Los Angeles County Ballot Counting Continues
Election officials in Los Angeles County are still processing over 700,000 ballots from Tuesday’s primary election. As of Wednesday evening, 77,521 ballots had been processed, increasing the total count to nearly 1.4 million, representing about 23.7% of registered voters.
Officials estimate 713,180 ballots remain to be processed, including 700,000 vote-by-mail ballots, 11,340 conditional voter registration ballots, and 1,840 provisional ballots. The estimate is subject to change as more ballots arrive and are processed. Ballots postmarked by election day and received from the U.S. Postal Service or returned to drop boxes may arrive through next Tuesday.
Key Races in Los Angeles and Statewide
Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt is leading against City Councilmember Nithya Raman in the race to face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who secured her position for the November ballot.
In the governor’s race, Republican candidate Steve Hilton maintains a lead, followed closely by Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer. The top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the general election. Early results in some tight races may take longer to finalize due to California’s voter-centric ballot processing laws.
Other Notable Ballot Measures and Races
Voters in Shasta County are close to approving Measure B, a controversial initiative enforcing in-person voting, limiting mail-in ballots, and requiring voter ID. This measure is expected to face legal challenges for violating state and federal election laws.
Monterey Park residents voted overwhelmingly to ban data centers, marking a first in the nation by public vote.
In Congressional races, Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez will face Angela Gonzales-Torres in the 34th District. Meanwhile, Democratic incumbent Malia Cohen will face Republican Herb Morgan in the state controller’s race.
Impacts and Reactions
Political experts expect a late Democratic surge from vote-by-mail ballots, potentially affecting close races. Republican voters turned in their ballots earlier than usual compared to past elections. The Republican performance in early counts raised their hopes of gaining ground, especially in District 13, held by Rep. Adam Gray.
Voters seem to value change, as evident from the support for candidates like Hilton and Pratt, who challenge the current political setup,
said Corrin Rankin, California Republican Party Chair.
Mayor Karen Bass highlighted her administration’s progress on homelessness and economic issues during her primary campaign, aiming for continued development in her potential second term.