California Primary Election Update: Key Races and Developments

Unprocessed Ballots in L.A. County

Los Angeles County election officials reported that over 713,180 ballots remain unprocessed from Tuesday’s primary election. As of Wednesday evening, approximately 77,521 ballots had been processed, bringing the total count to nearly 1.4 million ballots—representing about 23.7% of registered voters.

The remaining ballots include:

• Vote-by-mail ballots: 700,000
• Conditional voter registration ballots: 11,340
• Provisional ballots: 1,840

This estimate accounts for ballots postmarked by election day and those received shortly after through the postal service, drop boxes, and vote centers. Officials caution that these figures may change as processing continues. Additional vote-by-mail ballots postmarked on election day will arrive over the next few days.

Key Election Races

Los Angeles Mayoral Race

In the mayoral race, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass secured a spot for the November runoff. Her primary challengers, Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman, were still neck-and-neck. Pratt led slightly but the gap was narrowing. Bass expressed optimism over her campaign’s progress and pledged to continue addressing major city issues like housing and the economy.

California Gubernatorial Race

Republican Steve Hilton led the gubernatorial primary, with Democrat Xavier Becerra close behind. The Associated Press had not declared official candidates for the November election by Wednesday morning as votes continued to be counted. Notably, Hilton’s campaign gained momentum following former President Trump’s endorsement. This race remains highly competitive, with a significant number of ballots yet to be counted potentially favoring Democratic candidates.

Contentious Measures

Shasta County Voter ID Measure

Shasta County is witnessing voter support for Measure B—a controversial proposal requiring in-person voting and eliminating most mail voting, except in specific cases like military or overseas voters. This measure could face legal challenges due to its potential violation of state and federal election laws. Supporters argue that it’s necessary to prevent election fraud, while opponents contend that it undermines voter accessibility.

Monterey Park Data Center Ban

Monterey Park became the first city in the nation to ban data centers through public vote, with 86% in favor. This measure, known as Measure NDC, addresses community concerns over proposed data centers’ impact on residential areas.

State Legislative and Congressional Races

Numerous congressional and state legislative races across California are shaping up following the primary results. Key contests include:

• 34th Congressional District: Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez and challenger Angela Gonzales-Torres advance to November.
• 1st Congressional District: State Rep. James Gallagher and State Sen. Mike McGuire will face off after advancing in their respective primaries.
• 9th L.A. City Council District: History is being made with Jose Ugarte’s significant lead, marking a shift in ethnic representation for the district.

These results highlight changing political dynamics and voter engagement in the state.