Hilton Leads in California Governor Primary; Pratt Looks Poised for LA Mayoral Runoff

Hilton Leads in California Governor Primary; Pratt Looks Poised for LA Mayoral Runoff

Despite polls and conventional wisdom suggesting Republicans would be shut out of California’s top statewide and local races, early returns from Tuesday’s primary tell a different story. While the final results may not be known for several days, as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, with 62% of precincts reporting, Republican Steve Hilton leads the gubernatorial field with 27.8% of the vote. Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra follows at 25.4%, while billionaire Tom Steyer, who has reportedly spent $200 million on his primary campaign, trails at 19.6%. The current results put Hilton in a strong position to advance to the general election.

𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐍𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎: 𝐓𝐎𝐌 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐒 “𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐎 𝐈 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐋” — $𝟔𝟎𝟎𝐌 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐔𝐘 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄

On CNN NewsNight, Ana Navarro accidentally described the actual mechanism of Tom Steyer’s California gubernatorial campaign:… pic.twitter.com/BYysioOkau

— M.A. Rothman (@MichaelARothman) June 3, 2026

Meanwhile, in the runoff for Los Angeles mayor, Republican outsider Spencer Pratt also appears poised to advance to the next round. With 69% of the vote counted, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leads with 34.8% of the vote, followed by Pratt at 30.4%. City Council member Nithya Raman lags behind at 22.3%. If the current numbers hold, Pratt will have outperformed recent polling that projected he would miss the runoff entirely.

JUST IN

Los Angeles Mayoral Primary called – it’s official, Karen Bass WILL likely face off against Spencer Pratt this November.

Republican Steve Hilton still leading over the closest Democrat contender Xavier Becerra as votes continue to be counted. pic.twitter.com/9izIwlzd8D

— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) June 3, 2026

The contest to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom has undergone many twists and turns, highlighted by the spectacular political collapse of former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell in April, who was once considered the clear frontrunner in the race.

At his primary night watch party, Hilton, a former Fox News host and Trump’s endorsed candidate, energized a standing-room-only crowd with a simple message: “Change is coming to California, and it’s long overdue.”

During his remarks, Hilton revealed the inside lining of his blazer, which featured American and California flags. He said former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, had encouraged him several years ago to add the design, prompting Hilton to declare, “Arnold, I did that for you.” The gesture drew a thunderous ovation from supporters.

Republican gubernatorial candidate @SteveHiltonx whipped a standing-room-only election-night crowd into a frenzy when he revealed the lining of his suit jacket, emblazoned with the American flag on one side and the California flag on the other.https://t.co/d2bbiyFraa

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) June 3, 2026

Hilton launched his campaign in April 2025, with a promise to “end the years of Democrat failure” in California. He told voters, “It’s time to make California Golden Again.”

In an interview with Fox News following his speech, Hilton credited his success so far in the race to speaking “honest, simple truths” to voters. “Everything is too expensive in California,” he said. “We’re going to cut people’s costs.”

Although he is seeking a local office, former reality television star Spencer Pratt has emerged as a national political curiosity thanks to a string of creative, entertaining, and surprisingly effective campaign ads. The growing excitement and online buzz surrounding Pratt’s ads have captured the public’s imagination — particularly in the weeks since he turned a candidate debate with Bass and Raman into must-see television.

One recent ad played on the idea of the “silent Pratt voter.” Drawing a parallel to the so-called silent Trump voters whom pollsters were accused of overlooking in 2016, the ad suggests that many Pratt supporters are similarly reluctant to reveal their preferences to pollsters. It features four women at a Pilates studio who each quietly admit they plan to vote for Pratt.

People underestimate how many Moms in LA have run out of patience with drug zombies on the streets. pic.twitter.com/Dr34CoM4YQ

— BORED (@BoredElonMusk) May 17, 2026

This extremely effective ad reflects the toll that decades of progressive governance have taken on Los Angeles. The city has undergone a profound decline, yet those who dare to acknowledge that reality often feel compelled to voice their views in private, fearful of being ostracized by their peers.

Understandably, Pratt’s confrontational, rapid-response style of campaigning has made him a thorn in Democrats’ side. After reports surfaced in May that Pratt stayed at the upscale Hotel Bel-Air after losing his home in the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, he quickly released a highly amusing ad spoofing the theme song from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down pic.twitter.com/Zes4VRdZxX

— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) May 18, 2026

Pratt’s authenticity — and his fervent desire to reverse Los Angeles’s decline — appears to be resonating with voters. He is genuinely alarmed by the city’s trajectory and determined to change it.

What began as a long-shot candidacy is increasingly looking like a serious political campaign. Pratt is effectively channeling the frustration many Angelenos feel toward the city’s political establishment — frustration that was intensified by widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the wildfires.

California remains a difficult state for Republicans, and both Hilton and Pratt still face steep challenges in the months ahead. But Tuesday’s results should serve as a reminder that political momentum matters and that voter frustration can upend longstanding political assumptions.

Hilton has proven himself to be a disciplined, articulate candidate with a message that is obviously resonating with voters. And Pratt has demonstrated an unusual ability to connect with voters through authenticity, humor, and relentless campaigning. Whatever happens in November, one thing is already clear: anyone who continues to dismiss either man is making a serious mistake.

Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on LinkedIn.

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