20,000 noncitizens at the center of California governor's race as mail ballots counted

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's demand to halt the counting of ballots cast by suspected noncitizens in California on Monday. The ruling comes as voters in the nation's most populous state prepare to decide between Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton for governor. The dispute centers on a claim that up to 20,000 noncitizens are registered to vote. The Department of Justice sued the state to prevent officials from counting those ballots. Several lower courts had already sided with California before the Supreme Court intervened.

Election officials in California say they follow federal law. They argue that federal numbers regarding noncitizen registrations are likely inflated. Experts note that voting by noncitizens is rare and has not historically changed election outcomes. Mail voting has been underway for nearly a month. The winner will succeed Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited but considering a run for president.

The race pits a former state attorney general against a former United Kingdom political adviser and Fox News host. Becerra has 35 years of experience in politics and government, including service in Congress and as U.S. health secretary. Hilton has never held elected office. Democrats make up roughly 45% of registered voters in California, compared to 25% for Republicans. This registration gap gives Hilton steep odds in the general election.

Becerra argues his experience is essential for defending the state against federal Republican policies. He told a CNN audience in September that the state needs a leader who has balanced a budget of California's size. “You can’t do it with someone who’s never served, who’s never balanced a budget the size of California, who’s never actually been there to defend people against the tyrant like Donald Trump,” he said. He has tied Hilton to the president, noting Trump's endorsement of the Republican candidate.

Hilton frames his lack of tenure as an advantage. He argues that 15 years of Democratic leadership have left residents struggling with the cost of gas, housing, and college. “This is the most amazing state and the most amazing country on Earth, and it’s because we’ve got this rebel spirit,” he said at a debate. “That spirit is being crushed by this bloated, nanny-state bureaucratic government that Xavier has been a part of for 36 years.” His campaign has used ads, some with AI-generated content, to appeal to voters seeking a change.

Hilton has made ambitious promises to cut costs. He pledged to abolish the Department of Motor Vehicles and reduce gas prices to $3 a gallon. That price point has not been seen in the state in years. Richard Hartman, an independent construction worker living outside Sacramento, said he is leaning toward Hilton to bring balance to the state. “Nothing works without balance,” Hartman said. “You can’t stand on one leg and walk around. You have to have two feet, and I think that’s the same thing in politics.”

Both candidates have immigrant roots that shape their campaigns. Hilton was born in the United Kingdom to Hungarian parents who fled communism. He moved to California in 2012 after advising former Prime Minister David Cameron. If elected, he would be the first immigrant governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011. Becerra was born in Sacramento to a mother from Mexico and a father raised in Mexico. He would be the state's first Latino governor since the late 19th century.

Becerra has targeted Latino voters with ads and social media posts in Spanish. Joy Torrez, a Democratic retiree in Sacramento, said she is pleased with Becerra's candidacy. “I’ve read about him, and I’m really pleased,” Torrez said. The candidates emerged from a large primary field that included half a dozen prominent Democrats and two notable Republicans. Becerra became the frontrunner after former Representative Eric Swalwell dropped out following sexual assault allegations, which he has denied.

Becerra has kept a low profile, holding fewer public events than Hilton. He is capitalizing on President Trump's unpopularity in the state. Hilton continues to push his message of fresh leadership. Voters will cast their ballots in the general election on Tuesday. The results will determine the next leader of California.