Even as polls close in California, it could be a while — perhaps days or weeks — before the results are clear in the governor’s non-partisan hearing.
Precincts will begin reporting early votes and voting by mail. Next, they will report the election day votes in person. In the following days, the districts will report their remaining votes, known as the “late postal” vote. Those reports will include votes received on Election Day and those marked after Election Day, provided they are received within one week.
Most Californians vote by mail, and these ballots can take some time to be counted. In a tight race that is close to a majority vote, waiting for “late” votes may be necessary to decide the two candidates for the general election in November.
There are several important constituencies to pay attention to on election night and beyond.
Los Angeles County
About 20 percent of California’s primary votes usually come from Los Angeles County, the most populous county, which contains the city of Los Angeles and neighboring cities and suburbs.
Xavier Becerra, one of the leading Democrats in recent elections, has close ties to the area after representing parts of Los Angeles in Congress, including the Hispanic areas of East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights for more than two decades.
But Tom Steyer, the billionaire who is the main rival of Mr.
If Mr. Steyer is doing well in early reports out of Los Angeles, which may be a sign that he has been able to cut through Mr. Becerra’s background.
San Diego County
The state’s second most populous state consists of San Diego, and neighboring areas that range from urban to rural. It has a larger share of Republican and independent voters than Los Angeles, making it a national bellwether.
Steve Hilton, the Republican frontrunner, has been endorsed by President Trump. His strong showing in early voting results out of San Diego could bode well for him as things stand as he is expected to do better in the Election Day vote, which tends to tip the Republican.
San Francisco and Alameda counties
San Francisco County, which is a single-city county, and Alameda County, which lies across San Francisco Bay and contains the cities of Oakland and Berkeley, are important progressive strongholds. Mr. Steyer lives in San Francisco and made his fortune there, and he has built his candidacy on progressive policies that appeal to many voters there.
A key question in the governor’s race is whether supporters of former Representative Eric Swalwell, who dropped out after facing sexual harassment allegations, will rally behind Mr. Steyer or Mr. Becerra. Mr. Swalwell represented several East Bay communities in Alameda County, so this area can provide a strong indication of where Swalwell’s voters landed.
Santa Clara County
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, which includes Cupertino, Mountain View, Palo Alto and San Jose, will be an indicator of how voters in the tech industry feel. Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose, is likely to do well at home after gaining support among Silicon Valley’s elite, although his campaign has appeared to have stalled in recent weeks.
Orange County
Once a solidly blue-state stronghold, Orange County voted Republican in every presidential race from 1940 to 2012 before Hillary Clinton won it by eight percent in 2016. The district voted Democratic in both the 2020 and 2024 presidential races, but remains a battleground in congressional races.
The state’s purple voters make it important to both parties. Former Representative Katie Porter, whose congressional seat was in the district, may be counting on strong support in the district as her best chance to advance to the general election. On the Republican side, Mr. Hilton will be looking to garner votes from affluent areas of Orange County, many of which voted for Mr. Trump in 2024.
Riverside and San Bernardino counties
Chad Bianco, a Republican who did well in early elections before following Mr. Hilton, has strong regional ties to the metropolitan area known as the Inland Empire, made up of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Mr. Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff, is focusing his campaign on public safety. Mr. Trump won both districts in 2024, so the vote for Mr. Bianco complete against Mr. Hilton in his home district could be a test of how strong Mr.
Fresno County
The heart of California’s Central Valley, Fresno is an agricultural hub and another potential battleground for Mr. Hilton and Mr. Bianco. On the side of the Democratic Alliance, Mr. Becerra, whose wife is from the area, campaigned in Fresno. Most of the county’s residents are Hispanic, a key demographic for Mr. Cerra.
