California primary election results: governor’s race too close to call

Key Points:

• The California gubernatorial primary race remained too close to call Tuesday night, with Republican Steve Hilton and Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer leading, while two other Democrats conceded.
• California’s mail-in voting and verification process means final results could take days or weeks, with many Democrats delaying ballot submission until the last minute to influence outcomes.
• The primary featured a crowded field of 61 candidates and was marked by the absence of major Democratic figures, leading to a fragmented and unpredictable contest in a heavily Democratic state.
• Becerra surged late after the withdrawal of Eric Swalwell amid scandal, positioning himself as an experienced public servant, while Steyer spent heavily to promote a progressive outsider message, and Hilton campaigned on opposition to one-party Democratic rule.
• In the Los Angeles mayoral race, incumbent Karen Bass advanced to the general election despite criticism over her handling of wildfires and homelessness, with reality TV star Spencer Pratt and council member Nithya Raman vying for the second spot.