California Election Update Amid Tight Races

Spencer Pratt, a former reality star and Republican, saw his lead over Councilwoman Nithya Raman decrease in the Los Angeles mayoral race. In contrast, Republican Steve Hilton held a considerable lead over Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer in the gubernatorial contest. These races have gained national attention following major wildfires in Los Angeles, highlighting critical tests for progressive leadership.

Pratt trails incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass in the mayoral race, with Bass already advancing to the November election. Pratt has a 6% lead over Raman, with 163,549 votes compared to Raman’s 130,473, per the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder and County Clerk. Pratt previously had 157,116 votes, while Raman stood at 119,809 votes.

In a parallel race, Hilton continues to maintain his edge over the former Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra, in the governor’s race. Hilton has secured 1,533,435 votes, whereas Becerra has garnered 1,470,100 votes, as per the California Secretary of State. Tom Steyer, another Democratic candidate, follows with 1,139,517 votes.

If no gubernatorial candidate gains more than 50% of votes, the top two contenders will face off in a runoff election in November. California’s primary election ballots close on June 2, but results may take weeks. The official results from the 2024 election were not certified until 38 days after polls closed.

A 2025 bipartisan bill mandates counting “non-problematic” votes within 13 days. The state leads in mail-in voting, with 81% of voters using this method in 2024, compared to the national average of 43%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.