California's closely watched gubernatorial primary remained unresolved early Wednesday, with former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Fox News host Steve Hilton locked in a tight race for the top two spots. With 62 percent of the vote counted as of 7:30 a.m. ET, Hilton held a narrow lead, but election officials caution that the final tally could take days or even weeks as mail-in ballots—which tend to favor Democrats—are processed.
The contest, part of a multi-state primary night that also included races in Iowa, New Mexico, and South Dakota, is one of several key contests that will shape the November midterms. In California's top-two primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party, and the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election. That has fueled fears of a Democratic lockout, but with billionaire Tom Steyer also in the mix, the field remains fluid.
Becerra, a former California attorney general and congressman, has consolidated much of the Democratic establishment's support, while Hilton, endorsed by President Trump, has rallied GOP voters. Steyer, meanwhile, has spent heavily on advertising and could still slip into the top two, potentially setting up an all-Democratic general election. If that happens, party leaders like Governor Gavin Newsom and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi may face pressure to pick sides.
Becerra and Hilton have spent the final stretch of the campaign trading barbs over corporate ties and special interests, with each accusing the other of being too cozy with big money. The race has been marked by a chaotic field that saw early frontrunners like former Representative Katie Porter and Representative Eric Swalwell stumble—Porter after a pair of controversial viral videos, and Swalwell after dropping out amid sexual misconduct allegations he has denied.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass appears headed for a November runoff, but her challenger is still undecided. Decision Desk HQ projected Bass would advance, but the second-place spot remains a toss-up between Republican Spencer Pratt—a former reality TV star backed by Trump—and Democratic socialist Councilmember Nithya Raman. With about 69 percent of the vote counted, Bass led with 35 percent, Pratt had 30 percent, and Raman had 22 percent. Bass needed to win more than 50 percent outright to avoid a runoff, but fell short.
Pratt entered the race as a vocal critic of Bass's response to the Pacific Palisades wildfire, which destroyed his home. His strong showing underscores persistent voter frustration with the first-term mayor, whose approval ratings have dipped following last year's wildfires and chaotic immigration protests. Still, Bass has significant Democratic backing, including endorsements from former Vice President Kamala Harris and Pelosi.
Elsewhere, Tuesday's primaries cemented matchups that could determine control of Congress. In Iowa, the GOP gubernatorial primary saw Trump's favored candidate lose, a blow to the former president's influence. In South Dakota, the GOP governor race is headed to a July runoff between state Representative Jon Doeden and Secretary of State Marty Rhoden. And in New Mexico, the Democratic gubernatorial primary saw Representative Deb Haaland leading state Senator Jacob Bregman.
California's slow vote count—driven by the state's reliance on mail ballots—has become a recurring theme. As results trickle in, political operatives are closely watching whether the final outcome will produce a competitive general election or a Democrat-versus-Democrat matchup that could dampen turnout. For now, the suspense continues.
