Key facts
- California primary election results may take days or weeks to be released.
- Votes arriving up to a week after election day are considered valid if postmarked by election day in California.
- Democrat Xavier Becerra has advanced to the general election for California governor.
- It remains unclear who Xavier Becerra's runoff challenger will be as ballots are still being counted.
- Incumbent Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto appears to have been defeated in the primary.
- This is the first time an incumbent Los Angeles City Attorney has been ousted in a primary in nearly a century.
- Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) will head to a runoff election after admitting to cheating on his wife.
- Crypto PACs spent approximately $3 million on ads in California and New Jersey.
- Crypto PACs spent over $411,000 to support Senator Mike Rounds in South Dakota.
- The White House will not resurrect a proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
- A Trump-backed candidate has lost a primary race.
- Voters are casting ballots for eight of the 15 L.A. City Council seats.
California's primary election results are anticipated to take days, or potentially weeks, to be fully released. This delay is attributed to the state's significant reliance on mail-in voting, where ballots postmarked by election day are valid for up to a week after, and a comprehensive review process for all votes cast. Despite criticism, this system is defended as a means to maximize voter turnout and access.
In statewide contests, Democrat Xavier Becerra has been projected by CBS News to advance to the general election for California governor. However, his runoff challenger has not yet been determined as vote counting continues. Elsewhere in California, incumbent Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto appears to have been defeated in her primary bid. This marks a significant electoral event, as it is the first time an incumbent city attorney has been ousted in a primary in nearly a century, with factors such as unclear messaging and a controversial term cited as reasons for her apparent loss. In another notable race, Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) is headed to a runoff election after admitting to infidelity, following a report of him being seen kissing a congressional aide. Voters are also casting ballots for eight of the 15 Los Angeles City Council seats, with the race for District 11 featuring incumbent Park and challenger Malik, and two council seats being open due to term limits.
Beyond California's electoral landscape, broader political spending and policy decisions are also in focus. Crypto PACs have collectively spent approximately $3 million on advertisements in California and New Jersey. Additionally, over $411,000 was spent to support Senator Mike Rounds in South Dakota, with these expenditures coinciding with primary elections held across six states. In national policy news, the White House has confirmed that a proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund will not be resurrected, as confirmed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Political analyst Steve Kornacki is examining the primary election results, including California's ballot for the general election, noting that a Trump-backed candidate has experienced a primary race loss. Conan Nolan is analyzing the Los Angeles mayoral race. Democratic voters in California are reported to have strategically cast ballots in the governor's race to ensure their party is not excluded from the general election, navigating a turbulent primary.