California Today: California Had the Most Expensive Governor’s Race in U.S. History. It’s Still Not Over.

June 4, 2026, 6:31 a.m. Pacific time

Today’s Top Story

Mark Abramson for The New York Times

California Had the Most Expensive Governor’s Race in U.S. History. It’s Still Not Over.

Nearly $316 million was spent on campaign ads in the primary for California governor. Now the general election spending will begin.

Many Ballots Remain Uncounted in California. They Are Likely to Lean Democratic.

Democratic voters returned their ballots later than Republicans in this year’s primaries, which could cause candidate standings to reshuffle as votes continue to be reported.

Eric Swalwell Won More Than 18,000 Votes Despite Suspending His Campaign

The former House member withdrew from the California governor’s race amid allegations of sexual assault.

Why Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Has to Fight for Her Job

Ms. Bass, a Democrat, has had a roller-coaster first term. She now faces the first runoff since 2005 for an incumbent mayor in the city.

Spencer Pratt Suggests He Can Be a Mayor for All L.A. Residents.

The former reality TV star has tried to broaden his platform, talking about Los Angeles’s homelessness and drugs problem.

How Does L.A. Count Election Ballots? It Begins With a Dog Sniff.

Counting ballots in California is a complex and lengthy undertaking. In Los Angeles, the choreographed process includes canines, humans and machines.

Voters in California City Favor Permanent Ban on Data Centers

Monterey Park, outside Los Angeles, appeared to become the first U.S. city where voters passed such a measure.

Democratic Voters Acted Strategically in a Turbulent California Election

Without a dominant candidate in the governor’s race, Democratic voters ultimately wanted to ensure that their party wasn’t shut out of the general election.