Xavier Becerra, California’s first Hispanic governor elected by popular vote, after defeating Republican Steve Hilton.

The Democrat defeated Republican Steve Hilton to become the first Latino elected by popular vote to lead the most populous U.S. state.

Democrat Xavier Becerra has won California’s gubernatorial election, becoming the first Hispanic candidate elected by popular vote to lead the state and its first governor of Mexican descent, according to projections by The Associated Press and NBC News.

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Becerra, 68, defeated Republican Steve Hilton to succeed Gavin Newsom, marking a historic milestone in a state where Latinos account for more than 40% of the approximately 39.5 million residents.

California has not had a Latino governor elected by popular vote since becoming part of the United States. The only previous Latino to hold the office was Romualdo Pacheco, who served briefly as acting governor in 1875 after being appointed by the state Senate.

Born in Sacramento in 1958 to Mexican immigrant parents with roots in Jalisco, Becerra brings decades of experience in state and federal government to the governorship.

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El demócrata, Xavier Becerra, resulta electo como gobernador del estado California. Se convierte en el primer gobernador hispano en 151 años.

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— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) November 4, 2026

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Democrat Xavier Becerra is elected governor of the state of California. He becomes the first Hispanic governor in 151 years.
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Elections2026 #ElectionDay #USA

He served in the California State Assembly before representing the state in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2017. He then became California’s attorney general, serving from 2017 to 2021.

From 2021 to 2025, Becerra served as secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden, overseeing the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

His path to the governorship included a crowded Democratic primary in June, where he prevailed over more than 60 candidates before facing Hilton, a former Fox News presenter endorsed by President Donald Trump.

During the campaign, Becerra focused on working-class communities and immigrants, drawing on his own family’s experience. He spoke about how his parents’ working-class background shaped his determination to become the first person in his immediate circle to earn a university degree.

The governor-elect pledged to tackle rising energy costs, climate-related emergencies and challenges stemming from federal government policies. His victory also reinforces California’s position as a Democratic stronghold amid the Trump administration.

Becerra will take office on Jan. 4, 2027, when Newsom’s term ends. His inauguration will mark a historic first for California, 151 years after Pacheco briefly became the first Latino to occupy the governor’s office.

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