Xavier Becerra advances to California governor general election

Xavier Becerra, a Democratic candidate for governor of California, has advanced to the general election, as projected by the Associated Press. The AP made the announcement at 7:50 p.m. EDT on Friday. Becerra, who previously served as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and as California's attorney general, will compete in the November election to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. The gubernatorial race is anticipated to be a significant contest in the 2026 election cycle, with Democrats aiming to retain control of the office in the predominantly Democratic state. Information about Becerra's opponent in the general election is not yet available.