California voters head to the polls June 4 to narrow a crowded governor’s field to two candidates for a November runoff. The contest pits billionaire financier Tom Steyer against former state attorney general Xavier Becerra, while former Fox News host Steve Hilton leads the lone serious Republican. All parties compete under a top‑two system that ignores party labels this year.

Steyer has shattered spending records, pouring $200 million into ads that aired over 1,300 times in May, outspending every other campaign combined significantly. Becerra relies on industry backing, with oil, utility and tech groups contributing roughly $54 million to oppose Steyer and reinforce his own bid. The spending duel tests whether California voters will back a billionaire progressive or a seasoned bureaucrat.

Hilton, buoyed by a Trump endorsement, is likely to secure the Republican slot, but his chances of winning the governorship remain slim. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass faces reality‑TV challenger Spencer Pratt and progressive councilwoman Nithya Raman, with polls showing a tight three‑way split. The outcomes will shape policy priorities and fiscal outlooks for the state’s $3 trillion economy.