California voters face high-stakes primary races for governor and Los Angeles mayor

California voters are heading into a June 2 primary that could shape the Democratic Party’s next national arguments on crime, housing, homelessness and affordability. In the nation’s largest blue state, the governor’s race and Los Angeles mayoral contest are being watched as early tests of whether incumbent-style Democratic leadership can still persuade voters in a year defined by high living costs and public anxiety over safety.

The state’s open primary system means the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, will advance to the November general election. In Los Angeles County, in-person vote centers opened May 23 and stayed open through Election Day, with same-day voter registration available for eligible citizens who missed the May 18 deadline. Vote-by-mail ballots had to be postmarked no later than June 2, and secure ballot drop-off locations opened May 5. California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber certified the official voter information guide on March 9.

The governor’s race has drawn a crowded field and late attention. A May debate held by CBS News California and the San Francisco Examiner put affordability, housing, public safety, climate, education and healthcare at the center of the contest. The stage included Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa, Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, a lineup that underscored how unsettled the race remained. A pre-primary poll reported by CBS News showed the contest still tight, leaving little room for either side to claim a clear edge before ballots were cast.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass sought reelection under the glare of a recent endorsement from Gov. Gavin Newsom, delivered just days before the primary. The timing highlighted how much is riding on Bass’s standing as voters weigh her response to the Palisades fires and broader questions about city leadership. For a city still under pressure on housing costs, homelessness and emergency response, the mayor’s race has become part of the same statewide argument over whether Democrats can govern effectively while addressing the daily strain on working families.

Together, the two contests offer a snapshot of where California Democrats are vulnerable and where they still believe their model can hold. If the state’s voters reward candidates who promise tougher public safety, more housing and lower costs, those messages are likely to travel far beyond Sacramento and Los Angeles.