California primary election: Here’s everything that happened Tuesday
It’s Election Day in California, where voters headed to the polls for the state’s primary contest.
In case you missed it: Here were developments through early Tuesday evening in California and its closely-watched gubernatorial contest, as well as other statewide and congressional races, and several key local elections in the capital region.
For live updates, click here.
Update: 4:45 P.M. Tuesday
Voters want to ‘create change’
Mauricio and Sheryl Rodriguez of Rancho Cordova said they had an incredibly smooth voting process, dropping off their early ballots at Rancho Cordova City Hall with little issue.
However, the ease they had with voting also concerned the couple, as they said election security was among considerations when choosing their candidates. The Rodriguezes said they also sought out officials who would challenge the current state of gas prices, homelessness and the usage of tax dollars.
“We want change,” said 43-year-old Sheryl Rodriguez. “You want people to actually look at the issues that we have and do things that create change for the community and for the state.”
— Camila Pedrosa
Update: 4:30 P.M. Tuesday
Local races to watch as Sacramento-area residents vote
What’s at stake as Sacramento-area voters head to the polls Tuesday for the primary election?
Here are the key local races to keep an eye on.
— Don Sweeney
Update: 4:15 P.M. Tuesday
Citrus Heights vote center running smoothly, election official says
It got busy on election day at the Sylvan Oaks Library vote center on Auburn Boulevard in Citrus Heights. But things were running smoothly as of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, said election official John Holt.
“It’s been busier than what I saw for the last one for sure,” Holt said. “The previous three days were a lot slower, but by 10 o’clock this morning it was equal to what we had done in the last three days.”
The Sylvan Oaks Library vote center offers drive-thru ballot drop-off, which Holt said seems to be popular at other vote centers, too. He said it’s one of four libraries in Sacramento County that offer the service.
Holt has been joined by up to 13 election volunteers to operate the vote center when it is busiest. The vote center also has a volunteer to help Spanish-speaking voters if needed.
“I’m just happy to see people out,” Holt said. “I love being part of the community. I actually used to live in this community at one point in time, just a block and a half from here … It’s great being out here. I’ve got great volunteers.”
— Rosalio Ahumada
Update: 4 P.M. Tuesday
Natomas residents debate ‘activist billionaire’ candidate
Some Natomas residents took their ballots to nonprofit locations, like the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association headquarters.
Brian Lee, who took his ballot to APAPA’s office on Truxel Road late Tuesday afternoon, had spent the previous evening with his wife, researching each candidate, their policies and campaign funding. When he wasn’t sure who to vote for, he deferred to his wife. The two stayed up late into the night Monday, cramming information on each candidate.
With his infant daughter, Penelope, strapped to his chest in a baby carrier, Lee slid in his family’s ballots. As he picked up “I Voted” stickers for himself and his wife, he grabbed one for Penelope and put it on her leg. She smiled and giggled.
As a voter, Lee was most concerned with the billionaire status of gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer. He said he felt an ethical dilemma.
“The big debate was: Do we pick the billionaire that used to be your typical billionaire, but now is more of an activist billionaire?” Lee said. “(My wife and I) were talking about the pros and cons of that.”
Kavisa Wood, 41, said the overwhelming number of gubernatorial candidates this year was “slightly annoying.”
“I would have preferred some people to not run or drop once they realized they didn’t stand a chance,” Wood said. “I feel like it kind of dilutes other people’s votes and makes it harder for people to focus on some issues.”
— Emma Hall
Update: 3:45 P.M. Tuesday
Voters crowd Rancho Cordova city hall polling place
As the day began to wind down, residents left work and gathered in droves to vote at Rancho Cordova’s City Hall. The indoor polling location was a popular option around 3:30 p.m., as temperatures surpassed 90 degrees.
Jenelle Kelley said she makes a point to vote in every available election, but maintains that primaries are among the most critical.
“I feel like these elections don’t get a lot of attention, and these are the ones that matter, really,” she said. “I try to vote in every election. It’s kind of our duty to do that.”
— Camila Pedrosa
Update: 3:30 P.M. Tuesday
Why isn’t California’s primary election always in June?
This year, Californians are casting their primary election votes in June. But that’s not always the case.
The state’s timing for primary elections has varied from June to March, ping-ponging back and forth over the years, driven in turn by concerns over the costs of lengthy March-November campaigns, and by a desire for relevance in presidential elections.
— Allison Gibson and Don Sweeney
Update: 3:15 P.M. Tuesday
How to vote if you recently moved
May 18 was the last day to register to vote in California, but residents who recently moved and missed the deadline can still vote through same-day registration.
Read here to learn more about the process, or what to do if your ballot is missing, damaged or was sent to your previous address.
— Angela Rodriguez
Update: 3 P.M. Tuesday
Voting is part of North Natomas pastor’s family legacy
Voting is part of Robert Thomas’ heritage.
His grandfather was a voter registration director in Shreveport, Louisiana, and worked with Martin Luther King, Jr., in Mississippi. The 72-year-old asked volunteers to take a photo of him submitting his ballot in front of the North Natomas library.
“This is a part of my heritage and my legacy,” said Thomas, a North Natomas resident. “I’m just glad to be here.”
Thomas serves as a minister-pastor for the New St. Bethel Baptist Church on 4201 8th Ave. in Central Oak Park. He helps feed homeless residents and donates clothing, and his vote went to a candidate who he believes has the values and principles to help assist homeless residents.
“I’m just trying to listen and see who has been consistent in their leadership,” Thomas said. “They say what they’re gonna do, but what does their background say? What is their platform?”
— Emma Hall
Update: 2:45 P.M. Tuesday
Your rights as a voter
If you’re in line by the time polls close, you can’t be turned away. If your name isn’t on a list of registered voters when you get to the polls, request a provisional ballot.
Read about these and other important voters’ rights provisions here.
Update: 2:30 P.M. Tuesday
Natomas voters take measure of city council candidates
At the North Natomas library on Via Ingoglia Street, residents dropped off their ballots in curbside boxes.
Forty-six-year-old David Matolo said this was the first year his son could vote. Otherwise, the family’s process was like every other year: They got their ballots, went over each candidate and filled in their choices as a family.
They don’t always agree on everything, but at the end of the day, they make up their mind, seal their ballots, and finish off the day with a “I Voted!” sticker.
Jordan Mesias, 33, meanwhile, was preoccupied with the District 1 City Council race. He’d found it difficult to distinguish ideological and policy differences between incumbent Lisa Kaplan and her challenger, Jenn Chawla.
“Their positions they take on things like increasing police force, decreasing homelessness, making housing affordable, what does that mean for me?” Mesias said. “How do I dig beyond that? I don’t know what to do from there.”
Mesias, who identifies as a leftist, said he did his own digging for local politics and wanted his vote to stray away from “long-established Democrats.”
“I’m for a representative that listens to their constituents,” Mesias said.
— Emma Hall
Update: 2:15 P.M. Tuesday
Vang accuses Matsui of steering super PAC funds to long-shot GOP candidate
City Hall reporter Jennah Pendleton reported this week that Councilmember May Vang, who is attempting to unseat longtime U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui, has openly criticized Matsui in recent weeks for “elevating” a Republican candidate in a campaign blog post. The Matsui campaign denied that it is advocating for the conservative and said the post was intended to show “what’s at stake” with such candidates. Read Pendleton’s full report here.
Update: 2 P.M. Tuesday
Some voters frustrated by gubernatorial race
Tuesday was shaping up to be a busy day at the polls inside the brown brick Coloma Community Center.
Mia Schiappi, who works on water rights issues, said she felt “a little nervous, frustrated by the governor candidates.”
“Don’t feel like there’s an amazing option, but, you know, I voted the way I feel comfortable with,” Schiappi said after dropping off her ballot at the Coloma Community Center.
She wasn’t alone in her sentiments.
Mary Shook, a retired probation officer who has voted in every election since she turned 21, echoed the feeling of disappointment.
“My choices were not the best for governor,” she said. Nevertheless, she said she was hopeful about the results.
Olga Sizikova, an election official at the community center, said she was preparing for another rush of voters at the end of the workday.
“I feel awesome,” she said. “It’s running smooth. Everybody’s doing their role.”
— Velvet Wu
Update: 1:45 P.M. Tuesday
California voters are procrastinating. How late can they cast a ballot?
Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters who are in line when the polls close have the right to vote. The latest time to get in line is 7:59 p.m. If there’s still a line when polls close, a poll worker will stand at the end of the line to mark the cutoff.
You can take your mail-in ballot to a drop box or a voting center no later than 8 p.m. At 8 p.m., county elections officials will begin tallying the results.
Read the Bee’s full guide to Election Day procrastination here.
— Angela Rodriguez
Update: 1:30 P.M. Tuesday
Roseville voter: ‘It’s our privilege, it’s our obligation’
Roseville resident Loryn Hill, 24, said it’s important for young people to cast their ballots, and take advantage of a right that isn’t available to everyone in the world.
“We have the freedom to do it, I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to,” Hill said. “Younger people, they need to realize we’re the next generation. We can’t rely on everybody else.”
Carlos Hernandez, 66, said he had researched candidate policies and made his choices ahead of time. Still, he prefers to vote at the booth on Election Day.
“I want the experience of how it was always done,” Hernandez said. “Voting, it’s our privilege, it’s our obligation, and I want to go and do it in person, I don’t want to mail it in.”
He was impassioned, Tuesday. A lifelong Republican, Hernandez was casting his first vote for a Democrat in a California governor’s race since he first voted at 18 years old.
“I like people that will stand up (against President Trump),” Hernandez said. “I am more worried about our country more than I’ve ever been, ever, in my whole life.”
— Camila Pedrosa
Update: 1:15 P.M. Tuesday
Election signs and ballot selfies: What you can and can’t do at the polls
California bans “electioneering” within 100 feet of a polling place. That includes signs and, yes, hats, T-shirts, buttons, stickers or other clothing promoting a particular candidate or initiative.
Although so-called “ballot selfies,” photos taken by voters showing their completed election ballots, are banned in some states, they are legal in the Golden State, the California Secretary of State’s Office said.
But be careful — election officials can limit shooting photos at a polling place if it intimidates or threatens the privacy of other voters, or causes some other disruption.
Read The Bee’s full overview of Election Day do’s and don’t’s here.
— Don Sweeney and Angela Rodriguez
Update: 1 P.M. Tuesday
Roseville voter: ‘Make our voices heard’
A steady stream of voters of all ages passed through the Veterans Memorial Hall voting center early Tuesday afternoon. The small parking lot in front of the Roseville hall remained full as Placer County residents completed their civic duty, some in work uniforms.
Dennis and Rhonda Darnell, 71 and 69, said they preferred to see their ballot be submitted and accepted in person, to ensure it was received properly.
As Dennis Darnell dropped off his ballot, he said he hopes other residents will follow suit.
“Become involved,” Darnell urged. “Study the issues and the people, and make our voices heard.”
— Camila Pedrosa
Update: 12:45 P.M. Tuesday
If I’m voting in person, what should I bring to the polls?
Most California voters do not need to show identification at polling places.
However, first-time voters who registered by mail without providing a driver license number, state ID or the last four digits of their Social Security number might be required to show identification. The California Secretary of State’s office encouraged voters in that position to bring identification to the polling location, or include a copy in a vote-by-mail ballot.
Acceptable forms of ID to bring to your polling place include:
- A copy of a recent utility bill
- The sample ballot booklet you received from your county elections office
- Passport
- Driver’s license
- Official state identification card
- Student identification card showing your name and photograph
— Angela Rodriguez
Update: 12:30 P.M. Tuesday
California voters are slow-moving in the June primary
California governor reporter Lia Russell reports on how voters were slow, comparied to 2022, to cast their ballots in the lead up to Tuesday’s primary. Election data scientist Paul Mitchell offered analysis on what is going on with voters this year. Read Russell’s full story here.
Update: 12:15 P.M. Tuesday
Foot traffic slows at South Natomas polling center
Vehicle and foot traffic had slowed, by noon, at the South Natomas Community Center and library. Earlier in the morning, vehicles had lined up around the parking lot, with residents waiting to slide their ballots into small pink drop-off boxes. Others walked in and handed over their ballots to staff.
Diann Leo-Omine dropped her ballot off accompanied by her son, Ryuka, who had turned 5 years old that morning. One of his birthday presents from his mother? A glimpse into democracy.
Leo-Omine, of South Natomas, said she took Ryuka along so he could see how he could make a difference through voting.
“It sometimes feels a little bleak, politically,” Leo-Omine said. “I wanted to show him that he can make a change.”
But like many residents, Leo-Omine was burned out by this year’s ballot. With so many choices for governor and the race for the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors District 1 seat, she said it took her two hours to fill out her ballot.
Like other voters interviewed by The Bee Tuesday, she had put off filling out her ballot, knowing it was going to be a chore. Her wake-up call was when Ryuka asked her if he could scribble on it, she said.
Because of how big the June ballot is, she also felt as though it was scribble material.
“That actually summed up how I feel about the governor’s choices,” Leo-Omine said. “There’s so many.”
Others were more optimistic about the day’s task. Troy Miller, 33, said he was impressed by the efficiency of the voting process. He used to manage an election warehouse in Nevada County and was taken aback by the coordination of voting in Sacramento County with the ballot boxes and the drive-thru drop-off bins.
While he describes himself as not politically involved, Miller said he had one big value that led to his voting: no billionaires.
“We need to just keep money out of politics,” Miller said.
— Emma Hall
Update: 12 P.M. Tuesday
Gubernatorial candidates make final appeals to voters
Legislative reporter Andrew Graham reports on the final pitch gubernatorial candidates made to win votes. The competition between Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer heated up as Becerra’s campaign threatened to sue Steyer’s over an attack ad. Republican Steven Hilton told NewsMax he was their only hope for change, while his fellow Republican, Chad Bianco, tried to solicit votes from both Republicans and Democrats. Read Graham’s full story here.
Update: 11:45 A.M. Tuesday
Last-minute voters cast ballots in Elk Grove
Parker Johnson stood at the entrance to the polls at Elk Grove Senior Center inside the city’s District 56 civic center, ready to help and eager to talk about Election Day. Voters had come to the center in waves early Tuesday, though the waters were calm around 9:30 a.m.
Much has been made of the poll-watching California voter holding onto their ballots until the final days of this jungle primary before making their choice. Johnson, a 22-year-old election worker, saw it firsthand at the election center in the days leading to Tuesday.
“People don’t know what to do. There’s a lot happening in the world right now. You get to the last day and it’s like, ‘This is a big deal for California.’ People are realizing that this is California. People are going to be representing us and it’s their last chance to get their vote in,” Johnson said.
“People have different views....They talk about it online, then they say, ‘What day is it? It’s June 2?’”
Especially young voters like him.
“I was last-minute. I see 45 names on the ballot, but I did my research, looked over the names and dropped it off,” he said.
Older voters and voters who recently moved back to Elk Grove were the large majority at the senior center polling place, but Johnson saw a smattering of young and first-time voters early Tuesday.
“The older voters appreciate the first-time voters,” he said. “It’s good to see. Everybody’s experience has to translate into some action. That happens when you vote.”
— Darrell Smith
Update: 11:30 A.M. Tuesday
How to research your ballot
Voter organizations in California and across the country have created guides and resources online for voters to gather all the information they need to make a choice on their ballot.
The League of Women Voters has created a website, vote411.org, designed to educate voters around the country. It does not show any of the nonprofit’s endorsements or policy opinions, but provides factual information on voting and offers candidates a platform to showcase their opinions at no cost. Users can search for their address — which does not get saved anywhere — and get curated information on what will be on their specific ballot, said Claudia Bonsignore, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County.
The Sacramento LWV team emailed every candidate for the region a survey with policy questions that are then uploaded to the vote411.org website, though Bonsignore said many do not respond in time for the primary.
These other voter organizations also provide voter education resources:
- OnTheIssues.org - Candidate policy stances, political track record
- Ballotpedia.org - Information on current elected officials
- PluralPolicy.com - Current legislators and bills
Many news organizations put together voter guides — including The Bee — which include reporting from the newsroom as well as endorsements from editorial boards. Judicial positions can be particularly hard to find information on, but The Sacramento Bee has compiled a guide to help with research.
For more information, read the Bee’s full guide to researching your ballot here.
— Camila Pedrosa
Update: 11:15 A.M. Tuesday
Polls suggest tight race between Becerra, Steyer, Hilton
Our Ben Paviour reports this morning that recent polls suggest a tight three-way contest for governor involving Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer, as well as Republican Steve Hilton, will shape up today. Polls suggest it’s more plausible — though still not likely — that two Democrats, Becerra and Steyer, could advance to the November vote under California’s top-two primary system. You can read Paviour’s full story here.
Update: 11 A.M. Tuesday
Natomas voters overwhelmed by lengthy gubernatorial lineup
As Richard Gorrodenko dropped off his ballot at the South Natomas library Tuesday morning, he said he was overwhelmed with the options for governor this election. More than 50 candidates made the June primary ballot.
The 63-year-old Natomas resident said he did thorough research to pick his candidates. As a military veteran, he said voting is important to him. But it shouldn’t be so difficult.
“It shouldn’t have to be like doing a term paper,” Gorrodenko said.
He worried outliers may have detracted from more likely candidates.
“You had too many candidates on there for governor, and I think that confuses a lot of people,” he said. “Voting shouldn’t be that hard.”
Natomas resident Sarah Arizaga, 46, wasn’t familiar with all of the candidates, so procrastinated on submitting her ballot until the final day.
While she was glad she was able to vote, the state of her faith in state politics is low. She said both the Republican and Democratic parties are too polarized from one another. There is too much division or effort to work together, she said.
“All constituents’ voices matter, even if I don’t personally agree with them,” Arizaga said. “We need more unity and understanding of where each other are coming from.”
When it comes to the current candidates, she said they focus too much on President Donald Trump, and not on helping make California and Sacramento “a better place.”
“We all share some of the same concerns, and there’s more focus on giving blame rather than looking for solutions,” Arizaga said.
— Emma Hall
Update: 10:40 A.M. Tuesday
When will we know the results?
California has more than 23 million registered voters. County election officials begin tallying the votes once the polls close and report results to the state starting two hours later. These reports continue until all votes are counted.
Read the Bee’s full story on ballot-counting here.
— Don Sweeney and Angela Rodriguez
Update: 10:25 A.M. Tuesday
How to find your local polling place
While operating hours at early voting sites vary by county, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
“No voters who arrive after the polls close may cast votes,” according to the California Secretary of State website. However, voters in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote or drop off a vote-by-mail ballot, the California Secretary of State’s Office said. But those who arrive after the polls close are not allowed to vote, even if people who were already in line are still voting.
At 8 p.m., county elections officials will begin tallying the results.
If you’re going to the polls in person, here’s how to find out where to go, according to the League of Women Voters of California:
- Visit VOTE411.org and provide your voting address to find your polling place and other relevant ballot information.
- You can find your polling place location on the back of the Voter Information Guide mailed to you by your county.
- Visit the Secretary of State’s website to look up your polling place.
- You can contact your county elections office to find your polling place.
- You can text “Vote” to GOVOTE (468683).
- You can call (800) 345-VOTE(8683) and choose option 5.
— Don Sweeney and Angela Rodriguez
Update: 9:40 A.M. Tuesday
Ballots trickle in at Sacramento State
The Sacramento State vote center, at Modoc Hall along Folsom Avenue, was quiet at 9 am Tuesday. Summer had already started for the Hornets, so the hustle of students heading to class and finding study spots on campus was gone.
Employees and other community members stopped by to cast their votes at the mostly-empty ballot box on their way to work and other obligations, including Ryan Murphy, an area teacher and Tahoe Park resident who dropped off his and his wife’s ballots with their young daughter in tow.
“She’s only 1-and-a-half (years old), so I don’t think she really knows what’s going on,” Murphy said. “I want to model that it’s very important to vote about things that matter and, yeah when she’s old enough, I would love for her to either go to the polls with me or on her own.”
As schoolteachers and parents of young children, Murphy said he and his wife appreciated the option of early ballots, as they were able to research the dozens of candidates running in the primary and then simply drop off their filled-out ballots at the polling station.
— Camila Pedrosa
Update: 9 A.M. Tuesday
Everything to know about the California 2026 primary
For those still planning to vote at the polls today, check out The Sacramento Bee’s guide to this year’s primary ballot, including endorsements from our editorial board in statewide and local races.
