Republican Steve Hilton’s election night lead in California’s gubernatorial primary has narrowed significantly as mail-in ballots continue arriving 48 hours after polls closed, with Democrat Xavier Becerra rapidly gaining ground in a race that President Trump claims shows clear signs of election rigging.
Republican Lead Shrinks as Counting Extends Beyond Election Night
Steve Hilton maintains a lead with 1,532,530 votes representing 27.17 percent of ballots counted. Democrat Xavier Becerra, who served as Health and Human Services Secretary under President Biden, trails with 1,468,875 votes at 26.04 percent. Democrat Tom Steyer holds third place with 1,139,578 votes at 20.18 percent. Election officials report only 57 percent of ballots have been tallied two full days after voting concluded Thursday evening.
The timing raises questions about California’s extended counting procedures. Hilton commanded the lead shortly after polls closed Tuesday evening. Mail-in ballots arriving after election night have disproportionately favored Democratic candidates Becerra and Steyer, steadily eroding Hilton’s initial advantage.
Trump Accuses California of Election Manipulation
President Trump addressed reporters at the White House Wednesday and Thursday, directly accusing California officials of manipulating election results. He stated California is rigging the election and pointed to rapidly changing vote totals. Trump expressed concern about mail-in ballots that officials discovered overnight, questioning the legitimacy of ballots appearing well after voting ended. His comments reflect broader concerns among Republicans about California’s ballot counting processes and mail-in voting procedures.
Democrats Signal Determination to Block Republican Victory
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently revealed he maintains a confidential plan to prevent a Republican from winning the governorship. Newsom described this as a secret arrangement he would implement if necessary to stop Republican electoral success in California. The Democratic governor’s comments came before the primary but have gained renewed attention as the vote counting extends and Hilton’s lead diminishes with each ballot update from election officials.
What This Means
California’s extended ballot counting process continues to generate controversy as the gubernatorial race remains undecided days after voters cast their ballots. The shifting vote tallies demonstrate how mail-in ballots can substantially alter election night results. With less than one percentage point separating the top two candidates and 43 percent of ballots still uncounted, the outcome remains uncertain. The prolonged counting period and changing results fuel ongoing debates about election integrity and mail-in voting procedures in America’s most populous state.