Xavier Becerra Expands Fundraising Advantage in California Gubernatorial Campaign

SACRAMENTO, CA — Campaign finance disclosures filed with the California Secretary of State on Saturday illustrate an accelerating fundraising pace in the competitive race to succeed outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom in the 2026 gubernatorial election.

Fundraising Totals and Donor Coalitions

Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra reported raising $8.4 million during the second quarter, bringing his total campaign war chest to $18.2 million. Becerra's donor base was buoyed by strong backing from organized labor, statewide healthcare associations, and environmental policy PACs.

Republican contender and former political commentator Steve Hilton reported $3.1 million in second-quarter receipts, emphasizing a grassroots donor network focused on lowering state gas taxes, reforming CEQA environmental litigation, and auditing state homelessness expenditures.

Campaign Trajectory Toward Primaries

Political analysts noted that the high-dollar race will likely shatter historical state campaign expenditure records as candidates prepare for extensive television advertising campaigns across the Los Angeles, Bay Area, and Central Valley media markets.