California Governor's Race Stays Unsettled as Steve Hilton Leads and Ballot Count Could Last Weeks
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 4
California Governor's Race Stays Unsettled as Steve Hilton Leads and Ballot Count Could Last Weeks
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 4
Summary
California election officials were still counting unprocessed primary ballots on Thursday, leaving the governor's race unresolved even as Steve Hilton held a narrow lead over Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer trailed.
June 15 is the county deadline to finish counting, but valid mail ballots postmarked by election day and received by June 9 can be processed later, extending uncertainty over which two candidates reach November.
An estimate of the remaining unprocessed ballots is due Thursday after many Democratic voters reportedly held mail ballots until election day while weighing who had the best chance to secure a top-two spot.
Trump already declared victory for Hilton on social media, while Becerra and Steyer's camp both urged patience as the slow count continued.
California's prolonged tabulation has also drawn fresh, unsubstantiated fraud claims from some conservative commentators, prompting Secretary of State Shirley Weber to stress security and voting rights over speed.