Busy Primary Day Underway Across US as Voters Head to Polls
Voters across the United States headed to the polls on Tuesday for a packed primary election day that will shape the November general election landscape, with high-stakes races in Los Angeles, Texas, California, New Mexico, Iowa, and New Jersey. The results will serve as a key barometer of voter sentiment ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and test whether President Donald Trump’s endorsements carry weight in competitive races.
Los Angeles Mayor’s Race
In Los Angeles, Democratic incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is seeking a second term in a crowded primary that has drawn national attention. Bass, the first Black woman to serve as LA mayor, faces challenges from both ends of the political spectrum: progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a former Bass ally, and Republican Spencer Pratt, a former star of the reality television show “The Hills,” according to AP News.
Bass’s first term has been defined by the devastating January 2025 Palisades Fire — the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history — which ignited while she was traveling with a presidential delegation in Ghana. Pratt lost his home in that fire. The mayor has acknowledged making missteps but argues that a drop in homelessness and a historically low homicide rate show progress. “I haven’t always got it right. I’ll keep fighting for LA,” Bass said.
With 14 candidates on the ballot, political observers widely expect the race to head to a November runoff between the top two finishers. Pratt has dismissed Raman’s campaign as “weak,” saying in a social media video: “At this point, it’s me and Karen.” President Trump recently said of Pratt, “I heard he’s a big MAGA person,” though Republicans account for less than 15% of registered voters in the heavily Democratic city.
California Governor’s Primary
California voters are also weighing in on who should succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in a wide-open gubernatorial primary featuring 61 candidates. The Democratic field includes former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Republicans vying for the seat include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton, who has Trump’s endorsement, AP News reports.
California’s top-two primary system — where all candidates run on the same ballot regardless of party — has created uncertainty. Democrats initially feared a “lockout” scenario where two Republicans could advance to the general election, though those worries have diminished in recent weeks. Steyer has spent nearly $200 million of his own money on advertising alone, the most expensive ad campaign in the country this cycle, drawing accusations of trying to buy the election.
Some Democratic voters remain undecided. “I’m kind of pinching my nose and voting this go-around rather than being excited,” said Colin Culver, a 21-year-old San Diego resident who ultimately voted for Steyer.
Texas Senate Race Fallout
In Texas, the Republican Party remains divided in the aftermath of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s May 26 runoff victory over four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. The 2023 impeachment of Paxton — when 60 Texas House Republicans joined 61 Democrats to approve articles of impeachment alleging abuse of office, bribery, and misuse of taxpayer funds — has created lasting rifts within the party, as reported by USA Today.
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, who voted to impeach Paxton in 2023, has now flipped to support his Senate bid, posting on social media that “Republicans are united and ready for the fight ahead.” But other Republicans remain critical. Rep. Jeff Leach, who also voted to impeach, has threatened to subpoena Paxton over a “sweetheart” plea deal his office gave to a man convicted of child sexual abuse. Former Speaker Dade Phelan, who led the House during the impeachment, warned that Paxton could cost Republicans the state in the general election against Democrat James Talarico.
Other Key Races
In New Mexico, former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination against Albuquerque DA Sam Bregman. Haaland leads in fundraising and could become the first Native American woman elected governor if she wins in November. A Republican has not won statewide office in New Mexico in 10 years.
In Iowa, five Republicans are vying for the GOP gubernatorial nomination to replace term-limited Gov. Kim Reynolds. U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra has Trump’s endorsement, but if no candidate earns at least 35% of the vote, the nominee will be selected at a contested state party convention.
In New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is running unopposed in the Republican primary but faces growing scrutiny over an unexplained medical absence that has caused him to miss more than 100 House votes. Trump has said Kean is “working tirelessly” for the MAGA agenda, but several Democrats vying to challenge him in November have made his absence a central campaign issue.
What to Watch
The primary results will reshape the battle for control of the U.S. House and Senate heading into November, while testing whether voter dissatisfaction with urban governance, party infighting, and Trump’s endorsement power will define the 2026 midterm cycle. With polls closing across multiple states Tuesday evening, the first results will begin to reveal which candidates have secured their party’s nominations — and which races are headed for a contentious fall campaign.