CA GOP Gubernatorial Candidate John Cox Finishes In Top Two, Will Face Newsom In November

In what ranks as a big surprise, the primary in heavily Democratic California, where the top two candidates, no matter whether they are from the same party or not, proceed to the general election, saw Democratic Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom as one winner, while the other was GOP businessman John Cox.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who had been seen as a major threat to Newsom at the beginning of the campaign, was far behind the two leading vote getters, even trailing Republican Travis Allen. At 10 p.m. PST, Newsom had 34% of the voted, followed by Cox with 26%.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Cox spent $5 million on the race, while Newsom had raised $35.9 million. Cox was buoyed by an endorsement from President Trump:

Here’s Cox last Friday on Fox News: