California Primary Election Results Face Delays Amidst Mail-In Ballot Verification
Election outcomes for primary races across California, notably in Los Angeles where incumbent Mayor Karen Bass seeks re-election, continue to trickle in days after the polls closed. This protracted count is a regular feature of elections in California, the USA's most populous state, which encompasses some 23 million registered voters.
Extensive Mail-In Voting and Verification Processes Slow Results
The delay stems from a combination of the state's rigorous vote-counting protocols and the widespread use of mail-in ballots, which are distributed to every registered voter. With an estimated 80% of votes submitted by post, each ballot necessitates careful sorting, validation, and counting.
Mail-in ballots are considered valid if postmarked by election day and received by county election offices up to nine days later. California Secretary of State Shirley N Weber acknowledged the delayed results as "normal," urging patience from Californians. This reassurance came despite claims of "BIG cheating" from US President Donald Trump regarding the deeply liberal state.
Election officials across California's 58 counties are afforded up to 30 days post-election to finalise ballot counts. Results must be submitted to the California Secretary of State by 3 July, with state certification slated for 10 July 2026.
Trump's Allegations and Disinformation Efforts
President Trump has repeatedly alleged that Democrats are "trying to steal" elections due to the delayed finalisation. His long-standing opposition to mail-in voting led to unsubstantiated claims of a "stolen" 2020 US election. In April, Trump signed an executive order, contested by experts as exceeding his authority, to restrict mail-in voting eligibility.
Furthermore, Trump claimed federal prosecutors in Los Angeles were investigating votes, a statement California Governor Gavin Newsom's office refuted on social media as another instance of Trump "lying about California." Trump reiterated his unproven claims of election theft by Democrats and called for the passage of the Save America Act, which would mandate proof of US citizenship for voter registration. Governor Newsom's office later issued an explainer to counter this disinformation.
Candidate Standings and Runoff Projections
Early results, which include initial mail-in, in-person, and election-day ballots, suggest British-American former TV host Steve Hilton, a Republican gubernatorial hopeful, is in the lead. Trump offered congratulations to Hilton for his initial showing. However, this lead remains precarious, with just over half of the ballots counted thus far. The Associated Press indicates 56% of votes have been processed, with Hilton holding 27.6% (1.42 million votes) against Democratic rivals Xavier Becerra (25.6%, 1.32 million votes) and Tom Steyer (19.8%, 1.02 million votes).
California's "jungle primary" system advances the top two vote-getters to the general election, irrespective of party affiliation. In Los Angeles, incumbent Mayor Bass has secured a spot in the November runoff, though she failed to achieve the 50% needed to avoid one, holding 35% of the vote. Her opponent will be either reality television personality Spencer Pratt (29.9%) or city council member Nithya Raman (22.8%), with the race too close to call.
The delays are compounded by the painstaking process of verifying voter signatures on each mail-in ballot envelope against those on file. Discrepancies lead to voter notification and a window to correct the error before election certification. County election officials anticipate reporting most ballot results by 15 June, nearly two weeks after the 2 June election.
Secretary Weber emphasised, "California elections officials prioritise the right to vote and election security over rushing the vote count. We have a process that by law ensures both voting rights and the integrity of elections, so I would call on all Californians to be patient."
