Xavier Becerra Advances to November Runoff in California Governor's Race
Xavier Becerra, a former Biden cabinet member and ex-Health and Human Services secretary, has advanced to the November runoff in California's gubernatorial race. According to the Associated Press, Becerra has made significant gains against Republican frontrunner Steve Hilton as late-arriving ballots continue to be counted. With over 67% of expected ballots tallied, Becerra holds a narrow lead with 26.7% of the vote, while Hilton has 26.3%. The race has tightened considerably since Election Day, with more than 24,000 votes separating the two candidates. Democratic and left-leaning voters, who tend to return ballots later, are expected to continue benefiting Becerra as their votes are counted. Meanwhile, Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer is in third place with 21% of the vote, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is in fourth with 10.8%. 
