California voters will go to the polls on Tuesday to select which candidates will face off in November’s midterm elections, led by the races for governor and Los Angeles mayor.
Hollywood has showered candidates with contributions and fundraising events, as is typical, but the difference this cycle has been on the focus contenders have paid to restoring production to the state and the Southern California region. Much of the focus has been boosting the state film tax credit, even uncapping it, as a way to compete with other states and countries.
In coverage of the race, those issues often have been overshadowed by the race’s drama.
In the race for governor, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) had been leading other Democrats in the polls and had drawn on extensive industry ties, but he dropped out in April amid sexual misconduct allegations. That left the race a bit wide open, with former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra benefiting the most, rising from an almost forgotten contender to the top of recent polls.
The top two contenders will advance to November, regardless of party. Recent polls show that Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator who has been endorsed by Donald Trump, is in a tight race with Democrat Tom Steyer, the billionaire environmental activist, for the second slot.
Further behind are former Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, all Democrats, as well as Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican.
How to Watch Tuesday Primary ResultsCNN: Coverage throughout the evening, with John King at the Magic Wall. Laura Coates and Elex Michaelson will co-host a special edition of Laura Coates Live from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. PT, and Michaelson will anchor from 10 p.m. to midnight PT. Coverage will continue into the morning.MS NOW: Rachel Maddow leads coverage starting at 7 p.m. PT, and will be joined by Jen Psaki, Chris Hayes, Symone Sanders Townsend, Alicia Menendez, Michael Steele, Lawrence O’Donnell and Stephanie Ruhle. Anchor and chief data reporter Alo Velshi will break down the results. Katy Tur will anchor late-night coverage.NBC News Now: Hallie Jackson anchors along with Steve Kornacki at the Big Board. 7 p.m. PT, with “Kornacki Cam” stream on YouTube starting at 5 p.m. PT.NewsNation: Coverage throughout the evening, with a special edition of Jesse Weber Live until 10 p.m. PT.
In recent weeks, the race for Los Angeles mayor has been dominated by reality star Spencer Pratt, who, following an expectations exceeding debate performance, has risen in the polls with an insurgent campaign specializing in producing or promoting brash and direct online videos. He’s also drawn laudatory media coverage on the right, given the unique nature of a Trump-like (and endorsed) candidate running against Los Angeles’ Democratic establishment, casting the city as a failed state.
The race for mayor is nonpartisan, but the top two vote getters go on to a November runoff unless one candidate receives more than 50%. That is not expected to happen, given the sheer number of candidates will split the vote. In her run for reelection, Mayor Karen Bass has had to defend her record, whether that be on reducing homelessness, for which she says she is making progress, or on her response to the devastating fires last year, for which she received blistering criticism for being in Ghana when the infernos broke out. She recently met with Trump to press for federal recovery funding.
If Pratt makes the runoff, he faces a major challenge to win in a heavily blue city, even as he has capitalized on voter anger over Bass’ performance. That’s why Bass’ bigger challenge may be if Councilwoman Nithya Raman makes it to the runoff, as she is running to her left with campaign also focused on upending the status quo. One of the final polls, from the Los Angeles Times and UC Berkeley, showed Bass Raman nearly tied, followed closely behind by Pratt.
In the race’s final few days, various Hollywood figures have weighed in. On Monday, Kathy Griffin hosted an Instagram Q&A with Bass.
“I know Spencer Pratt and he’s an idiot and he doesn’t know any of the players in reality television,” she said. “I am one of them. And I know him and he’s horrible and he’s stupid. Here’s the thing, Even if people aren’t in love with you, they are not going to marry you.” She then asked Bass, “How do you talk to the folks that say, ‘I am just not to vote anybody this election because everybody is corrupt. Everybody is just as bad. It doesn’t matter.”
Bass said, “I think that is what the other side really wants to have happen. That’s why we have the situation we have in the country.”
Pratt, meanwhile, has amplified support of Doug Ellin, the creator of Entourage, among other figures. “This city has collapsed in the last five years. There’s no f—ing denying it, unless you have an agenda,” Ellin said, while railing against those who dismiss Pratt for his lack of experience.
Pratt has focused part of his attention on Raman’s campaign, writing on X that “A vote for Nithya is a vote for Karen Bass.”
Raman, meanwhile, has hit back at Pratt’s attacks, citing his support of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and other comments. In one video, she included of Pratt saying, “I’m in The Matrix,” interspersed with a shot of Keanu Reeves from the film.
Two other factors are weighing heavily on the race: The possibility of low voter turnout, which could create some surprises, and the possibility of a slow vote count, meaning that the results may not be known on Tuesday night — or even Wednesday, for that matter. The count in Los Angeles County is notoriously slow. In 2002, Bass was declared the winner of the mayor’s race about a week after election night. The delays are attributed to the sheer amount of mail in ballots received, with expectations that a huge amount will arrive later than usual because of the wide open nature of the gubernatorial contest.
Other elections are taking place in Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota, but results from those races are expected much earlier.
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