Former Cameron adviser Steve Hilton advances in California governor's race

Trump-endorsed Brit Steve Hilton advances in California governor's race3 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAna FaguyGetty ImagesSteve Hilton, a former top adviser to ex-UK Prime Minister David Cameron and a former Fox News host, will advance as one of two candidates in the race for California governor, US media outlets project. After a week of counting ballots from the 2 June primary race, Hilton secured his slot to move ahead in the election, edging out billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer, a Democrat.Hilton will face former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra in the general election in November.President Donald Trump has backed Hilton, who, if he wins in November, would be the first Republican governor in 15 years to run the liberal-leaning US state.Here's why counting votes in California is taking so longMore than 60 candidates, mostly Democrats, were on the ballot to replace current term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has been floated as a possible future presidential contender. Newsom has been a key opponent of Trump's policies as the state fought the administration over a variety of issues, from immigration to climate policies. Hilton and Becerra will now spend the next few months battling to become California's chief executive, a role responsible for overseeing a multibillion-dollar budget, thousands of state employees and hundreds of state agencies. The Trump-endorsed Brit running for California governorA 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% of the population.He has framed his campaign around his lifetime of work in politics and his credibility working both in Congress in Washington DC and in California in state office.Becerra has vowed to fight Trump's policies and promi...