Ex-UK political aide Steve Hilton loses bid for California governor to Democrat
Hilton, who was endorsed by President Trump, faced an uphill battle as a Republican in the widely liberal state.
Former UK political aide Steve Hilton loses California governor race to Democrat
Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra debated each other in April
Steve Hilton, the former senior adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, has lost his bid to become California governor to Democrat Xavier Becerra.
Hilton, who was backed by President Donald Trump, faced a difficult path as a Republican in the strongly liberal state. His defeat was projected within minutes of polls closing in California.
Polls had indicated he had only a narrow chance of winning, particularly on an election night when Democrats recorded historic victories. He had campaigned to "save" the state from what he called heavy-handed bureaucracy and economic decline.
Becerra will become the state's first Latino governor in more than 150 years. He takes over from term-limited Gavin Newsom.
Becerra represented Los Angeles in Congress for 24 years and served as the state's top prosecutor before becoming the Health and Human Services secretary in the Biden administration.
By contrast, Hilton - an architect of the UK Conservative Party's "Big Society" agenda under Cameron - cast himself as a political outsider in the governor's race.
His campaign aimed to restore affordability and opportunity in what he described as "the most incredible place in the world".
Both he and Becerra centered their campaigns on the Golden State's high cost of living, housing affordability, energy policy and ties with the federal government.
"We fought and we won," Becerra said in a victory speech on Tuesday night in Sacramento, the state's capital. He said the last few years had been difficult for the state under Trump's leadership, but "we hung in there, fought back. It felt like mission: impossible, we knew it was mission: necessary".
He told supporters that, "you have now entered the Becerra era".
Hilton, also speaking at an event with supporters, conceded defeat and referred to the so-called Democrat wave sweeping much of the country, which gave Democrats full control of the US Congress.
"Maybe this isn't the best year to be running for office as a Republican when you see what's going on around the country, but I tell you what, this is the best place to be running for office as a Republican because there is nowhere better than California," he said.
He described California as "the greatest place in the greatest nation on earth" and said it had been an honour and a joy to travel the state during his campaign.
He added: "The change we hoped for may be delayed but the change is coming".
The state governor's race began with a wide field of candidates but sharpened when congressman Eric Swalwell, who seemed to be an early frontrunner, withdrew from the race over sexual assault allegations, which he has denied.
Becerra and Hilton eventually emerged as the frontrunners in the June primary, edging out progressive billionaire Tom Steyer.