California Today: What Early Results Are Showing in California’s Key Races

June 3, 2026, 6:31 a.m. Pacific time

Good morning. It’s the day after the primary election in California. Votes are still being counted across the state, but here’s what we know so far and what to watch for next. And our blog will follow all the latest developments today.

Voters in Los Angeles, Calif. on Tuesday. Ariana Drehsler for The New York Times

What Early Results Are Showing in California’s Key Races

A tight governor’s race

The contest to determine who will replace Gov. Gavin Newsom remained close after the first night of vote counting.

The Trump-endorsed Republican Steve Hilton held a narrow lead in early votes over two Democrats, Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer. That “red mirage” in the early results is likely to shift significantly as mail-in votes expected to tilt heavily Democratic are counted in the coming days. The top two candidates advance to the general election in November regardless of party.

Xavier Becerra’s heritage appeals to many Latino voters, but some shrug.

In L.A., an embattled incumbent advances

In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass secured her place in the November general election late Tuesday night, according to The Associated Press. But Spencer Pratt, the Republican former reality TV star who lost his home in last year’s wildfires, captured a significant protest vote.

A third candidate, Nithya Raman, a progressive City Council member, could still overtake Mr. Pratt for second place as more votes are counted. Either way, Ms. Bass is the first incumbent mayor of Los Angeles to face a runoff since 2005.

Voters in Pacific Palisades remain frustrated by the aftermath of last year’s fire.
Spencer Pratt’s mayoral campaign has been fueled by out-of-town cash.

Challengers are set in Pelosi succession race

State Senator Scott Wiener, a prolific legislator in Sacramento, was the first to advance to the general election to fill Nancy Pelosi’s House seat on Tuesday night, according to The Associated Press.

Early Wednesday morning, Connie Chan, a member of the Board of Supervisors who represents the Richmond district in San Francisco, finished in second place, securing her spot on the ballot against Mr. Wiener. She received a boost late in the primary race when Ms. Pelosi endorsed her.

The campaign for Pelosi’s seat was marked by contentious forums, attack ads and big spending by tech titans.
In other House races, a generational clash in Southern California was put to rest and a Democrat’s advancement in a San Diego-area contest eliminated her party’s fears of two Republicans facing off.