California Primary Election Results Awaited as Ballot Counting Continues

3 weeks ago 0

California voters are keenly awaiting the outcomes of key primary elections. The focus is particularly on the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral races, with ballots still being counted more than 36 hours after polling ended on Tuesday night. Under the state’s top-two primary system, the voters’ top choices will advance to the general election in November, without regard to party affiliation.

Counting in Progress

At the Ballot processing center in City of Industry, CA, workers continue to count the votes from the 2026 California primary. As of Thursday morning, CBS News had not projected which candidates would advance in the governor’s race. The seat, soon to be vacated by term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom, sees Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra in the lead. Hilton, a former Fox News host, and Becerra, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, are expected to proceed, although Democratic environmentalist Tom Steyer is still in the running as counting continues.

Hilton describes his campaign as a chance for Californians to opt for change. On Tuesday night, he said, “We’re not there yet, but it’s looking good.” Meanwhile, Becerra expressed confidence about advancing to the general elections. High-profile Democrats conceded early, including former Rep. Katie Porter, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. Republican Chad Bianco had not conceded by Thursday morning.

Uncertain Los Angeles Mayoral Race

In Los Angeles, CBS News projects that Mayor Karen Bass will advance to a November runoff as she seeks reelection. Her opponent remains undecided. The Los Angeles mayoral race poses a rare challenge to the incumbent. Alongside Bass, candidates Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman, face an evenly matched contest. Polls suggest a close race, with campaign strategist Luis Alvarado noting, “Everybody is tied within the margin of error.”

Bass had a strong early performance, earning her a CBS projection on Tuesday. Pratt, a former reality TV star, criticized city leadership’s handling of fire disasters and homelessness issues. While he gained initial momentum, his progress slowed in subsequent ballot counts.

Vote Count Updates

According to California’s Secretary of State, counties have 30 days to provisionally count ballots. Mail-in votes postmarked on or before election day must be counted if received within seven days. Here is when some regions anticipate updating their counts: