Xavier Becerra secures spot in California governor’s general election

Xavier Becerra has advanced to the November general election in California’s gubernatorial race, cementing a stunning come-from-behind primary victory in one of California’s most turbulent campaign seasons in recent memory. Election officials are continuing to count ballots to determine whether he will face fellow Democratic Tom Steyer or Republican Steve Hilton in the fall. Becerra’s advance in the nation’s largest Democratic stronghold was, in his own words, the “Hollywood ending” few saw coming. Just months ago, mired at 3% in the polls, the former California attorney general and US health secretary faced pressure from his own party to drop out of the contest to allow voters to consolidate behind a more viable candidate. “The underdog stayed in the fight,” an ebullient Becerra told supporters at his election night party on Tuesday, as early returns showed him with a strong chance of prevailing in the primary. It remains unclear whether he will face Steyer, the environmental activist who championed progressive policies like universal healthcare and more taxes on billionaires like himself, or Hilton, the former UK political operative turned Fox News personality who was endorsed by Donald Trump. Steyer, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020, spent more than $200m of his personal fortune to blanket the airwaves while he sought to capitalize on voter frustration and anger over housing costs, homelessness and public safety. …