Xavier Becerra defeats Steve Hilton, poised to become California’s first elected Latino governor

Xavier Becerra, the former health and human services secretary under President Joe Biden, defeated Republican Steve Hilton to become California’s first elected Latino governor. The Associated Press called the race shortly after polls closed on Tuesday. Becerra, 68, who previously served as attorney general, will succeed Governor Gavin Newsom. The victory occurred in a state that has not elected a Republican to a statewide office in twenty years, with odds heavily favoring the Democratic candidate.