Primary elections in four US states produced results that will reverberate through the 2026 midterm cycle. The most eye-catching outcome came from California, where Republican Steve Hilton — a former UK political operative who reinvented himself as a Fox News personality — advanced to the November general election for governor. Hilton, who was endorsed by Donald Trump, will face Democrat Xavier Becerra, a veteran politician who has served as a congressman, California attorney general, and US health secretary. The Guardian described Hilton’s rise as “a remarkable achievement for a recent immigrant.”
Meanwhile, in Maine, Democratic challenger Graham Platner appeared poised to weather a series of scandals, with voters telling reporters they were willing to look past the controversies. North Dakota, Nevada, and South Carolina also held primaries, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested midterm season.
