California governor hopefuls make final push before Tuesday primary

California's leading governor candidates fanned out across the state — including stops in Orange County — making final appeals before Tuesday's top-two primary closes, with roughly 60 contenders competing to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The stakes are high for Southern California voters: Newsom is barred from a third term, California has not elected a Republican governor since 2011, and early turnout stood at just 13 percent as of Friday, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Two candidates have broken from the pack in recent polling. Former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, and Republican Steve Hilton — a former Fox News host backed by President Donald Trump — each commanded roughly 20 percent support among likely California voters in two polls, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Becerra, who has spent more than 35 years in state and federal office, centered his closing argument on experience. "This is not a place for on-the-job training. You better know what you're doing," Becerra said on a podcast hosted by political commentator Ana Navarro. He has framed his candidacy as a call for "hot competence summer."

Hilton pitched a more populist message, telling reporters in Sacramento: "It's not ideological. It's just simple, practical commonsense - $3 gas, cut your electric bills in half." The Republican candidate has leaned on Trump's endorsement as he seeks to break the Democratic hold on the governorship.

Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer, a Democrat, insisted the race remains a three-man contest. "And I am running because Californians can't afford to live here anymore," Steyer told supporters gathered at a sports bar in Berkeley, casting the cost-of-living crisis as his defining issue.

Other major candidates include former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. The field made campaign stops in Orange County as candidates competed for Southern California voters in the final days before voting closes.

California has roughly 23 million registered voters. The two candidates who finish at the top of Tuesday's primary — regardless of party — will advance to a November general election runoff.