Californians cast ballots today in a wide-open primary that will determine which two candidates face off for governor in November, with former Biden health secretary Xavier Becerra leading a fractured field that includes Democrat Tom Steyer and Trump-backed Republican Steve Hilton.
The state's primary system pits all candidates against each other regardless of party affiliation, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election to replace term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom. Voters in the heavily Democratic state of 40 million people will choose from more than 60 names on ballots mailed to all registered voters.
California's election also marks the first congressional redistricting vote since voters approved Proposition 50 last November, the state's response to Texas redrawing its districts to create five Republican-leaning seats at the behest of President Trump.
Los Angeles voters simultaneously weigh in on their mayoral race, where incumbent Karen Bass seeks a second term against former city council member Nithya Raman on the left and reality TV personality Spencer Pratt on the right. A candidate securing 50 percent of votes wins outright, otherwise the top two advance to the November 3 general election.
Beyond California, voters in Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and New Mexico also head to the polls on Tuesday.
Newsom, who occupied the governor's mansion for the past term, is widely believed to harbor presidential ambitions for 2028, potentially following a path similar to Ronald Reagan, who served as governor from 1967 to 1975 before his own national political career.
Author James Rodriguez: "California's three-way scramble for two spots is the kind of wide-open race that can shift dramatically once the votes start rolling in."
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