California Primary 2026: Becerra thanks supporters as candidates begin to concede

It’s Election Day in California, during which over 23 million registered voters had a say in choosing the top two candidates to follow in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s footsteps.

Voters in Los Angeles also got a chance to elect a new sheriff and new L.A. City council members, and decided on key measures that will dictate the future of funding for healthcare services in the county.

Voting centers across the state closed at 8 p.m., giving way to the official count. Early results will begin coming in closer to 9 p.m. Follow live results here.

This June 2 primary, follow along here as the CALÓ News team brings you live updates on voter processes, explainers on races and results.

See something happening at your local polling center? Send us an email at info@calonews.com.

10:50 p.m.: Becerra thanks voters amid other candidate concessions

From LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles, Becerra spoke to supporters as on of the three contenders leading in early returns for two spots in the November general election.

Candidates for the governor's seat began to concede Tuesday night, including Antonio Villaraigosa and Katie Porter. Meanwhile Tom Steyer remained hopeful he could pick up that second place spot.

Becerra, a former state attorney general and federal health secretary, shared his personal story as the son of two immigrants. He’d be the state’s first Latino governor since the late 1800s.

He said he wants to lead a state that “regularly makes the improbable seem inevitable.”

– Joanna Jacobo Rivera and The Associated Press

10:30 p.m.: Bass advances to run-off election in November

After a shaky first term marked by the most destructive wildfire in city history, the Democrat qualified for the November runoff. Who she will run against is still to be seen.

Bass was elected in 2022, with promises to improve the homeless crisis and deal with the increasing rents in L.A., a city later hit with wildfire reconstruction and the Trump administration immigration raids.

– Brenda Fernanda Verano and The Associated Press

8:50 p.m.: Dolores Huerta, other Latino leaders show up in support of Becerra

As Democratic candidate for governor Xavier Becerra awaited results on Tuesday night, his supporters were rallying in Los Angeles. Among them was Dolores Huerta, who said he was the right fit for the job because of his experience.

"I think Xavier Becerra has the experience. He's been in government now for many years and so he knows how to govern and I think that's very, very important... he's done them well," she told CALÓ News.

Also present was Angelica Salas, the executive director of CHIRLA, who expressed her support for Becerra, who could become the first Latino governor in over 150 years.

"Latinos make up 40% of the state... 50% of California's children have a mother or a father who is an immigrant, just like him. So he represents 50% of the children of California who have an immigrant parent."

California Assemblyman Mark Gonzalez was also there in support.

"As Washington turns its back and tramples on fundamental freedoms, California needs leaders rooted in courage and conviction. Becerra is that leader. The son of working-class immigrants, he understands the struggles and dreams of this state. Becerra has spent his life fighting for the people of California," Gonzalez said.

SEIU President David Huerta said that "[Becerra] is in the best position to lead this state, not only against Donald Trump, because he's proven he can't take on Donald Trump as Attorney General, but to move our state forward and really to start to address the issues that right now are impacting working people up and down the state."

Carlos Vaquerano, a local healthcare advocate, agreed, saying Becerra has represented Californians well in Sacramento. "The results are showing that he's going to be our next governor, the first Latino governor in modern history."

– Jacqueline Garcia

8 p.m.: Polls are closed. When can voters expect results?

Polls across California are now closed. Individuals still waiting to vote have the right to stay in line until they are able to cast their ballots. Initial results should start rolling in just after 8 p.m. across the state.

Early voting count will be released throughout Tuesday night into the following day. County elections officials must report final results to the Secretary of State by July 3, and the Secretary of State will certify the results on July 10, 2026.

The L.A. County registrar provides live feed of the various stages in ballot processing here: https://www.lavote.gov/home/voting-elections/current-elections/live-feed

While official results take days to determine, some races — including gubernatorial nominees and L.A. County measures — might be called Tuesday night. 

Keep track of the live results here.

– Andrea Valadez

7:10 p.m.: Nearly 5 million mail-in ballots returned statewide

As of 6 p.m., close to 4.9 million ballots, or 21%, had been returned statewide, according to Election data expert Paul Mitchell’s primary ballot tracker. A total of 23.1 million ballots were mailed out to registered voters.

In the city of Los Angeles, 18% of voters had returned their ballots — just shy of 400,000.

In L.A. County, 18% of ballots (over 1 million) had been returned, the majority from Democrats. The 65+ age group had returned the most ballots (33%) while the 18-34 age group had returned the least (8%).

The last available update from Sacramento County, uploaded three hours ago, had the total number of ballots returned at 25%.

– Andrea Valadez

6 p.m.: Becerra, Hilton and Steyer battle for lead

While it is unlikely that there will be a winner announced tonight, the latest U.C. Berkeley poll, released on Friday, shows the top three candidates for governor are Democrat Xavier Becerra (25%), Republican Steve Hilton (21%) and Billionaire Tom Steyer (19%). 

Another poll by Emerson College, conducted May 27 and 28, shows Becerra with 28%, Steyer at 22%,  Hilton at 21% and 4% undecided. 

Far behind are Democrats Katie Porter and Matt Mahan at 5% and Antonio Villaraigosa at 2%. Republican Chad Bianco shows 11% of support, but in recent days, Hilton has been calling that a vote for Bianco is a vote for the Democrats since Republican votes would be divided. 

Read more here.

– Jacqueline Garcia

5:40 p.m.: Nearly 1 million mail-in ballots cast in L.A. County

The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan said on Tuesday that as of 2 p.m., the county was approaching 1 million vote-by-mail ballots, signaling that they could surpass the 2022 primaries.

“June primaries have notoriously lower turnout compared to other statewide elections and compared to our general elections,” Logan said. “But this one is trending above that norm based on what we are seeing at the vote center today.”

Read more here.

– Adam Solorzano

5:11 p.m.: Voting updates from Sacramento

Stacy, a Sacramento voter, told CALÓ News she utilized various voter guides, including guides and endorsements from the Sacramento Bee, CalMatters and the Democratic Socialists of America to inform her vote in various races.

“I respect these organizations and what they stood for in the past,” she said.

Another Sacramento voter, Vanny, said she voted for Tom Steyer for governor. “He advocates for environmental protections and he's not going to be bought out by people,” she said.

- Andrea Valadez

4:30 p.m.: Los Angeles searches for its next chapter

At least 15 candidates are trying to oust Incumbent Karen Bass to become the next mayor of Los Angeles. However, it is Councilwoman Nithya Raman and former reality TV star Spencer Pratt who are the top two contenders. 

Most of the campaign has focused on issues like rebuilding from the Palisades Fire, affordable housing and persistent homelessness. But there are other, more existential concerns as well.

The city has long struggled to provide basic services, whether paving buckled streets and sidewalks or keeping streetlights on. The restaurant industry has witnessed a long string of high-profile closures. The city’s notorious gridlock continues unabated.

All of this has increased pressure on city leadership as it prepares to host the Olympics in 2028.

– Jacqueline Garcia and Associated Press

2:23 p.m.: Higher turnout than 2022 primary election in L.A.

Election data expert Paul Mitchell’s primary ballot tracker shows L.A. County’s voter turnout at 17% as of one hour ago, compared to 16% during the same time period in the 2022 primary election. The tracker also shows 55% of all LA County ballots that have been returned so far have been from Democratic registered voters.

As of 1:20 p.m., the voter turnout in Sacramento County sat at around 25%, according to Ken Caparis, the public information officer for Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections. Casparis said the number was sure to go up as more voters head to the polls in person and ballots are collected from drop boxes and the post office.

For context, at the end of the day before the last primary election in 2022, Sacramento County received around 185,000 ballots. By the end of yesterday, June 1, Sacramento County had already received around 201,000 ballots, signaling a slight increase in early voting, according to Casparis.

– Andrea Valadez

1:40 p.m.: 'A lot of uncertainty'

South Central Los Angeles local Karina P. shared with CALÓ News why it was important for her to come out and vote at the Avalon Carver Community Center.

“Well, I feel like our voices are not heard. And I think it's important that the younger generation go out and vote for our families. This year is like a lot of uncertainty. But I'm happy that I voted during my civic duty,” she said.

– Amairani Hernandez

1:25 p.m.: LA County residents can expect early results soon after polls close

The L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk will release its first results of vote-by-mail ballots between 8:30-8:45 p.m. followed by a release of results from ballots cast at a vote center between 8:45 p.m.-9 p.m.

The L.A. County registrar provides live feed of the various stages in ballot processing here: https://www.lavote.gov/home/voting-elections/current-elections/live-feed

Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections will release its initial wave of election results at 8:15 p.m. followed by a second update at 10:15 p.m.. If needed, a third update will go out at 12:15 a.m.

While California counties will start seeing election results shortly after polls close, official results take days to come in.

– Andrea Valadez

12:27 p.m.: Expecting official voting results tonight in California? Don't count on it

California is notoriously slow when it comes to counting ballots, meaning official election results for some key races, including the governor’s race, may not be available tonight.

Election officials are not permitted to begin counting ballots until polls close at 8 p.m. California sends every registered voter a mail-in ballot, a practice started during the pandemic that has remained in place to make voting easier. Ballots that arrive before election day can be prepared for counting, but those that arrive after June 2 must, of course, be counted whenever they trickle in - creating an additional delay in results.

County elections officials must report final results to the Secretary of State by July 3, and the Secretary of State will certify the results on July 10, 2026.

Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to all 58 county election officials last month urging them to “accurately count every lawfully cast ballot as quickly as possible.”

During an interview with local Sacramento TV station KCRA 3 earlier this week, Secretary of State Shirley Weber said it is unlikely we will have a definite result for the governor’s race on Tuesday night.

– Andrea Valadez

11 a.m.: Bass visits WMA in Los Angeles

– Brenda Fernanda Verano

10:46 a.m.: Mayor Karen Bass arrives in Boyle Heights 

Incumbent L.A. Mayor Karen Bass visited the Women's March Action offices located on 1st Street to thank volunteers for doing last-minute phone banking. 

WMA's Executive Director Emiliana Guereca was also present and talked about the importance of phone banking in support of Bass. 

– Brenda Fernanda Verano

10:40 a.m.: A primary Election Day with LA street vendors

– Amairani Hernandez

10:34 a.m.: Street vendors supporting voters in Boyle Heights

Outside the Boyle Heights City Hall you can locate Street Vendors to the Poll, who are hosting a gathering in support of their community's voting members.

Sergio Jimenez who is a community organizer with Community Power Collective said that “CPC passes legislation, advocates for workers' rights, particularly street vendors' rights and introduces street vendors from different areas or local areas to support these type of events because they need to be part of these community events, because they are the community.”

Free home style food will be provided by the street vendors until 8 p.m. and there will be a variety of different dishes and snacks. 

– Amairani Hernandez

8 a.m.: Nithya Raman speaks to media after casting vote

– Brenda Fernanda Verano

7:45 a.m.: Nithya Raman casts her vote in Silver Lake

L.A. mayoral candidate Nithya Raman cast her vote early Tuesday within an hour of polling places opening.

Surrounded by her family, the candidate spoke to media outside of a Silver Lake polling location.

In May, just weeks before the primary election, Raman sat down with CALÓ News to talk about her platform and why she wanted to bring in a different kind of vision to the city's top office.

– Amairani Hernandez

7 a.m.: It’s Election Day in L.A. How to find your polling place

Polling places in California are open June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

If you received your ballot in the mail, you have until 8 p.m. to drop off your ballot at a polling location or at your nearest drop-off box.

If you are mailing your mail-in ballot, it must be postmarked June 2 in order to be counted.

To find your polling location, head over to the Secretary of State website https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place and write in your address. If you live in Los Angeles County, visit the Registrar of Voters website https://locator.lavote.gov/locations/vc?culture=en and look up your address for your nearest polling place.

– Joanna Jacobo Rivera