Republican Steve Hilton to face Democrat Xavier Becerra in California governor’s race

Key Points:

• Former Fox News host Steve Hilton, a Republican, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, have advanced to the general election in the California gubernatorial race, NBC News projects.
• With 88% of votes counted, Becerra leads with about 28% support, followed by Hilton at 25%, billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer at 23%, and Republican Chad Bianco at 10%.
• Hilton faces a steep challenge in the November election, as California is heavily Democratic with registered Democrats nearly double Republicans, and the state hasn't elected a Republican governor in 20 years.
• The primary saw significant shifts, including the withdrawal of top-polling Democrat Eric Swalwell amid allegations, and Becerra's rise as a moderate alternative to Steyer's progressive campaign, which was heavily funded by Steyer's personal wealth.
• During the primary debates, Hilton criticized Becerra and Democrats for long-term governance issues in California, while Becerra questioned Hilton’s lack of government experience, setting the tone for a contentious general election.