Two Men Lead California Governor Race
Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra are ahead in the vote count for California's next governor.
Two men are leading the race to become California's next governor. Steve Hilton, a Republican, and Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, have the most votes so far. The election happened because the current governor, Gavin Newsom, cannot run again due to term limits.
Xavier Becerra used to be the health secretary under President Joe Biden. He promises to freeze insurance and utility rates if he becomes governor. Becerra says his long experience in politics makes him the best choice.
Steve Hilton has an interesting background from Britain and TV. He used to advise the British Prime Minister and later hosted a Fox News show. Hilton wants to cut taxes and reduce government rules to make California more affordable.
The race became messy because many Democrats decided to run. This split up the Democratic votes and worried party leaders. California's primary system lets the top two vote-getters advance to the general election.
The contest was shaken up after one of the leading candidates dropped out amid allegations of sexual assault.
Comprehension quiz preview
1. Who is the current governor of California?
2. How many people ran for governor in this primary election?
3. What job did Xavier Becerra have under President Biden?