Republican Steve Hilton has advanced to the primary election for California governor, where he will face Democrat Xavier Becerra.
Hilton, a former Fox News host, had nearly 25% of the vote Tuesday — enough to send him through to the November election, according to the AP.
“What an incredible honor to be chosen by Californians to lead the movement for change in the greatest state in the greatest nation on earth. There’s nowhere better than California,” Hilton said in a statement.
Hilton cited recent polling that shows a majority of Californians believe the state is on the wrong track and called Becerra the “ultimate career politician.”
“After 36 years in the political machine, his policies gave California the highest poverty rate, the highest unemployment rate, and the highest cost of living in America. Now he promises ‘no change’ to those policies,” Hilton said.
Becerra, a former congressman, California attorney general and Health and Human Services secretary under President Joe Biden, visited business owners in South Los Angeles on Tuesday.
“We’re taking this campaign straight to November because every community in California deserves the same chance to thrive,” Becerra posted on X.
Becerra was the top vote getter in the June 2 primary, with about 28% of total votes as of Tuesday evening, according to Associated Press.
Billionaire Tom Steyer, who spent more than $200 million on his bid for governor, finished in third place with roughly 23% of total votes.
