CONCORD, CA — The polls are closed in Contra Costa County, and voters will soon know which two candidates survived the crowded contest for governor, as well a long list of candidates for congressional, state, and local seats, as well as three measures.
At 8:50 p.m., the Associated Press has called several U.S. House primaries with a fraction of the votes yet tallied.
They include:
Eight candidates are running for governor. Heading into election day, polls showed Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton leading a crowded field including top contenders Chad Bianco, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, and Antonio Villaraigosa. It’s been a scandal-plagued primary season without a clear frontrunner, dampening voter enthusiasm and early voting turnout on the left.
The outcome of down-ballot primary races also hangs in the balance in Concord including Measure B, the county-wide sales tax. And U.S. House Rep. Mark DeSaulnier is also defending his seat.
Scroll down for real-time Contra Costa County election results.
Click here to track your ballot and make sure it is counted.
As of April, the California Secretary of State reported that 23,112,854 Californians were registered to vote, which accounts for almost 84 percent of the state's eligible voting population.
Not surprisingly, there are far more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state, with 45 percent for the former and 25 percent for the latter.
In Contra Costa County, the rate of voter registration is high. As of April, it was more than 90 percent — with over 51 percent of voters registered as Democrats, 19 percent as Republicans.
Can't see the results? Click here for all June 2, 2026 Primary Contra Costa County election updates.
Scroll or select the red square to select the race of your choice in the results below.
Voter turnout may be a mixed bag this primary season as voters decided which two candidates will vie in the general election to be the next governor of the Golden State. Top ticket races such the gubernatorial contest usually generate high voter turnout. But that may not be the case this year as the lack of a clear frontrunner appears to have dampened enthusiasm among early voters.
Even Democrats who typically have a high turnout in primary elections — often older, white voters — have been slow to drop off their ballots, said Paul Mitchell, a Democratic strategist tracking ballot returns.
“My joke is: Call your Democratic parents and tell them to turn in their ballot,” he said. “They are holding onto the ballot because they have seen this kind of topsy-turvy governor’s race. They’re waiting to make sure they’re making the right choice.”
About 10% of the state's roughly 23 million voters had voted as of Wednesday, according to Mitchell's tracker. That includes about 15% of Republicans, 10% of Democrats and 7% of voters registered with no or another party. That breakdown is unusual because Democrats in recent years have tended to vote early while many Republicans wait until Election Day.
California voters headed to the polls Tuesday, facing concerns over homelessness, wildfire insurance shortages, budget deficits and soaring housing costs, as a high-profile gubernatorial primary and several competitive congressional races tested the state’s political landscape.
The governor’s race was defined by record spending, scandal and Democratic anxiety over California’s top-two primary system. Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer poured more than $195 million into television, cable and radio advertising — the largest political ad campaign in the nation this year — drawing criticism from opponents who accused him of trying to buy the governorship. Former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra emerged as Steyer’s chief Democratic rival after former Rep. Eric Swalwell ended his campaign amid sexual assault allegations.
Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton, backed by President Donald Trump, also remained a top contender in polling alongside Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, fueling fears among Democrats that a split Democratic vote could allow two Republicans to advance to the November general election. Under California’s election system, the top two finishers advance regardless of party.
District 10 Democrat Rep. Mark DeSaulnier faced six challengers for the seat he took in 2015. He was in the lead Tuesday night with more than 60 percent of votes.
Trailing in second place was Jeffrey Frese with 14 percent of the vote, followed in her third run for the seat by Katherine Piccinini with just over 12 percent.
Piccinini ended with 33.5 percent of votes in 2024. She also ran in 2022.
The candidates include:
John Gioia – Incumbent unopposed
Ken Carlson – Incumbent unopposed
It's not every day that a county race for assessor is competitive. In Contra Costa County, it's not even every decade. For the past 3 decades, the Gus Kramer has filled the role. Now he is retiring and the seat is opening up for the first time in 30 years.
Three candidates are competing:
If no one gets over 50 percent in the June primary, the top two will advance to a November runoff.
Two candidate are running in the primary for Contra Costa County Auditor-Controller.
The clerk-recorder oversees elections, voter registration, and official records in the county. This year is a head-to-head race:
Voters will be asked to decide on whether to continue the county’s long‑standing policy to contain growth and protect farmland and open space and to consider a temporary county‑wide sales tax. They are also being asked to vote on whether to renew the district’s parcel tax that generates about $10 million annually that funds libraries, athletics, counselors and programs in West Contra Costa schools.
Congressional races across California were also under intense scrutiny following voter approval of Proposition 50, a partisan redistricting measure expected to reshape the state’s political map. Democrats are targeting several Republican-held seats as they seek to overturn the GOP’s slim House majority.
One of the most closely watched contests is in Southern California’s 40th District, where longtime Republican Rep. Ken Calvert faces fellow Republican Rep. Young Kim after redistricting combined portions of the Inland Empire and Orange County. The bitter campaign featured both candidates accusing the other of disloyalty to Trump.
In Northern California, the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s former 1st District is expected to favor Democrats after district boundaries shifted west and south, while Sacramento-area District 6 and Central Valley District 22 are also expected to be fiercely contested.
In Southern California’s newly redrawn 48th District, longtime Republican Rep. Darrell Issa opted to retire rather than seek reelection in a district that now leans Democratic. Republican San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond entered the race with Issa’s endorsement but faced a crowded field of Democratic and Republican challengers in a district spanning parts of San Diego and Riverside counties.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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