California polls close as governor, Los Angeles mayor races stay unsettled — Decision Desk Hq

California polls closed on June 2, and decision desk hq tracked a primary night that left the governor’s race, the Los Angeles mayor’s race and several House contests still in play. Voters also cast ballots in New Jersey, Iowa, Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota.

The state’s general primaries are set for Nov. 3, but Tuesday’s vote will decide which names move forward in contests that include a race to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom and a heated challenge to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Los Angeles Mayor Race

Bass, a one-term incumbent, is facing independent challenger Spencer Pratt, who gained momentum in recent months. Her campaign has centered on accusations that she neglected the city’s emergency response, infrastructure and homeless population, while Pratt’s supporters gathered Tuesday evening at an election night watch party in Los Angeles.

Adam Carolla appeared at the watch party and said, "Spencer Pratt!" Billy Bush also spoke outside the event at Don Antonio's Cantina in Los Angeles, saying, "We're here for change [unintelligible], change!"

California Governor Field

The gubernatorial contest includes Democratic candidates Katie Porter, Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer, along with Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco. The race is to replace Newsom, and it was one of the marquee contests on Tuesday’s ballot.

California has sometimes taken days after polls close to settle races, so the outcome in several contests may not be apparent the moment the ballots are counted. That leaves the primary process focused on which candidates can secure enough support to advance into the general election fight.

Joe Mitchell in Iowa

In Iowa, former state Rep. Joe Mitchell is seeking a seat in Congress as one of the few Gen Z candidates running nationwide. Mitchell first ran for office at 20 years old and won a seat in the legislature at 21, and he previously served as a regional director for the Trump Department of Housing and Urban Development and later held a top post at the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

He is running for the seat vacated by Rep. Randy Feenstra, who is competing for the open governorship in Tuesday’s contests. The California races remain the clearest headline from the night, but the broader primary map also included contests that will shape who appears on November ballots in several states.