Steve Hilton launched an ad targeting Xavier Becerra in the California governor’s race
Steve Hilton vows to fix California’s election system as early results remain undecided
The results of California’s primary elections for governor and mayor of Los Angeles are still delayed days after voting, as officials continue to count mail-in ballots. Meanwhile, Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing a new wave of troubling allegations from former girlfriends, which he says are politically motivated. Congressman Ro Khanna is defending Platner, despite warnings from other Democrats.
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California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton launched a new ad campaign on Saturday targeting former Biden chief of staff Xavier Becerra, signaling that the general election battle may already be underway as primary votes continue to be counted.
The 55-second ad pokes fun at Becerra’s long political career and record in government, portraying the Democratic Alliance as the continuation of California’s political landscape.
The ad shows silent clips of Becerra from a vintage TV screen while captions flash across the screen, including: “I’ve been a politician for 36 years. Vote for me.”
Other captions are articles that could become themes in the governor’s race, including homelessness, California’s high-speed rail project and Becerra’s years as Health and Human Services secretary in former President Joe Biden’s administration.
HILTON, BECERRA, LEADER OF VOTES COUNTED IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S RACE.
The ad also tries to tie Becerra and Gov. Gavin Newsom, concluded with the message: “I wouldn’t change a thing about the way California is governed,” followed by the tag line, “Don’t watch another rerun.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Becerra and Hilton campaigns for comment.
The ad comes less than 24 hours after The Associated Press reported that Becerra would advance to California’s November gubernatorial election to replace the moderate Newsom.
CALIFORNIA ELECTION LIMBO CONTINUES 4 POINTS AS VOTE COUNT IS RELEASED, EXPERT SAYS
Republican Rep. Steve Hilton speaks during a news conference in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, File)
As voting continued Saturday, Becerra led the field with 26.8 percent of the vote, according to AP tallies. Hilton got 26.4%, while Democrat Tom Steyer got 21.1%.
About 68% of the votes have been counted as of Saturday afternoon.
In a statement after the AP race call, Becerra celebrated the result and pitched his campaign as a battle for California voters.
XAVIER BECERRA QUESTIONS THE ‘WHISPERS’ HE KNEW ABOUT ERIC SWALWELL’S BEHAVIOR DURING THE CA GOVERNOR DEBATE.
California gubernatorial hopefuls Xavier Becerra, left, and Steve Hilton participate in a debate in San Francisco. (Laure Andrillon/AP Photo, File)
“The people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation in the world, have spoken – loudly and proudly,” Becerra said. “We will not be bought. We will not be abused. And we will not back down. November is here.”
Becerra’s campaign also said the result makes him the first Latino candidate to advance from California’s first-term governor to the general election, calling it a milestone for the state.
If elected in November, Becerra would be California’s first Latino governor since Romualdo Pacheco, who served a short term as governor in 1875.
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Becerra, a former California attorney general, served as secretary of Health and Human Services during the Biden administration before launching his gubernatorial campaign.
Hilton, a former Fox News anchor and political commentator, campaigned as a political outsider and reform agent, arguing that California is headed in the wrong direction under Democratic leadership.
Tuesday’s primary results have not been confirmed.
