California primary election results: Becerra, Hilton neck and neck in early results

Here's when L.A. County is expected to release the vote counts on Election Day and beyond.

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan said the first election results will be released at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday.

This first wave of results will represent vote-by-mail ballots that have been returned through the mail, even Tuesday's mail, Logan said.

These results will also include ballots returned to drop boxes through Monday and mail ballots that were dropped off at vote centers through Sunday.

"The first results that will come out at 8:15 will be a very healthy representative sample of the entire county," Logan said.

Shortly after that, Logan said more results will be added from votes that were cast at vote centers during the 10 days prior to Election Day - the early in-person voting period.

Ballots will continue to come in from individual vote centers through Tuesday night, and as these are processed, more results will be released, Logan said. The updates will likely come in 35-40 minute cycles throughout the night, he said.

After Election Day as ballot processing continues, more results will be released on a daily basis starting Wednesday, through the weekend and into next week, he said.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged his followers to vote for Steven Hilton, a former Fox News TV host and British political adviser.

"He will work with me and the Federal Government, the money will flow because I have confidence in him (but not any of the others!), and we will MAKE CALIFORNIA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance called Hilton a "good guy" and encouraged Californians to vote for him.

"California is such a beautiful state--it just needs better political leadership!" Vance wrote on X

Candidates in California's crowded gubernatorial race made a final push for votes Tuesday, as three leading contenders sought to distinguish themselves in a closely watched primary.

Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra made last-minute campaign stops in SoCal in a final push for California governor. Meanwhile, Steve Hilton asked Chad Bianco to drop out of the race.

Supporters shook hands and rallied voters as polling opened, underscoring the urgency of an election.

"There are really only three people for two spots," billionaire businessman Tom Steyer said.

Steyer, who has poured more than $200 million of his personal fortune into the race, campaigned Tuesday morning along Los Angeles' new D-Line extension, greeting riders and emphasizing his campaign message.

"I've been trying really hard to work for California people, taking no money from corporations. They're spending tens of millions of dollars against me, but I recognize that the people can't afford to live here anymore," he said.

Steyer, polling in third place, is attempting to overtake Republican Steve Hilton, who is working to consolidate conservative voters and prevent two Democrats from advancing to the November election.

California has not had a Republican governor in 15 years after former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011.

"People are done with all the taxes and chaos and the crime and the homeless, the high cost of gas and the high cost of housing," he said. "It's obvious we need change in California, and this is our moment to get it."

Both candidates remain behind former state Attorney General and Biden cabinet member Xavier Becerra, who has made fewer public appearances in recent days but continues to campaign on addressing the state's housing crisis.

"On my first day as governor, I will declare California's housing shortage a state of emergency," he said. "No more studies, no more task forces. We have homes to build right now."

The gubernatorial primary has surpassed $315 million in ad spending and reservations, according to AdImpact, making it the most expensive governor's race on record.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna is seeking reelection Tuesday, facing a crowded field that includes his predecessor.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna is seeking reelection Tuesday, facing a crowded field that includes his predecessor.

Luna is up against seven challengers, among them former Sheriff Alex Villanueva, whom Luna defeated in 2022.

If no candidate secures a majority of the vote in the primary, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff election in November. The race sets up a potential rematch between Luna and Villanueva, depending on the outcome of Tuesday's voting.

"Luna has a very broad support," said Jim Newton, a veteran journalist and Lecturer of Public Policy at UCLA, during an interview with Eyewitness News. "It used to be inconceivable that a sheriff would lose a reelection battle. We had [Sheriff Sherman Block] here for generations. The idea that a sheriff could be vulnerable and reelect a new one, frankly, Villanueva himself lost last time to Luna. I think that the extent that this boils down to Luna versus Villanueva, Luna's in a very strong position, but there's a whole field of challengers. Luna has support across the board, elected officials, Mayor [Karen] Bass has endorsed him, Democratic parties have endoresed him. So I would think he would have a fairly clear path for reelection, but with a big field ... anything is possible."