Becerra Leads California Governor Primary; Haaland Wins New Mexico Nomination

California voters selected nominees Tuesday in a gubernatorial primary marked by a crowded field and limited star power. The top two finishers will face off in November to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom. Polls had narrowed the contest to former attorney general Xavier Becerra, billionaire Tom Steyer and former Fox News host Steve Hilton. Becerra and Steyer, both Democrats, competed with Hilton, the leading Republican, for the two spots that advance under the state's rules.

The race lacked the usual Hollywood or political celebrities and faced disruption from an April scandal that forced candidates to reset their efforts. Turnout patterns suggested many voters waited until late to cast ballots, which could affect final tallies that often take days or weeks to complete in the state. Democratic dominance in California has shaped policy for decades, with the next governor expected to confront persistent problems including homelessness, housing costs and environmental pressures from droughts and wildfires.

In New Mexico, former interior secretary Deb Haaland secured the Democratic nomination for governor. She defeated Albuquerque prosecutor Sam Bregman and is positioned to succeed term-limited Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, would become the first Native American woman elected to the office if she wins the general election in the Democratic-leaning state. New Mexico has alternated between parties in recent decades but has moved toward Democratic candidates in the most recent cycles.

The state relies heavily on oil and natural gas production to fund expansive social programs, including universal child care, health coverage expansions, school meals and tuition support. These initiatives draw from resource revenues that exceed those of all but one other state. The incoming governor will oversee management of those funds amid ongoing questions about long-term sustainability and effectiveness in reducing poverty rates that rank among the nation's highest.

Both states illustrate patterns of one-party control in recent years, with California maintaining strong Democratic majorities and New Mexico shifting in that direction. The outcomes Tuesday set up general election matchups that will test whether voters seek continuity in existing approaches or shifts in emphasis on issues such as housing supply, energy development and public safety. Final results in each primary will determine the precise November pairings once all ballots are processed.