud in California.
- Investigations focus on California's vote-counting process and mail-in ballot system.
- Crypto PACs spent $3.5 million on ads supporting primary candidates.
- Big Tech donors contributed historic sums to California campaigns.
- Sonja Shaw is leading the primary for California Superintendent of Public Instruction.
- Proposition 50, a redistricting effort, appears to have backfired in a key district.
- An antisemitic conspiracy theorist received substantial votes in the governor race.
Democrat Xavier Becerra is projected to advance to the California gubernatorial general election runoff, marking a significant milestone as the first Latino candidate to do so. His Republican challenger is expected to be Steve Hilton, who received an endorsement from President Donald Trump and narrowly defeated progressive candidate Tom Steyer in the primary. Hilton has launched a 55-second advertisement criticizing Becerra's 36-year political career, highlighting issues such as homelessness and high-speed rail.
The California primary has also prompted federal authorities, including the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California and the FBI, to launch multiple investigations into alleged election fraud. These investigations are focused on the state's prolonged vote-counting process and its widespread use of a universal vote-by-mail system. Despite these concerns, several candidates supported by crypto industry-backed PACs secured wins or advanced in primaries across California, New Jersey, and South Dakota, with the PACs spending $3.5 million on ads. Big Tech donors also contributed historic sums to California campaigns, though their impact was mixed, with some tech-backed candidates advancing while others, like gubernatorial hopeful Matt Mahan, faced losses.
In other California races, Republican Sonja Shaw is leading the primary for Superintendent of Public Instruction, benefiting from a split among Democratic contenders. Proposition 50, a Democratic-backed redistricting effort, appears to have backfired in a key district, with Congressman Kevin Kiley expected to win against its intended targets. An antisemitic conspiracy theorist, associated with Charlie Kirk, also garnered a substantial number of votes in the gubernatorial election, despite widespread condemnation.
Steve Hilton faces an uphill battle in the general election due to the significant imbalance of Democratic voters over Republicans in California. The slow vote counting is attributed to a high percentage of mail-in ballots, with results still pending for several key races.