Full Breakdown
California’s 2026 Primary: Becerra Advances, Ballot Count Sparks Controversy
6/8/2026, 9:35:00 PM
Core Election Results: Governor and Los Angeles Mayor
The June 2, 2026 primary produced two top-two contests that remain unsettled. Former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary Xavier Becerra (Democrat) secured a spot in the November gubernatorial race with roughly 27 % of the vote, edging out Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton (? 26 %). Billionaire activist Tom Steyer (Democrat) trails in third with about 21 %. In Los Angeles, incumbent mayor Karen Bass (Democrat) also advanced, while city-councilwoman Nithya Raman overtook reality-TV star Spencer Pratt for second place; Pratt fell to third.
Background & Context
California’s “jungle primary” places all candidates on a single ballot; the two highest vote-getters advance regardless of party. The state mails ballots to every registered voter and counts mail-in votes received up to seven days after Election Day if postmarked by June 2. Emphasis on accuracy and accessibility lengthens the tabulation period, a factor repeatedly cited by officials.
Timeline
- June 2 – Primary voting concludes.
- June 5 – Becerra’s campaign declares victory; Trump alleges “rigging.”
- June 5–7 – DOJ sends a federal prosecutor to observe Los Angeles ballot processing.
- June 8 – County clerks report ? 3.6 million ballots still to process; results for governor and mayor races remain incomplete.
Key Figures & Groups
- Xavier Becerra – Democrat, former California attorney general and HHS secretary.
- Steve Hilton – Republican, Trump-endorsed former Fox News commentator.
- Tom Steyer – Democratic billionaire, climate activist.
- Karen Bass – Democratic incumbent mayor of Los Angeles.
- Nithya Raman – Progressive city councilmember.
- Spencer Pratt – Reality-TV personality.
- Shirley Weber – California secretary of state.
- Gavin Newsom – Governor (term-limited).
- Bill Essayli – First assistant U.S. attorney, Central District of California.
Data & Statistics
- Becerra: 26.7 %–27 % of counted votes; Hilton: 26.4 %–26 %; Steyer: 21 % (? 1.4 million votes).
- Approximately 66 % of the total vote had been tallied when Becerra’s lead was announced.
- Uncounted ballots: ? 3.6 million statewide (? 368 000 remaining in Los Angeles County).
- Campaign spending: total ? $327 million; Steyer alone contributed > $200 million (? 63 % of ad spend).
- Cost-of-living indicators: gasoline $6.08 / gal, median home $775 000, electricity rates among the nation’s highest.
- Voter registration: ~4.6 million more Democrats than Republicans.
Official Statements & Responses
- Shirley Weber: “California’s county elections officials are hard at work counting the millions of ballots cast, ensuring accuracy and preserving the integrity of every vote.”
- Governor Newsom’s office: “We wish the votes were counted faster, too,” and clarified that the governor does not oversee ballot processing.
- U.S. Department of Justice: Sent a federal prosecutor to observe Los Angeles ballot processing amid allegations of fraud.
- Becerra campaign: Thanked volunteers, stating the victory “belongs to you” and that the campaign is “just getting started.”
Criticism & Opposition
- Donald Trump (former president) claimed, without evidence, that “we don’t want cheating in our elections” and labeled California’s process a “rigged” system.
- Steve Hilton condemned the count as a “farce,” demanding an “Emergency Election Support Corps” to accelerate tabulation.
- Opponents highlighted Becerra’s handling of the child-migrant crisis and the mpox outbreak during his tenure as HHS secretary.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Vote shares for Becerra range from 26.7 % to 27 %; Hilton’s share varies between 26 % and 26.4 %.
- Uncounted ballot estimates differ: ? 3.6 million statewide versus ? 368 000 in Los Angeles County.
- The final second-place finisher in the gubernatorial race remains undecided, with Hilton and Steyer separated by a margin of less than 1 percentage point.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on earth, have spoken — loudly and proudly,” — Xavier Becerra, gubernatorial candidate.
- “We will not be bought. We will not be bullied. And we are never backing down. November, here we come.” — Xavier Becerra.
- “The underdog stayed in the fight,” — Xavier Becerra.
- “We cannot continue with a process that leaves millions of voters waiting weeks for results,” — Steve Hilton, gubernatorial candidate.
- “We don’t want cheating in our elections. You see it in California. Those numbers are coming down rapidly. They found a lot of mail-in ballots last night, shockingly. We don’t want that,” — Donald Trump.
- “California’s election system has serious structural vulnerabilities.” — Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney.
Why It Matters / Impact
Becerra’s advance positions him as the first Latino governor since 1875, reflecting California’s demographic shift. The race’s cost-of-living focus underscores voter anxiety about housing, energy, and transportation. A Republican victory would be the first in two decades, testing the state’s Democratic dominance.
What’s Next
Ballot processing will continue through the statutory 30-day deadline, with the final governor and mayor slates expected by early July. Legal challenges or further federal investigations could arise if disputes over uncounted ballots persist. Both parties are mobilizing for a November showdown that will determine California’s policy direction on climate, housing, and fiscal reform.
