Becerra Wins California Governorship in 2026 Election
Democrat Xavier Becerra leads early returns, which would make him the first Latino California governor, as Democrats also gain Senate control.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Xavier Becerra won the California governorship in the November 2026 election, according to early reporting. Democrats also gained control of the Senate with a 53-42 majority.
Why it matters
Becerra's win would make him the first Latino to serve as California governor, and the Senate shift changes the balance of power in Congress. Final results remain subject to certification in the state.
Early Humboldt County counts show Becerra with 9,858 of 14,402 votes so far, and Democrats hold a 53-42 Senate majority. Certification of these results is still pending under California's 30-day deadline.
The players
Xavier Becerra
Becerra is a Democratic politician who previously served as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and as a California congressman.
Humboldt County Office of Elections
The county office administers and reports election results for Humboldt County in Northern California.
The details
The Humboldt County Office of Elections released the first election-night report around 8:30 p.m. after polls closed at 8 p.m. Democrats also flipped North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, and Maine from Republican to Democrat Senate representation.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Polls closed at 8 p.m. local time.
November 3, 2026: First election-night report released around 8:30 p.m. local time.
Within 30 days: California election offices must certify the results.
Legal Context
California gives election offices 30 days to certify results under state law, so the current unofficial tallies will remain provisional until that process ends. Several races, including a nine-vote margin in the Arcata City Council contest, are close enough that certification could shift outcomes.
Residents should expect that unofficial results may change as ballots are counted and certified over the coming weeks. Close local contests, such as the nine-vote Arcata City Council race, remain undecided until certification is complete.
The takeaway
Election results are provisional until certification, so readers should check official county and state updates as counts finalize.
What happens next
California election offices must certify the results within 30 days of the November 3, 2026 election.
Further reading
For additional context on how these races are decided, see Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Lumberjack.
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