Candidates for California governor and LA mayor make their final pitches to voters

By — Sophie Austin, Associated Press Sophie Austin, Associated Press By — Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press/ Report for America Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press/ Report for America Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/candidates-for-california-governor-and-la-mayor-make-their-final-pitches-to-voters Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Candidates for California governor and LA mayor make their final pitches to voters Politics Jun 1, 2026 4:25 PM EDT SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The end of California's chaotic primary season for governor and Los Angeles mayor was approaching as leading candidates rushed to deliver their closing arguments days before voting concludes on Tuesday. Former U.S. health secretary Xavier Becerra has called for "hot competence summer" in his bid for governor, promoting his decades of public service as evidence he has what it takes to lead the nation's most populous state. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Republican Steve Hilton pledged an end to a "bloated, nanny-state bureaucracy" during remarks outside the state Capitol on Wednesday. Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer told reporters this week in Berkeley, California, that he has made it his life's work to advance progressive causes, a mission he'll bring to Sacramento. They are seeking to stand out in a field of roughly 60 names on a single gubernatorial ballot, regardless of party, under California's top-two primary system. The two candidates who receive the most votes Tuesday will face off in the general election to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who can't seek a third term. The crowded race includes Democrats Becerra, Steyer, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, and Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose. Hilton, a former Fox News host backed by President Donald Trump, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco are the most prominent Republicans in the race. As of Friday afternoon, 13% of voters had cast their ballots. That included 13% of Democrats and 18% of Republicans, according to a tracker by Democratic strategist Paul Mitchell. The breakdown is unusual because Democrats in recent years have tended to vote early while many Republicans wait until Election Day. Some Democrats have been waiting to cast their ballots to see if a candidate breaks away from the pack in the final days, or because they are unimpressed with the crowded field. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass is vying for reelection against critics who question her leadership of the nation's second-largest city, and had several stops planned Saturday to try and pull ahead of her competitors. Those include Spencer Pratt, a registered Republican who gained a name on the reality TV show "The Hills," and Nithya Raman, a progressive city councilmember. The race is officially nonpartisan. Candidates for governor make their final pitch California gubernatori