California Primary Count Continues With Key Races Unresolved

California was still counting ballots three days after its primary election, leaving major contests for governor, Los Angeles mayor and several congressional seats unresolved as of Friday morning. In the governor’s race, an estimated 60% of ballots had been tallied, with conservative pundit Steve Hilton narrowly ahead of former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Billionaire Tom Steyer was running behind the top two candidates.

Under California’s top-two system, the two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the November general election, regardless of party. Officials and election experts said the slow count reflects the state’s ballot-processing rules and the volume of mail voting.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass secured a place in the runoff, but the second spot remained unsettled. With an estimated 65% of votes counted, former reality TV star Spencer Pratt was leading progressive City Council member Nithya Raman.

State law requires counties to complete ballot counting by June 15, but some ballots can be processed after that deadline. Mail-in ballots postmarked by election day and received by June 9 are valid and may be added to the count later.

Why late ballots could shift the standings

Experts said a sizable share of the remaining ballots could lean Democratic based on past patterns. Republicans have tended to return ballots earlier or vote in person, meaning those votes are often counted first. A larger-than-usual number of Democratic voters waited until late in this election cycle as they weighed which candidates were most likely to finish in the top two.

The possibility of shifts in the count has fueled public commentary as results have trickled in. Former President Donald Trump congratulated Hilton and alleged election irregularities, while the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state prioritizes accuracy and accessibility in the counting process.

Congressional contests also remain close

Several House races were also too close to call. In California’s sixth congressional district, which had been remade to give Democrats an advantage, independent incumbent Kevin Kiley was leading, with Republican Michael Stansfield in second place just ahead of Democrat Richard Pan, according to the report.

Officials said more results could take days as counties continue processing late-arriving eligible ballots and outstanding vote-by-mail returns. The key question for candidates and parties will be whether the remaining ballots materially change the order of finish in races where the margins are tight.