CA primary election results: California governor, Los Angeles mayor races now decided

Ronald Reagan. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Jerry Brown. Gavin Newsom.

The governor's office in California typically attracts some of the highest-wattage names in politics, but not this year.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla took a pass on the race. And with Newsom barred from seeking a third term, the campaign to succeed him turned into a sprawling, often messy contest.

In the final stretch, much of the attention has focused on Democrats Xavier Becerra, the former congressman and state attorney general who was also health secretary under President Joe Biden, and Tom Steyer, a billionaire known for his climate activism. Republican Steve Hilton is campaigning with Trump's endorsement.

Under California's primary system, all candidates appear on a single ballot and the top two finishers advance to the November general election, regardless of party. The absence of a front-runner incentivized virtually anyone with political ambition and a modicum of organization to join the race, leaving Democrats worried that their candidates would divide the vote and ultimately be shut out of the fall campaign. But those fears have eased in the primary's closing weeks, with the party now expecting to secure at least one slot on the November ballot.

The results could offer insight about how voters are feeling in a state where Democrats have dominated statewide elections for two decades.

Jude Mayer says she wasn't thrilled about voting for a billionaire for governor. But she believes Democrat Tom Steyer "is talking about the environment in the way that I want to hear about it."

The 24-year-old says climate change is an imminent threat to her home state in particular.

"I don't want to be under water in 10 years," Mayer said Tuesday after voting in Los Angeles.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has arrived via Caltrain for his downtown watch party ahead of polls closing for tonight's gubernatorial primary.

California District 22 candidate Dr. Jasmeet Bains has canceled her election night event due to the ongoing hostage situation in Downtown Bakersfield.

In a statement, she says:

"I am in active communication with local law enforcement. Members of the public should continue to avoid downtown Bakersfield at this time. My thoughts are with all of the families impacted by this concerning situation. I remain thankful to the emergency personnel who risk their own well-being for the safety of our community. First responders run toward danger to keep our community safe. Thank you to these brave men and women. Out of an abundance of caution, and to avoid creating a large gathering of people in close proximity to this incident, we will no longer hold an in-person event in downtown."

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