Nearly 24 hours after polls closed in California, results from the gubernatorial primary and Los Angeles mayor's race remain unresolved as election officials continue processing millions of ballots under the state's expansive vote-by-mail system.
With just 55% of the gubernatorial vote reported Wednesday evening, Republican Steve Hilton led the field of more than 60 candidates with 27.6% support, ahead of Democrat Xavier Becerra at 25.5%. Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer trailed at 19.7%. In Los Angeles, where 62% of votes have been counted, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass held a narrow lead with 35%, followed by Republican Spencer Pratt at 29.9%, while far-left Councilmember Nithya Raman had 22.8%.
California's top-two primary system allows candidates from the same party to advance to November runoffs if they finish among the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive advocates and Democratic officials have defended California's extended vote-counting timeline as a feature that protects ballot access rather than a flaw. Supporters note the state accepts mail ballots arriving up to seven days after Election Day if postmarked by then, giving voters additional time to participate regardless of postal delays or scheduling conflicts.
Some Democrats have pointed to the state's procedures as expanding democratic participation, arguing that signature verification and provisional ballot counting ensure every eligible vote is counted rather than disqualified over administrative technicalities. The extended timeline has historically allowed California to process hundreds of thousands of ballots that would otherwise go uncounted in states with stricter deadlines.
California's counties are required to verify signatures, count provisional ballots, and allow voters to cure certain defects before certifying results—a process election officials say can take up to three weeks for a statewide race. Democrats have generally emphasized the importance of completing this verification rather than rushing to declare winners prematurely.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentators and Republican officials have questioned whether California's extended counting period undermines public confidence in election outcomes. Critics argue that same-day results in many other states demonstrate faster turnaround is possible without sacrificing accuracy, suggesting procedural changes could reduce delays.
Some Republicans have raised concerns about ballot harvesting practices enabled by vote-by-mail expansion, arguing that third parties collecting and delivering ballots create opportunities for manipulation. The sparse staffing observed at the Los Angeles County Registrar's office during CNN's Wednesday broadcast has drawn particular scrutiny from those calling for faster processing.
California's acceptance of ballots arriving up to a week after Election Day has drawn criticism from conservative observers who argue this creates uncertainty about final outcomes long after polls close in other states. Republicans have called for tighter deadlines and increased staffing to process votes more quickly, suggesting transparency concerns when results remain uncertain for weeks.
What the Numbers Show
At 55% reporting in the gubernatorial race: Steve Hilton (R) leads with 27.6%; Xavier Becerra (D) has 25.5%; Tom Steyer (D) trails at 19.7%. The remaining vote is distributed among more than 60 candidates.
In the Los Angeles mayoral contest at 62% reporting: Karen Bass (D-incumbent) leads with 35%; Spencer Pratt (R) has 29.9%; Nithya Raman (D) sits at 22.8%.
California law permits mail ballots to arrive up to seven days after Election Day if postmarked by the deadline. Counties then have an additional seven days to process those ballots after receipt, meaning some votes counted in final tallies may not have been cast until a week after polls closed elsewhere.
The Los Angeles County Registrar processes approximately 25% of California's total votes, making delays in that single county particularly impactful on statewide timelines.
The Bottom Line
California's vote-counting process remains ongoing with neither major race decided. Election officials estimate final certified results could take up to three weeks under state law, which allows mail ballots arriving within seven days of Election Day if postmarked by the deadline.
The gubernatorial race's outcome depends heavily on uncounted votes, as Hilton's lead over Becerra falls well within typical margins for a race with millions of ballots remaining. The top-two system means both Democrats could potentially advance to November regardless of final order.
In Los Angeles, Bass has been projected to reach the runoff despite leading by only five points over Pratt at 62% reporting. Whether she faces Pratt or another challenger in November will depend on whether any candidate crosses 50% or finishes among the top two as vote counting continues.