President Donald Trump accused Democrats of trying to “steal” high-profile California primaries after vote counting continued for days in the state’s gubernatorial race and the Los Angeles mayoral contest.
In posts on Truth Social, Trump criticized California’s slow ballot-counting process and claimed, without publicly presenting evidence, that Democrats were attempting to take the races away from Republican candidates. He also said the matter was under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, though it was not immediately clear what specific investigation he was referring to or who initiated it.
The president’s comments came as California continued processing ballots from Tuesday’s primary election. As of the latest reported results, only part of the statewide vote had been counted, leaving major races unsettled. California often takes days or weeks to complete its official count because election officials must process large numbers of vote-by-mail ballots, verify signatures, count eligible ballots received after Election Day, and complete required post-election checks.
Trump focused his criticism on the race for California governor and the Los Angeles mayoral primary. In the governor’s race, Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and former adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, held a narrow lead in early results. Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former U.S. health secretary and California attorney general, was also among the top contenders, while billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer remained in the race as additional ballots were being counted.
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California uses a top-two primary system, meaning all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party. The two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the November general election. That system can produce unusual results, especially in crowded races where candidates from the same party split the vote.
Hilton, who has been endorsed by Trump, has campaigned on affordability, lower taxes and criticism of Democratic leadership in California. He has argued that the state has become too expensive and poorly managed under years of Democratic control. If he advances to the general election, he would still face a difficult political environment in a state where Democrats hold a large voter registration advantage.
In Los Angeles, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass was expected to advance to the runoff, while former reality television personality Spencer Pratt was competing for the second spot against progressive Democrat Nithya Raman. Pratt held an early lead in some results, but analysts warned that the race could shift as additional mail ballots were processed.
Trump’s accusations added fuel to a familiar national debate over mail voting and delayed election results. The president has repeatedly criticized mail-in ballots, arguing that they create opportunities for fraud. Election officials and voting-rights experts have often rejected broad claims of widespread fraud, saying mail voting requires verification procedures and that delayed counting does not itself indicate misconduct.
In California, the delay is largely built into the election system. Ballots that are postmarked by Election Day may still be counted if they arrive within the legally allowed window. Counties must also verify voter signatures and resolve issues with ballots before including them in the official tally. Because many voters return ballots late, early results can change significantly in the days after polls close.
The slow process can create political tension in close races. Candidates who lead on election night may see their margins shrink or grow as later ballots are counted. That pattern is common in California and has affected both Democratic and Republican candidates in past elections.
Still, Trump’s decision to accuse Democrats of trying to steal the races shows how election administration has become a central political issue. His comments are likely to energize supporters who already distrust mail voting, while critics will argue that he is undermining confidence in a normal counting process before all valid ballots have been reviewed.
The claim of an investigation also raises questions. Trump said the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles was looking into the delays, but no public details were immediately available about the scope of any inquiry. If federal officials are involved, they would likely face scrutiny over whether the matter involves specific evidence of wrongdoing or broader political complaints about California’s counting timeline.
California officials have repeatedly defended the state’s process, saying the priority is accuracy rather than speed. Election workers must count every valid ballot, including those that arrive after Election Day under state rules. Final certification can take weeks, especially in a large state with millions of voters and many vote-by-mail ballots.
The controversy comes as the 2026 midterm season begins to take shape. California’s governor race, Los Angeles mayoral contest and several congressional races are being closely watched as indicators of voter frustration over affordability, housing, public safety and the direction of both major parties.
For Republicans, strong early performances by candidates such as Hilton and Pratt could signal openings in a state long dominated by Democrats. For Democrats, late-counted ballots may determine whether their candidates consolidate support and avoid embarrassing outcomes in races they are expected to control.
The final results will depend on the remaining ballots, not election-night totals. Until counties complete their work, both parties will be watching closely as the margins shift.
Why It Matters
The dispute matters because Trump’s claims place renewed national attention on California’s mail-ballot system and slow vote-counting process. While delayed results are common in the state, political accusations around the count can quickly become part of a broader debate over election trust.
It also matters because the governor’s race and Los Angeles mayoral primary are early tests of voter frustration in heavily Democratic California. If Republican candidates advance in strong positions, it could reshape the political conversation heading into November.
What Comes Next
California counties will continue processing and verifying ballots until the official canvass is complete. The results in close races may change as additional mail-in ballots are counted.
Trump and his allies are likely to keep pressuring election officials over the delay, while Democrats and state officials will argue that the process is following California law. If a federal investigation is confirmed, the next question will be whether it is based on specific evidence or broader concerns about vote-counting procedures.
Trump claimed Democrats were trying to “steal” California primary races as state and local officials continued processing mail-in ballots under California election rules.
Trump claims Dems ‘trying to steal’ California primaries, launches probe into sluggish vote counts https://t.co/3e6x99bQYH pic.twitter.com/TaUNqjF3mN
— New York Post (@nypost) June 4, 2026
