PLEASANTON, CA — The polls are closed in Alameda County, and voters will soon know which two candidates survived the crowded contest for governor, assembly, and congressional races.
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.
As of 8:50 p.m. Tuesday, Xavier Becerra leads with 30.37% (48,821 votes) of the vote in Alameda County. He's followed by Tom Steyer with 27.09% (38,194), and Steve Hilton with 15.91%, or 22,429 votes. The outcome of dozens of down-ballot primary races also hangs in the balance in Alameda County. Voters are waiting to find out who came out ahead in races for Assembly District 16 and the 10th Congressional District.
The outcome of dozens of down-ballot primary races also hangs in the balance in Alameda County. Voters are waiting to find out who came out ahead in races for Assembly District 16 and the 10th Congressional District.
Scroll down for real-time Alameda 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 Alameda County, the rate of voter registration is high. As of April, it was 83.75 percent — with 57.72 percent of voters registered as Democrats, and 12.05 percent registered as Republicans.
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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 as 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.
Assembly District 16
Three candidates are running to represent Assembly District 16, which spans from Lamorinda to Walnut Creek to most of the Tri-Valley. It is currently represented by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D), who is running for re-election against Chirag Kathrani and Joseph Rubay.
As of 8:50 p.m., Bauer-Kahan leads with 60.19% of the vote (10,022 votes), followed by Republican challenger Joseph Rubay with 36.41% of the vote, followed by Chirag Kathrani with 3.39 percent.
10th Congressional District (north and east of Pleasanton)
Seven candidates are running to represent California Congressional District 10, which covers much of Contra Costa County, including parts of Dublin, Pleasanton, Danville, San Ramon, Lamorinda, Walnut Creek, Concord, and Oakley and Brentwood in the east. Incumbent Democrat Mark DeSaulnier is defending his seat against six challengers.
As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, DeSaulnier leads with 52.28% of the vote (3,456 votes), followed by Jeff Frese with 13.4% (886 votes), followed by Katherine Piccinini (687 votes.)
14th Congressional District (west and central part of Pleasanton)
Nine candidates are running to represent the 14th Congressional District, which is currently vacant after former Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned amid sexual assault allegations. Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special election for Aug. 18 to replace Swalwell until Jan. 2027, at which point the winner of the November election will take over. The two candidates for the August special election will be decided in a separate runoff on June 16.
As of 9 p.m., State Senator Aisha Wahab leads with 36.18% of the vote (20,822), followed by BART Board President and former Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez with 16.39% (9,433), followed by tech executive Wendy Huang (15.42%, 8,873 votes.)
Gubernatorial Primary
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.
Real-Time Election Results: CA Governor's Primary Election 2026
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.
Real-Time Election Results: CA Congressional Primary Election 2026
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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