California’s June 2 primary delivered something the state hasn’t seen in years: genuine political drama. With 57% of the expected vote counted as of June 4, Republican businessman Steve Hilton leads the gubernatorial race at 27%, followed by former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra at 26%. Billionaire Tom Steyer sits in third at 20%, fading but not yet eliminated.
If the current order holds, California will have an R-vs-D general election for governor — a rarity in a state where the top-two primary system has repeatedly produced same-party matchups.
The Governor’s Race
Hilton, a tech executive and former Fox News host, has positioned himself as a pragmatic outsider who can appeal to California’s moderate suburban voters. Trump endorsed him in the final stretch. Becerra, who served as Attorney General under Kamala Harris and as Biden’s HHS Secretary, surged late after Eric Swalwell’s departure from the race cleared the moderate-progressive lane.
The vote count is far from over. California ballots postmarked by June 2 can arrive through June 9, and the Secretary of State has until July 10 to certify results. Steyer’s supporters could shift the dynamics if he falls further behind as late ballots are counted. Becerra’s margin over Steyer is thin enough that the second spot isn’t locked.
Whoever emerges will govern the world’s fifth-largest economy — and will inherit Newsom’s ambitious-but-divisive legacy on climate, housing, and immigration.
Spencer Pratt and the LA Mayor’s Race
The most unexpected story of the night came from Los Angeles, where former reality TV star Spencer Pratt — yes, that Spencer Pratt, from The Hills — earned roughly 30% of the vote in the mayoral primary, battling for second place behind incumbent Mayor Karen Bass (37%). Progressive City Council member Nithya Raman is in third, trailing Pratt but with significant late-arriving ballots still outstanding.
Pratt, whose Palisades home burned in the 2025 fires, has run an anti-establishment campaign built on viral social media content and deep frustration with Bass’s handling of homelessness and public safety. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told Fox News that even top California Democrats are privately impressed by Pratt’s campaign ads. Some 300,000 ballots remain uncounted.
The House Map’s First Test
California’s redrawn congressional districts — the product of a Democratic-controlled redistricting commission — got their first electoral test on June 2. Early results show competitive races in several key districts:
Democrats redrew California’s map hoping to counter Republican gerrymandering in states like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. The results so far suggest the new lines are performing as intended — but the real test comes in November, when these districts face full general-election turnout.
California often takes weeks to finalize its results. The story here will continue to develop. But June 2 confirmed that even in a state Democrats take for granted, 2026 is anything but predictable.