Six states hold primary elections with focus on California governor's race and Los Angeles mayoral contest

On June 2, 2026, six states hold primary elections, with major focus on California's open governor's race and the Los Angeles mayoral contest. With Gov. Gavin Newsom term-limited, Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer compete with Republican Steve Hilton. In Los Angeles, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass faces challengers Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman. Results will determine the matchups for the November general election.

California gubernatorial primary race

• ▪Leading candidates in the California governor's race include Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer, and Republican Steve Hilton
• ▪Billionaire Tom Steyer has spent more than $195 million on his advertising campaign, the most expensive in the country this year
• ▪Republican candidate Steve Hilton has received an endorsement from President Donald Trump
• ▪California is holding a June 2, 2026 primary to narrow the field in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom
• ▪Former Democratic frontrunner Eric Swalwell dropped out of the governor's race in April following allegations of sexual assault

Los Angeles mayoral contest

• ▪If no Los Angeles mayoral candidate receives a majority of the vote, the top two will face each other in a November runoff election
• ▪Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is running for re-election against challengers including reality TV star Spencer Pratt and Councilwoman Nithya Raman
• ▪Los Angeles County voters will also decide on a temporary half-percent sales tax increase intended to generate $1 billion annually for healthcare services
• ▪A UC Berkeley-LA Times poll from May 28 showed Bass leading with 26%, followed by Raman at 25% and Pratt at 22%

California congressional primaries

• ▪Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has been absent from Congress since March 5, 2026, missing over 100 votes due to an unspecified "personal medical issue."
• ▪In New Jersey's 7th District, four Democrats are competing for the chance to challenge incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr.
• ▪In California's 11th District, candidates are competing to succeed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has endorsed Connie Chan
• ▪Due to redistricting, incumbent California Republicans Young Kim and Ken Calvert are running against each other in the 40th District

Proposition 50 redistricting effects

• ▪The redistricting under Proposition 50 created up to five new districts that are expected to favor Democrats
• ▪California's Proposition 50, approved in November 2025, allowed state Democrats to redraw congressional maps to their advantage
• ▪The new maps forced some Republican incumbents, including Ken Calvert and Young Kim, to run against each other in the same district

Iowa gubernatorial primary race

• ▪The Republican nominee for Iowa governor will face unopposed Democrat Rob Sand, the current State Auditor, in the November election
• ▪The Republican primary for Iowa governor includes five candidates, with Rep. Randy Feenstra and businessman Zach Lahn considered frontrunners
• ▪To win the Iowa GOP gubernatorial nomination outright, a candidate must secure at least 35% of the vote, otherwise a convention will decide
• ▪President Donald Trump has endorsed Rep. Randy Feenstra in the Iowa gubernatorial primary