Election 2026 updates: Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton neck and neck in early results for CA gov race

One of California Democrats' top targets when they redrew the state's congressional map was Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley. They split his Northern California district in two, tethering each half to more Democratic areas near Sacramento to create two Democratic-leaning seats.

Kiley opted to run in the 6th District, which is crowded with local Democratic candidates. He became an outspoken critic of political gerrymandering and then left the Republican Party to run as an independent. That might be his best shot of survival with the new California map.

Jude Mayer says she wasn't thrilled about voting for a billionaire for governor. But she believes Democrat Tom Steyer "is talking about the environment in the way that I want to hear about it."

The 24-year-old says climate change is an imminent threat to her home state in particular.

"I don't want to be under water in 10 years," Mayer said Tuesday after voting in Los Angeles.

For those voting in person, polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. Voters have the right to cast their ballot as long as they are in line by 8 p.m., according to California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber.

California citizens who missed the voter registration deadline can still register and vote on Tuesday through "Same Day" or "Conditional" voter registration, which is available at every county elections office, polling place, or vote center, Weber said.

Information on county elections offices can be found at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices.

Voters who have filled out their ballot can drop it off at any polling location, vote center, or ballot drop box in the state. More information is available at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/make-plan-vote .

Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and be received not later than seven days after Election Day. To ensure a ballot is postmarked by June 2, voters should get a hand-stamped postmark from a postal employee inside a U.S. Post Office.

Steyer kicked off Pride Month and capped off the last full day of his primary campaign for California governor by belting out Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."

A photo he posted on social media shows Steyer, wearing a backward baseball cap, singing karaoke alongside his wife Kat at a bar in the gay enclave of West Hollywood on Monday night.

"I can't sing," Steyer wrote Tuesday on X, "but I can wish you a Happy Pride."

Steyer, a former hedge fund manager turned liberal activist, has spent millions of his own money as he hopes to advance to the November election.