Biden cabinet secretary advances in California governor race

Former Biden health secretary Xavier Becerra is advancing in the race for California governor, as votes are tallied to confirm who will run against him in November.

US media outlets report Becerra, who also previously served as California's attorney general, would be one of two candidates moving forward after the Tuesday primary election.

Two others are still in contention for the second slot: British-American former TV host Steve Hilton, a Republican, and billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer, another Democrat.

Ballots are still being counted in the nation's most populous state, home to about 23 million registered voters, and results could take weeks due to millions of mail-in ballots.

More than 60 candidates, mostly Democrats, were on the ballot to replace current Governor Gavin Newsom, who has reached his term limit.

Whoever comes in second will face off with Becerra to become California's chief executive, a role responsible for overseeing a multibillion-dollar budget, thousands of state employees and hundreds of state agencies.

A California native, Becerra served as California's attorney general and as the nation's health secretary under President Joe Biden.

If elected, he would be California's first Latino governor since 1875, in a state where Latinos make up about 41 percent of the population.

He has framed his campaign around his lifetime of work in politics and his credibility working in Congress in Washington DC, and in California in state office.

Becerra has vowed to fight Trump's policies and promised to freeze insurance and utility rates for Californians.

His standing in the race was boosted after Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out in April amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, which he has repeatedly denied.

For months, Swalwell - who also resigned from Congress - seemed to be the clear frontrunner in the race. His exit opened the field and caused divisions among Democrats as no race leader emerged in the deep-blue state, which has been run by Democrats since 2011.

The contest has become the most expensive California gubernatorial race on record, with immense ad spending by Steyer and Silicon Valley support for another Democratic candidate, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.