California Voters to Decide Key Races in June 2 Primary
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California's primary election on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, will shape contests for governor and Los Angeles mayor. Mail voting is already underway, with 15% of ballots returned as of May 31. Polls show a tight race for Los Angeles mayor, while a crowded field competes to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom.
Facts First
- Primary election set for Tuesday, June 2, 2026, with mail voting having begun in early May.
- Governor's race is open as Gavin Newsom is term-limited; candidates include Steve Hilton, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan, and Chad Bianco.
- Los Angeles mayoral race is nonpartisan and statistically tied according to a recent UC Berkeley poll, featuring incumbent Karen Bass, Councilmember Nithya Raman, and Republican Spencer Pratt.
- Republicans have not won a Los Angeles mayoral election since 1997, and Democrats have not lost a statewide race in California in two decades.
- 15% of voters had returned mail ballots as of Sunday, May 31, 2026.
What Happened
The California primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026. The gubernatorial race to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom includes candidates Steve Hilton, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan, and Chad Bianco. In Los Angeles, the officially nonpartisan mayoral race features incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass, progressive City Council member Nithya Raman, and Republican candidate Spencer Pratt. A University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Governmental Studies poll of 1,351 likely voters found Bass, Raman, and Pratt tightly clustered with no candidate holding a statistically significant edge. Mail voting began in early May, and as of Sunday, May 31, 2026, 15% of voters had returned their ballots.
Why this Matters to You
Your vote will help determine California's next governor and the leadership of its largest city, which could influence state policies on issues like climate, health, and public safety. The outcome of the Los Angeles mayoral race may affect local government's response to crises like wildfires, a context highlighted by the 2025 Palisades Fire, which was the city's most destructive and in which candidate Spencer Pratt lost his home. The close polling suggests your ballot could be decisive in a competitive race.
What's Next
Voters will cast their final ballots on Tuesday, June 2. The results will determine which candidates advance to the November general election. The tight polling in the Los Angeles race means the final outcome may hinge on last-minute campaigning and turnout. Republicans will be attempting to break a long electoral drought in both the mayoral and statewide contests.