HEALDSBURG, CA — The polls are closed in Sonoma 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 the SMART tax extension, Measure B.
At 8:50 p.m., the Associated Press 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 Healdsburg including federal, state, and local seats, as well as the closely-watched SMART Measure B tax.
Scroll down for real-time Sonoma County election results.
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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 Healdsburg, the rate of voter registration is high. As of April, it was 89 percent — with 55 percent of voters registered as Democrats, 18 percent as Republicans.
Can't see the results? Click here for all June 2, 2026, Primary Sonoma County election updates.
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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.
The only countywide measure for Sonoma County voters is Measure B for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District.
Voters were asked to decide whether to extend an existing quarter-cent sales tax — one already in place and currently being paid — that funds the SMART commuter train running through Sonoma and Marin counties.
Without this extension, the tax expires in 2029 and the train's funding disappears with it, officials said. Approving the measure would keep the tax in place for 30 more years, generating around $51 million per year to maintain train and bike/pedestrian pathway operations, expand the rail line to planned destinations, and keep service running for commuters, seniors, students, and low-income riders.
About 70 percent of voters had approved the measure as by 9:45 p.m., with 66,105 votes cast. A little more than 29 percent rejected the measure, which would continue a tax that already exists rather than create a new one.
Some of the most pressing issues for this office include land use and development, homelessness policy, county budget decisions, and wildfire prevention and rural services.
The 2026 election for California's 2nd Senate District is an open seat contest. The current officeholder, Senate Mike McGuire, is terming out and pursuing a run for the U.S. House. The district encompasses Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Sonoma and Trinity counties.
The top two finishers in the June 2 primary will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
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.
Congressional Races
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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