Jeanne Kuang

Hilton advances to the November general election, where he’ll face longtime politician Xavier Becerra.

California voters approved a top-two primary election designed to encourage moderation. But in most races, it ends in a conventional Democrat vs. Republican. Some are ready to scrap the top two.

After a heated race with a crowd of Democratic candidates, Xavier Becerra pulled ahead of rival Republican Steve Hilton in election results returned Friday. Becerra’s challenger is not known yet.

Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer and Steve Hilton led in polls in the final days of the California governor election. Results are expected to begin coming in tonight.

Billionaires, Big Oil and other interests are spending big to influence the California governor’s race, making for the most expensive primary campaign in state history.

In a chaotic debate Tuesday night in Pomona, Democrats targeted Steyer and Becerra and everyone sought a breakout moment. No one broke out of the pack.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan dominated fellow Democrats in fundraising, bringing in $13 million. Katie Porter raised $2.8 million, Xavier Becerra brought in $1 million, Antonio Villaraigosa raised $707,000 and Tony Thurmond raised just $62,000.

The Democratic race for governor remains a toss-up, with Tom Steyer and Katie Porter most likely to benefit from Rep. Eric Swalwell’s withdrawal.

Swalwell said he would step down from the office he’s held since 2013 but continued to deny the allegations against him by four separate women.

Fellow Democratic candidates are calling on Swalwell to drop out of the race for California governor as major organizations are reviewing their endorsements of him following a report in the San Francisco Chronicle alleging he assaulted a former staffer. Swalwell denied the allegations.

A judge sealed the warrants allowing a sheriff to seize 600,000 ballots. News organizations say the public has a right to see what’s in them.

Leaders up and down California, many of whom were personally inspired by his life’s work, are grappling with multiple allegations of sexual assault by César Chávez.