California voters go to the polls on Tuesday in a primary that will determine two finalists for the contest to replace outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom and will also select contenders for Los Angeles mayor. The same election will be the first practical examination of recently redrawn congressional districts - a change backers say could move as many as five seats toward Democrats and therefore affect the balance of power in the U.S. House.
In the open gubernatorial race, 61 candidates are competing under the state’s top-two, or "jungle primary," system in which the two highest vote-getters advance to the November 3 general election regardless of party affiliation. Polling heading into Tuesday placed former Biden cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra at the head of the field, with Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer and Republican television personality Steve Hilton also positioned as likely contenders for advancement.
The outcome will indicate whether Democrats can avoid splintering their vote in a crowded field and whether a Republican candidate can exploit divisions among non-Republican voters. If polls hold, Democrats could potentially occupy both finalist slots - a result California has not produced in a gubernatorial contest since the adoption of the jungle primary in 2014. The state has produced two-Democrat finals in other races, however, including Kamala Harris’ 2016 U.S. Senate victory.
Republican momentum within the primary at one point suggested two GOP candidates might finish atop the pack. Early polling previously showed Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco leading, before Hilton pulled ahead following an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. On the Democratic side, the field consolidated somewhat after former frontrunner Eric Swalwell exited the contest and resigned from Congress in April amid accusations of sexual assault from a former staffer; Swalwell has denied those allegations.
Surveyors at the Public Policy Institute of California reported evidence that voters were focusing on Becerra’s experience. Mark Baldassare, the institute’s survey director, noted that many Democratic voters viewed Becerra as a safe choice given his tenure as attorney general and his role defending the state in disputes with the previous federal administration.
Steyer has remained near the top of surveys after investing approximately $200 million of his own funds in the campaign and has positioned himself as the progressive choice among the Democratic frontrunners, including proposals for higher taxes on billionaires.
Los Angeles mayoral contest and local concerns
On the Los Angeles ballot, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass faces a field exceeding a dozen opponents. Voter concern about homelessness, housing affordability and recovery following the 2025 Palisades fire are central to the mayoral race. Within her own party, Bass has been challenged by city Councilmember Nithya Raman. Polling places reality television figure Spencer Pratt as the lead candidate on the Republican side.
Congressional races under new lines
The primary also serves as the first major test of a newly drawn congressional map. Advocates of the new configuration, championed in part by the state’s governor, say it is designed to shift up to five seats into Democratic-leaning territory. Prior to this cycle and under California’s previous independent redistricting, Democrats held a 43-9 advantage in the state’s congressional delegation.
Among federal contests drawing close attention is the 22nd district in the Central Valley, where Representative David Valadao, a Republican, seeks reelection against Democrats state Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains and educator Randy Villegas. Another target for Democrats is the 48th district, which was altered when liberal Palm Springs was moved from a Riverside County district into inland San Diego County; the Republican incumbent Darrell Issa opted not to seek reelection in that reorganized district.
Operational details and timing
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Tuesday. California permits voters to return mail ballots up to and on Election Day, a process that means particularly close contests may take days to resolve as mail-in ballots are counted and certified.
Implications and immediate dynamics
The primary will provide initial clarity on whether the Democratic electorate in California coalesces behind a common nominee for governor or remains divided across multiple contenders. It will also offer the first evidence of how the newly enacted congressional map performs in practice, and whether it produces the seat shifts its proponents forecast. For Los Angeles residents, the mayoral primary reflects public attention to municipal issues of homelessness, housing costs and disaster recovery in the wake of the Palisades fire.
Because of the large roster of candidates in multiple high-profile races and the allowance for ballots postmarked or submitted by Election Day to be counted in the days following the vote, observers should expect a phased reporting of results in competitive districts.