Xavier Becerra (D), former Health and Human Services Secretary, has moved forward to the general election in November for California governor.
As per data projected by Decision Desk HQ on Thursday, Becerra has secured the top spot. Steve Hilton (R), a Trump-endorsed Fox News commentator, and billionaire Tom Steyer (D) are vying for the second spot.
Here’s What Prediction Market Is Saying
Data from Kalshi, a federally authorized betting platform, shows that over $43 million has been bet on the contract “California Governor winner?”
As per the contract, Becerra has the best chance, with bettors placing a 72% probability on him winning the race, followed by 22% probability for Steyer and 7.2% probability for Hilton.
Becerra’s Campaign
Becerra’s campaign benefits from his tenure as California’s attorney general and his appeal to Latino voters, a significant demographic in the state. If elected, he would be California’s first Latino governor since José Antonio Romualdo Pacheco in 1875.
His support surged after Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) exited the race amid allegations, boosting Becerra’s standing to frontrunner status, as per Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics.
High Speed Rail Project
Becerra has pledged to overhaul the state’s high-speed rail project. In a recent address in Fresno, Becerra emphasized his intention to “scrap the current configuration” of the rail plan, which he criticized for failing to meet budget and timeline expectations. He assured that, if elected, he would complete the project efficiently, highlighting the need for high-speed rail in the state.
The current high-speed rail project, supported by Governor Gavin Newsom, aims to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco. However, it faces financial challenges, with 463 miles of the 494-mile project ready for construction but requiring additional funds to finish.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Kalshi
