Democrat Xavier Becerra defeated Republican Steve Hilton to become California's next governor, the Los Angeles Times reported. The Associated Press declared Becerra the winner at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, as polls closed statewide.

Becerra will be the state's first elected Latino governor. The only Latino to previously hold the office, Romualdo Pacheco, became governor in 1875 after a resignation, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The governor's race topped a long ballot for Santa Monica voters, who also chose among 12 candidates for three City Council seats, five candidates for three Rent Control Board seats and five local measures covering education funding, rent control, eviction protections and hotel taxation, according to a Patch voter guide.

Election night returns

With more than 7.2 million votes counted statewide on election night, Becerra led Hilton 64.1% to 35.9% as of 11:59 p.m., according to the California secretary of state's office, the Mercury News reported. Hilton conceded defeat a little before 9:15 p.m., the Los Angeles Times reported.

Los Angeles County saw strong turnout. By early afternoon on Nov. 3, more than 1.9 million ballots had been cast in the county, representing about one-third of registered voters, according to CBS News Los Angeles. That already surpassed the county's overall turnout from the 2022 gubernatorial election.

The AP's California governor results page is tracking returns from local election officials statewide. Counties will continue counting ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 that arrive by Nov. 10. Official certified results are due by Dec. 11, according to the state's election results page.

The candidates

Becerra served as California's attorney general starting in 2017 and later as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) under former President Joe Biden, according to KTVU. He previously served a dozen terms in Congress. His campaign priorities included health care, affordable housing, disaster preparedness and opposing the Trump administration.

Hilton, a former Fox News host and adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, had never held elected office, KTVU reported. He pledged to lower gas prices to $3 per gallon, cut utility bills, eliminate state income taxes on earnings under $150,000 and abolish the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). President Donald Trump endorsed Hilton.

The two debated once, in September, according to CalMatters. Becerra linked Hilton to Trump, while Hilton accused Becerra of dodging the state's problems.

Polls pointed to a wide margin

Becerra entered Election Day with a wide lead. A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, published Oct. 30, showed Becerra at 61% among likely voters compared with 34% for Hilton. That poll surveyed 1,477 likely voters and carried a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

IGS Poll Director Mark DiCamillo told the Times: "He's solidified almost unanimous support now among Democrats. Republicans are almost unanimous in the other direction."

Democrats outnumber Republicans roughly two-to-one among California's registered voters, according to KTVU. About 45% of voters are registered as Democrats and 25% as Republicans.

Becerra replaces termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom and is set to take office on Jan. 4, 2027, CBS News Los Angeles reported.