Former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) on Thursday advanced to November’s general election in the race to become California’s next governor, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Trump-backed Fox News commentator Steve Hilton (R) and billionaire Tom Steyer (D) are currently battling for the second spot in November’s general election, when Golden State voters will decide on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) successor.

Becerra holds 26.03 percent of the vote as of late Thursday night, while Hilton has won 27.18 percent of the vote and Steyer is in third place with 20.18 percent of the vote.

Becerra appears to be doing well among mail-in voters across the Golden State’s 58 counties and is expected to pass Hilton at the current vote-count pace, according to Decision Desk HQ.

California’s unique primary system requires all candidates for office to appear on the same ballot regardless of party. The two candidates with the most votes move on to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

The former HHS secretary was boosted by his past experience as California’s attorney general before joining former President Biden’s administration. Becerra holds appeal among Latino voters, who make up a significant portion of the state’s electorate.

If elected governor, Becerra would be the first Latino governor since Romualdo Pacheco, who served from February to December 1875.

Becerra also received a boost in support after former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) dropped out of the race following multiple sexual assault and misconduct allegations against him.

The former Biden official carried single-digit support early in his campaign, but his support grew over time and elevated him to front-runner status after Swalwell’s exit from the race in April, as reflected in the latest survey from Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics.

If Steyer advances and faces Becerra in November, it would buck the state’s trend of one Democrat versus one Republican in the final stretch of the California gubernatorial race.

Julia Mueller contributed.

This story was updated at 10:21 p.m. EDT.

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