SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) 鈥� The end of California鈥檚 was approaching Saturday as leading candidates rushed to deliver their closing arguments before voting concludes Tuesday.
Former U.S. health secretary has called for 鈥渉ot competence summer,” promoting his decades of public service as evidence he has what it takes to be California’s next governor.
Republican Steve Hilton pledged an end to a 鈥渂loated, nanny-state bureaucracy鈥� during remarks outside the state Capitol on Wednesday.
Billionaire climate activist told reporters this week in Berkeley, California, that he’s made it his life’s work to advance progressive causes, a mission he’ll bring to Sacramento.
They’re seeking to stand out in a field of roughly 60 candidates on a single ballot, regardless of party, under California’s top-two . The two candidates who receive the most votes will face off in the general election to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who can’t seek a third term.
The crowded race includes Democrats Becerra, Steyer, former U.S. Rep. and , the mayor of San Jose. , a former Fox News host backed by President Donald Trump, and Riverside County Sheriff are the most prominent Republicans in the race.
As of Friday afternoon, 13% of voters had cast their ballots. That included 13% of Democrats and 18% of Republicans, according to a tracker by Democratic strategist Paul Mitchell. The breakdown is unusual because Democrats in recent years have tended to vote early while many Republicans wait until Election Day.
Some Democrats to cast their ballots to see if a candidate breaks away from the pack in the final days, or because they’re unimpressed with the crowded field.
Two polls conducted in mid-to-late May suggested that Becerra and Hilton each have the support of about 2 in 10 California likely voters. In one poll, Steyer landed closer to Becerra and Hilton, with Bianco and Porter trailing further behind, but similar shares of voters were supporting Steyer, Bianco, and Porter in the other poll. None of the other candidates were in the double digits in either poll.
Candidates make their final pitch
The contenders have been traveling across the state that includes roughly 23 million registered voters as they seek an edge over rivals. Becerra, Hilton, Steyer and Bianco will all be in the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend. Fresno and Los Angeles have also been popular campaign stops.
Becerra has been highlighting the more than 35 years he’s spent in state and federal office.
鈥淭his is not a place for on-the-job training,鈥� he said on a podcast hosted by political commentator Ana Navarro. 鈥淵ou better know what you鈥檙e doing.鈥�
He鈥檒l hit a text-banking event with Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta in San Francisco and rally with the Service Employees International Union in San Jose.
Hilton has been selling himself as someone who would bring a fresh set of eyes to state government, reduce regulations, and bring down housing and energy costs. He thinks it’ll be a unifying message, he told reporters this week in Sacramento.
鈥淚t’s not ideological,” Hilton said. “It’s just simple, practical commonsense 鈥� $3 gas, cut your electric bills in half.鈥�
Hilton will host a town hall in Silicon Valley on Saturday night. He has been cautious not to emphasize Trump鈥檚 endorsement. If he advances to the November election, he鈥檒l need to appeal to voters outside his party to win in the Democrat-dominated state that hasn鈥檛 had a Republican governor since 2011.
Steyer, a self-described 鈥渂illionaire who wants to tax other billionaires,” said the race was a contest between three candidates: Himself, Hilton and Becerra.
鈥淭here is a hard-right Republican who鈥檚 endorsed by Donald Trump,鈥� he told a crowd of supporters at a sports bar in Berkeley.
鈥淭he second candidate is Xavier Becerra, who, to my surprise, is a corporate Democrat,鈥� Steyer continued, referencing his acceptance of campaign contributions from Chevron.
鈥淎nd the third person鈥檚 me,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I am running because Californians can鈥檛 afford to live here anymore.鈥�
Steyer鈥檚 headed to a campaign rally Saturday in San Francisco to put a finer point on his message to voters.
Mahan, meanwhile, will mingle with voters in Los Angeles, Porter will give a speech in Orange County, and Bianco will lay out his vision at a church in San Jose.
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Associated Press journalist Terry Chea in Berkeley, California, contributed to this report.
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