Overview
- Early returns from the June 2 primary put Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton near the top of the gubernatorial field while billionaire Tom Steyer trailed, but officials said roughly half of ballots remained to be processed.
- California allows mail ballots received after Election Day if postmarked by that day, a rule that election officials say will delay final tallies and makes early results unreliable in close races.
- The state’s top-two ‘jungle’ system advances the two highest vote-getters regardless of party, a dynamic that raised the risk of a same-party November runoff and shaped late campaign strategy.
- Tom Steyer spent more than $200 million of his own money on the race and Eric Swalwell’s April withdrawal reshaped Democratic alignment toward Becerra, while President Trump’s backing helped consolidate support for Hilton.
- Los Angeles’ mayoral contest and multiple House primaries tied to newly redrawn maps also remain unsettled as counties continue counting votes, outcomes that could affect local services and the balance of power in the U.S. House.