Democrat Gavin Newsom has won Californias gubernatorial race, defeating Republican John Cox in the race to lead the most populous state in the nation.

Newsom, who has served as the states lieutenant governor since 2011, was widely anticipated to win Tuesdays contest. Cox, a businessman who had the support of President Donald Trump , trailed Newsom in the polls by double digits for most of the race.

The lieutenant governor, who previously served as mayor of San Francisco, was viewed as the inevitable front-runner as soon as he announced his candidacy in February 2015. Several challengers entered the race over the next couple of years, including Cox, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D), state treasurer John Chiang (D) and state Assemblyman Travis Allen (R).