Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra locked up the top spot in California’s gubernatorial primary, NPR reported Friday, June 6 — but who he’ll face in November is still an open question.
Millions of ballots remained uncounted as of that report, leaving Becerra’s general election opponent unresolved. California’s jungle primary sends the top two finishers — regardless of party — to the November ballot, which means the field won’t fully shake out until more votes are tallied.
Becerra served as HHS secretary under President Biden. Before that, he was California’s attorney general for about five years, and before that, a U.S. House member representing the Los Angeles area for more than two decades. He’s the best-known name in a crowded field.
Still nothing settled on the other side of the race.
The identity of his November challenger — whether a Republican, another Democrat, or an independent — won’t be confirmed until California finishes counting. That process has historically stretched days or even weeks past Election Day in a state that mails ballots to every registered voter.
NPR hasn’t projected a second-place finisher in the primary as of this report.
Reported by NPR. Read the original report.
