California Candidates Make Final Primary Push as Only 13% of 23 Million Voters Cast Ballots
Updated
Updated · NBC Los Angeles · May 31
California Candidates Make Final Primary Push as Only 13% of 23 Million Voters Cast Ballots
15 articles · Updated · NBC Los Angeles · May 31
Tuesday’s California primary entered its final weekend with only 13% of the state’s 23 million registered voters having cast ballots, prompting governor and Los Angeles mayor candidates to intensify last-minute appeals.
Recent polls gave Xavier Becerra a late edge in the governor’s race, with support at 25% in the Berkeley IGS survey after just 5% in March; Steve Hilton and Tom Steyer were clustered behind him near 20%.
Hilton urged Republicans to unite behind him and pressed Chad Bianco to quit, warning the top-two system could send two Democrats to November in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since 2010.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass campaigned for a second term while trying to separate herself from challengers Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman after a poll showed the three only a few points apart.
More than 500 LA County vote centers were open over the weekend, alongside 400-plus drop boxes, as voters prepared for a top-two primary that will shape November runoffs across the state.
Can celebrity backing and a focus on 'city disorder' propel a reality TV star to victory in the LA mayoral race?
With only 13% of ballots cast, what is truly keeping California's 23 million voters away from the polls this year?