California primary election results for key 2026 races including still-undecided match-ups for governor, LA mayor
California's top-two primary is still sorting out second-place finishers in the governor and Los Angeles mayor races. Xavier Becerra is projected to advance for governor, while the LA mayor runoff remains unsettled.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
California's vote count is still reshaping the field in two marquee races: governor and Los Angeles mayor. CBS News projects Xavier Becerra into the gubernatorial general election, while the LA mayoral runoff is still uncertain as Spencer Pratt's lead over Nithya Raman narrows.
California is still counting votes, and that means some races are like a close board game where the winner is not known yet. Xavier Becerra is headed to the next round for governor, but the second spot in that race and the Los Angeles mayor race are still being sorted out.
Analysis
What the article says
California uses a top-two primary system, so the two highest vote-getters in each race move on to November regardless of party. That makes the ongoing count especially important in crowded contests where the second slot is still in play.
In the governor's race, CBS News projects former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will advance to the general election. The second candidate has not yet been projected. Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton is in second place with a lead over billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, though Steyer has narrowed the gap as more ballots are counted.
The Los Angeles mayor's race is also unresolved. Incumbent Karen Bass is leading comfortably, but the runoff opponent is still unclear. Reality TV personality Spencer Pratt has held second place, yet his advantage over LA City Council member Nithya Raman has been shrinking as additional county returns arrive.
Broader context
The governor's race is the marquee contest because it will decide who succeeds term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. The article also notes congressional primaries shaped by Proposition 50, a voter-approved measure backed by Democrats that aims to make five U.S. House seats more favorable to Democrats in the 2026 midterms. In one key race to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi, CBS News projects state Sen. Scott Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan to move on.
The slow count itself has become part of the story. The article says some Republicans, including President Trump, have criticized California's vote-counting process, while officials continue releasing new totals.
Key points
- California's top-two primary sends the top two vote-getters to November, regardless of party.
- CBS News projects Xavier Becerra will advance in the governor's race, but the second finalist is still not projected.
- Steve Hilton is currently ahead of Tom Steyer for the second gubernatorial spot.
- In the Los Angeles mayor's race, Karen Bass leads while Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman fight for second place.
- Proposition 50 is shaping congressional primaries by aiming to make five U.S. House seats more favorable to Democrats.
If the counting trend holds, the state will soon have clear November matchups in its biggest races and voters will know who is advancing. The congressional contests tied to Proposition 50 could also settle into a more defined general-election fight.
If the late-counted ballots keep tightening the margins, the final lineup may stay unsettled for longer than expected. Continued criticism over the pace of the count could also keep attention on California's election process instead of the candidates.
