The 2026 California governor race: Xavier Becerra vs. Steve Hilton

Active · last development Sep 25, 2026: “Xavier Becerra expands lead over Steve Hilton in California governor's race, poll shows”

What this arc covers

The race to succeed Gavin Newsom as California's governor: the decisions by Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla not to run, the field of candidates, including Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Matt Mahan and Eric Swalwell, and those who dropped out, including Eleni Kounalakis and Betty Yee, the canceled and contested debates, Trump's endorsement of Steve Hilton, the June 2026 primary that sent Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Hilton to the November election, and the general-election campaign.

Photo from KQED News, with Xavier Becerra expands lead over Steve Hilton in California governor's race, poll shows (Sep 25, 2026), the story with the most independent sources this week.

Earliest story we hold Jul 30, 2025 · 22 stories · 77 independent sources (counted once each) · 422 days

Part ofCaliforniaSteve HiltonXavier BecerraDemocratic PartyGavin NewsomDonald Trumpdeserted medieval villageKamala Harris

Part of The 2026 governor races

  1. The 2026 Florida governor race: Byron Donalds vs. David JollyJun 5, 2025 – Sep 20, 2026
  2. The 2026 Wisconsin governor race: David Crowley vs. Tom TiffanyJul 24, 2025 – Aug 24, 2026
  3. The 2026 California governor race: Xavier Becerra vs. Steve HiltonThis arcJul 30, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
  4. The 2026 South Carolina governor race and Alan Wilson's Republican primary winAug 4, 2025 – Jun 23, 2026
  5. The 2026 Pennsylvania governor race: Josh Shapiro vs. Stacy GarrityAug 18, 2025 – Sep 22, 2026
  6. The 2026 Minnesota governor race: Amy Klobuchar vs. Lisa DemuthSep 16, 2025 – Sep 21, 2026
  7. The 2026 Georgia governor race: Keisha Lance Bottoms vs. Rick JacksonSep 17, 2025 – Jun 17, 2026
  8. The 2026 Alabama governor race and Tommy Tuberville's bidNov 25, 2025 – Jul 14, 2026
Show remaining 8 arcs
  1. The 2026 Ohio governor race: Amy Acton vs. Vivek RamaswamyJan 17, 2025 – Sep 8, 2026
  2. The 2026 New York governor race: Kathy Hochul vs. Bruce BlakemanJun 2, 2025 – Sep 23, 2026
  3. The 2026 Arizona governor race: Katie Hobbs vs. Andy BiggsFeb 13 – Jul 30, 2026
  4. The 2026 Michigan governor race: Jocelyn Benson vs. John JamesMay 21 – Aug 19, 2026
  5. The 2026 Iowa governor race: Rob Sand vs. Zach LahnJun 3 – Aug 26, 2026
  6. The 2026 Maine governor race: Hannah Pingree vs. Bobby CharlesJun 19 – Sep 9, 2026
  7. The 2026 Colorado governor race: Phil Weiser vs. Victor MarxJul 1 – Jul 31, 2026
  8. The 2026 Rhode Island governor race: Helena Foulkes's primary defeat of Dan McKeeAug 26 – Sep 7, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Sep 252026Xavier Becerra expands lead over Steve Hilton in California governor's race, poll shows4 articles · 4 independent sources
0 left, 2 center, 2 right
Sep 22– 232026Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Brings $3 Gas to Goleta for Campaign Stop4 articles · 4 independent sources
1 left, 2 center, 1 right
Sep 172026Steve Hilton vs. Becerra: Latest California Polls With 7 Weeks to Midterm2 articles · 2 independent sources
0 left, 2 center, 0 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jul 30 – 31, 2025Former VP Kamala Harris says she will not be running for California governor next year74 articles · 47 independent sources
  2. Nov 19 – 20, 2025Tom Steyer Announces Run for California Governor30 articles · 21 independent sources
  3. Apr 6 – 7, 2026How Trump's endorsement of Steve Hilton impacts California governor's race34 articles · 22 independent sources
  4. Jun 2 – 10, 2026Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton advance in race for California governor; Both will face off in Nov. election51 articles · 26 independent sources
    1. Jun 2, 2026California Governor Primary Results: Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra Lead
    2. Jun 6, 2026Steve Hilton roasts Xavier Becerra with sitcom-style ad after Dem gov. candidate advances to runoff: ‘Is this a joke?’
    3. Jun 10, 2026Republican Steve Hilton advances in tight California governor’s race
  5. Jun 6, 2026Democrat Xavier Becerra advances to general election in race for California governor31 articles · 26 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jul 2025Oct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jun 2026Sep 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jul 28, 20258151069
Aug 4, 20251618
Oct 6, 20250224
Nov 3, 20250317
Nov 17, 2025314952
Jan 26, 202615211
Mar 23, 202624613
Apr 6, 202639633
Apr 20, 20261318
Apr 27, 202644218
May 25, 20260306
Jun 1, 2026710464
Jun 8, 202639733
Jul 20, 202611213
Aug 3, 20260011
Aug 10, 202623411
Sep 7, 202625218
Sep 14, 20260202
Sep 21, 20261438

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

26% left · 48% center · 26% right of 77 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 22 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. July 2025

    Jul 30– 31Former VP Kamala Harris says she will not be running for California governor next year74 articles · 47 independent sources
    8 left, 15 center, 10 right

  2. August 2025

    Aug 8Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis drops out of California governor’s race8 articles · 8 independent sources
    1 left, 6 center, 1 right

  3. October 2025

    Oct 8California governor candidate Katie Porter cuts off interview after testy Trump exchange5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 2 right

  4. November 2025

    Nov 4– 5Sen. Alex Padilla says he won't run for governor of California, plans to remain in the Senate8 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 1 right
  5. Nov 19– 20Tom Steyer Announces Run for California Governor30 articles · 21 independent sources
    1 left, 9 center, 6 right
  6. Nov 21Rep. Eric Swalwell announces run for California governor25 articles · 20 independent sources
    3 left, 7 center, 4 right

  7. January 2026

    Jan 29San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan announces run for California governor13 articles · 10 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 2 right

  8. March 2026

    Mar 24– 25California governor debate canceled after criticism from candidates of color, lawmakers13 articles · 12 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 6 right

  9. April 2026

    Apr 6– 7How Trump's endorsement of Steve Hilton impacts California governor's race34 articles · 22 independent sources
    3 left, 9 center, 6 right
  10. Apr 20Democrat Betty Yee drops out of race for California governor8 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
  11. Apr 27– 29All 8 candidates for California governor clash in tense debate as Primary Election looms18 articles · 10 independent sources
    4 left, 4 center, 2 right

  12. May 2026

    May 28Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton lead the pack in the race for California governor, new poll shows6 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right

  13. June 2026

  14. Jun 2– 10Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton advance in race for California governor; Both will face off in Nov. election51 articles · 26 independent sources
    3 left, 11 center, 7 right
  15. Jun 6Democrat Xavier Becerra advances to general election in race for California governor31 articles · 26 independent sources
    6 left, 9 center, 4 right

  16. July 2026

    Jul 22– 23Republican Hilton tells Californians they can hate Trump but still vote for him in governor’s race13 articles · 13 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 2 right

  17. August 2026

    Aug 7– 14Becerra holds strong lead over Hilton in race for California governor, new poll shows12 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 5 right

  18. September 2026

    Sep 8CNN to host California gubernatorial debate ahead of November election12 articles · 12 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 2 right
  19. Sep 8– 9Steve Hilton proposes abolishing California DMV, capping registration fees at $737 articles · 6 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 0 right
  20. Sep 17Steve Hilton vs. Becerra: Latest California Polls With 7 Weeks to Midterm2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  21. Sep 22– 23Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Brings $3 Gas to Goleta for Campaign Stop4 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
  22. Sep 25Xavier Becerra expands lead over Steve Hilton in California governor's race, poll shows4 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 2 right