California primary election results: Becerra, Hilton neck and neck in early results

Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer told supporters he and his backers "know we finished really strong."

Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer told supporters he and his backers "know we finished really strong."

Steyer pledged to advance progressive policies like universal healthcare and aggressive climate policy, ideas he reiterated as votes were still being tallied.

"We should have a system based on fairness, not on asking for fairness," he said.

Steyer's campaign spent or booked more than $203 million in ads for broadcast TV, cable and radio, yielding accusations from some that he had tried to buy the election.

But Steyer noted that major corporate interests, including a major California utility, dumped money into defeating him because he's the candidate willing to take them on.

"I welcome their hatred," Steyer said.

With 52% of the expected votes counted in the race for California governor, Republican Steve Hilton is leading the pack with 27% of the vote, with Democrat Xavier Becerra trailing barely behind him with 26% of the vote.

Hilton and Becerra have been on the top since the polls closed at 8 p.m. The top two candidates will advance to the November general election.

Democrat Tom Steyer is in third place with 20% of the vote, followed by Republican Chad Bianco at 11%. The rest of the candidates each have less than 5% of the votes.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan dropped out of the crowded 2026 California gubernatorial race.

He officially delivered his concession speech after the polls closed Tuesday night, saying his "job isn't done in San Jose yet," marking the end of his campaign for higher office.

Democrat Rob Bonta advances to the general election for attorney general in California.