Overview: The counting of mail-in ballots in California’s primary election continues, with county elections officials having 30 days to count the ballots. The process includes comparing signatures on envelopes to signatures on file and verifying them with voters if necessary. In the race for governor, Democrat Xavier Becerra is currently leading, while Republican candidate Steve Hilton is in second place, and Democrat Tom Steyer is gaining ground. Other statewide and local races are also being closely contested. Despite claims of fraud, there is no evidence of any wrongdoing in the election.
Ellen Perrault
After the polls closed on Tuesday night county and stateside election officials released preliminary election results from mail ballots that were received and processed as well as votes votes cast and counted on Election Day. Since then, CA, counties have continued to count, process and publish results from mail in ballots still being received by county registrars.
The slow count is attributed to state’s law requires it to mail ballots to every registered voter. These ballots are counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day and received at the election office within seven days of the election.
By law, county elections officials have 30 days, also known as the canvass period, to count the ballots. During the official canvass, county elections officials will process and count provisional ballots, ballots from voters who registered and voted conditionally (Same Day Voter Registration), and vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days of the election.
According to the Secretary of State, this process includes a comparison of signatures on envelopes to the signatures on file. If a signature is missing or does not compare to the signature on file, county elections officials are required by law to reach out to voters to verify their signature in order to ensure that their ballot can be counted. By law, and for most elections.Voters are allowed to verify their signature up to eight days before the county certifies their results. These processes ensure that all valid votes cast by eligible voters can be counted.
As might be expected in today’s combative and over-heated political environment, rumors and accusations of fraud—without any evidence whatsoever—as President Donald Trump and some of his Make America Great Again (MAGA) Republican supporters continue to spread.
With a history of perpetuating such claims dating back to the 2020 Election, Trump once again repeated this claim targeting the CA primary election results during a Meet the Press interview on Sunday, where he called the state’s elections “crooked” and “rigged”. Once again he made this claim without presenting any evidence.
Meanwhile, California’s ballot count continues.
In the state’s hotly contested race for governor, Democrat Xavier Becerra continues to hold on to the top slot while Republican candidate Steve Hilton is hanging on by his fingernails to second position while Democrat Tom Steyer continues to gain ground as more and more mail in ballots are counted. Hilton led Steyer by eight percentage points on election night but that lead has been cut nearly in half to 4.3 percentage points and the gap between them continues to close. As an aside, many locals are celebrating the inglorious defeat of Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco in his bid to become governor.
Other Election Results as of Monday June 8
Detailed below is the current status of major statewide and local races. Keep in mind that in CA’s primary election the two candidates receiving the most votes—regardless of party preference—move on to the general election. If a candidate receives a majority of the vote (at least 50 percent + 1), a general election must still be held.
Lt. Governor
Gloria Romero Republican
Fiona Ma Democrat
Secretary of State
Donald P. (Don) Wagner Republican
Shirley Weber Democrat, Incumbent
Comptroller
Malia M. Cohen Democratic, Incumbent
Herb W. Morgan Republican
State Treasurer
Eleni Kounalakis Democrat
Jennifer Hawks Republican
State Attorney General
Rob Bonta Democrat, Incumbent
Michael E. Gates Republican
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Sonja Shaw Endorsed by Republicans)
Richard Barrera (Endorsed by Democrats)
Insurance Commissioner
Jane Kim Democrat
In tight race for 2nd slot on November ballot:
State Sen. Ben Allen Democrat
Stacy Korsgaden Republican
Board of Equalization District 4 (which includes Riverside and San Bernardino Counties)
Denis Bilodeau Republican
In tight race for 2nd slot on November ballot:
Tom Umberg Democrat
Cody Petterson Democrat
US Representative 23rd District
Jay Obernolte Republican
In tight race for 2nd slot on November ballot:
Tessa Lynn Hodge Democrat
Pat Wallis Democrat
US Representative 25th District
Raul Ruiz Democrat
Joe Males Republican
US Representative 33rd District
Pete Aguilar Democrat
Stephanie M. Vargas Republican
US Representative 35th District
Mike Cargile Republican
Norma J. Torres Democrat
US Representative 39th District
Mark Takano Democrat
Steve Manos Republican
US Representative 40th District
Ken Calvert Republican
In tight race for 2nd slot on November ballot:
Young Kim Republican
Esther Kim-Varet Democrat
Lisa Ramirez Democrat
US Representative 48th District
Jim Desmond Republican
Marni Von Wilpert Democrat
County Results
In CA county primary elections candidates who receive a majority of votes (50% plus one) avoid a runoff in the November election.
Riverside County
County Supervisor 2nd Supervisorial
Karen Spiegel 75.52%
County Supervisor 4th Supervisorial
V. MANUEL “MANNY” PEREZ 61.02%
County Supervisor 5th Supervisorial
YXSTIAN GUTIERREZ 47,262 98.49%
Riverside City Council Ward 2
Gracie Torres
Aram Ayra
Riverside City Council Ward 4
Chuck Condor
Rich Vandenberg
Riverside City Council Ward 6
Luis Hernandez
Oz Puerta
San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
Cali Binks
Alejandro “Alex” Vara
Board of Supervisors District 2
Jesse Armendarez III
Board of Supervisors District 4
Curt Hagman
District Attorney
Jason Michael Anderson
San Bernardino County Sheriff
Shannon Dicus
San Bernardino Mayor
Helen Tran
City Council Ward 1
These candidates remain in a close race for top two positions:
Virginia Marquez
Theodore Sanchez
Ron Alvardo
City Council Ward 2
These candidates remain in a close race for top two positions:
Benito J. Barrios
Christian Shaughnessy
Sandra Ibarra
City Council Ward 4
These candidates remain in a close race for top two positions:
Joe Salas
Fred Shorett
County elections officials must complete the final official results by July 2, 2026. The CA Secretary of State will certify results on July 10, 2026.