SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) – Republican Steve Hilton on Tuesday secured a seat in November’s California gubernatorial election.
With around 874,000 ballots left to be counted, the British-born political commentator had received 2,108,641 votes, or 25%. Former US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, had 2,355,626 votes, or 27.9%.
The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the California general election.
Becerra secured his seat on the November ballot a few days ago. Hilton appeared to be headed there as well, although Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire, still had a chance to advance in the general election.
Steyer on Tuesday had 1,905,742 votes, or 22.6%. On Tuesday, he conceded the race and endorsed Becerra, as did Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Hilton posted a meme of himself on X with the words “Change is coming!” after multiple media outlets reported he would be on the November ballot.
Hilton and other Republicans have been critical of how long California is taking to count votes. Election officials can count ballots received seven days after the June 2 election. The Secretary of State has until July 10 to certify the elections.
The delay has led many conservatives, including President Donald Trump, to claim without evidence that the vote was rigged.
Many cite former reality TV personality Spencer Pratt in their arguments, alleging that the Trump-backed Los Angeles mayoral candidate fell to third place in the vote count due to a rigged system.
Pratt’s initial votes put her in the top two for days, though as officials counted the ballots, Nithya Raman, a Los Angeles councilwoman, came in second with 245,490 votes. Speaker Karen Bass is first with 290,761 votes.
Many other races up and down the ballot remain up in the air.
One race — who will finish the term of U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who died in January — is certain. Assemblyman James Gallagher, a Republican, gave a farewell address Monday on the House floor. He is expected to take his new oath this week.
Gallagher in his speech referred to himself and his colleagues as stewards, as their time in the Assembly is not permanent due to term limits. He expressed hope that he left his region in the northern state better than when he first arrived.
“I’ll let history judge if that’s the case,” Gallagher said.
Gallagher won 121,919 votes, or 62.1%, avoiding an August 4 runoff. However, the special election was held under an old county map. The November election will use a map drawn below Proposition 50a voter-approved measure that redistricted to favor Democrats.
Primary elections for the next two-year term also took place on June 2. In that election, Gallagher received 74,911 votes, or 43.9%. State Sen. Mike McGuire won 68,517 votes, or 40.2%. Both appear to be headed to the November election.
Several other congressional districts have watched the races closely.
U.S. Representative Ami Bera is fighting for his job in the newly redrawn 3rd Congressional District. Bera, a Democrat, received 70,754 votes to Republican Robb Tucker’s 60,336 votes, or 35% to 29.8%.
A similar race is taking place in another redistricting district, the 6th, where former Republican and now independent US Representative Kevin Kiley received 45,006 votes. Former Democratic state Sen. Richard Pan has 42,587 votes, or 24.5% to 23.2%.
State Sen. Aisha Wahab, a Silicon Valley Democrat, is the front-runner for the 14th Congressional District, a Bay Area seat previously held by U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell. Wahab has 56,684 votes to Democrat Melissa Hernandez’s 25,140 votes, or 38.5% to 17.1%.
A special election to fill out the remainder of Swalwell’s term is set for June 16.
U.S. Rep. Adam Gray in the 13th District has 37,006 votes compared to former Stockton Mayor and Republican Kevin Lincoln’s 24,603 votes, or 42% to 27.9%.
Gray was one of six Democrats who aligned with Republicans to end last year’s federal government shutdown. Two Republicans sought to unseat him in the swing district that includes Modesto and Merced.
In the 22nd District race, Republican U.S. Rep. David Valadao received 26,642 votes to Democrat Randy Villegas’ 20,010 — 41.8% to 31.4%.
Democratic US Representative Derek Tran won 84,024 votes, or 53.7%, in his bid to retain his Orange County seat in the 45th District. In second place was Republican Chuong V. Vo, who received 24,075 votes, or 15.4%.
The 48th District, on the state’s southern border, drew nine Democrats, two Republicans and an unaffiliated candidate in a race to succeed outgoing Republican U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa.
Republican Jim Desmond received the most votes with 65,001, or 39.4%. Democrat Marni von Wilpert came in second with 34,793, or 21.1%.
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