Watch Live: Bernie Sanders Speaks to California After Primary

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders made his way from the campaign trail in Silver Lake to the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport late Tuesday night, preparing to speak to hundreds of his supporters after falling behind in the state's — and the nation's — Democratic primary election.

He was expected to take the stage around 10 p.m. Tuesday night. However, some reports said he was stuck in L.A. traffic and might not show up until 10:30 p.m. or later.

Over the past few months, Sanders has energized the Democratic race, catapulting from a fringe candidate to a serious challenger for the nomination.

But his run for the White House could come to an end today with a loss in California, the state with the largest number of electoral votes in the nation.

Earlier Tuesday evening, Hillary Clinton declared herself the Democratic presidential nominee at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

President Barack Obama, too, acknowledged Clinton as the presumptive nominee. Obama reportedly phoned both Sanders and Clinton as the election results rolled in and set an in-person meeting with Sanders at the White House on Thursday.

See Also:

• Clinton Dominates California Primary in Early Returns
• 2016 California Republican Primary Results: Trump Wins

Patch editor Bea Karnes contributed to this report.