Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and top Republican contender for California governor, doubled down on a message he kept revisiting throughout his campaign as he waited for ballots to be tallied:

Republicans and Democrats all compete together in the unusual primary to set the one-on-one race in November. Two Democrats and one Republican were in close contention.

California’s crowded primary for governor remained unresolved early Wednesday after three leading candidates tested voters’ appetites for an experienced politician or promises of sweeping change.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton — the current frontrunner in early returns from the primary election — held an ebullient news conference Wednesday morning on the steps of the Capitol after to deliver a new pitch to California voters.

What has changed, however, is the current dynamic of the gubernatorial field.

Follow live updates, analysis, and highlights from CNN's 2026 debate between California governor candidates. See how candidates, including Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton and Tom Steyer, take on the issues after last week's debate.

California puts all candidates on a single primary ballot regardless of party, and the top two finishers advance to the November general election. About 60 candidates were on the ballot, most of them largely unknown to the state’s roughly 23 million voters.