Two Democrats, One Republican, and a Reality Star Walk Into California's Primary

California’s June 2 primary delivered exactly what insiders predicted—and that might be the most unsettling part for Democrats worried about November.

The race for lieutenant governor shows Fiona Ma, the state’s treasurer, holding onto a narrow lead with just over 20% of the vote. But breathing down her neck is Gloria Romero, a former longtime Democrat who switched parties and is now running as a Republican on a ticket with gubernatorial frontrunner Steve Hilton. That pairing—Hilton and Romero—signals something bigger than just one state office: it’s a deliberate strategy to present unified conservative leadership heading into the fall.

Meanwhile, in the governor’s race itself, Steve Hilton’s 27% puts him just one point ahead of Democrat Xavier Becerra, whose campaign hinged on proving he wasn’t an underdog worth abandoning. Becerra made his case at LA Plaza, the Arts and Culture center in Los Angeles, framing his family as his“secret sauce”and declaring that“the California Dream is alive tonight.”Tom Steyer, despite spending massive resources, never broke through his polling ceiling and finished third at 20%, while Republican Chad Bianco lingered in fourth.

The night’s narrative—tight races that came into focus faster than many expected—suggests Democratic turnout showed up in real numbers, spooked by the possibility of a Republican-versus-Republican general election. But the lieutenant governor’s race serves as a reminder that California’s open primary system cares only about raw vote totals, not party affiliation. Gloria Romero’s competitive position alongside Fiona Ma means November could pit Democrat against Republican for one of the state’s highest offices, or it could be a choice between two Democrats depending on how final tallies shake out.

Across the state’s congressional races, the picture grew more interesting. In the newly redrawn Congressional District 1—drawn to favor Democrats under Proposition 50—Republican James Gallagher held first place, with Democrat Mike McGuire, the former State Senate President who helped shepherd the entire redistricting process through, in second. When you add in fellow Democrat Audrey Denny’s 13%, Democrats could theoretically consolidate in November, but Gallagher’s strength in a district explicitly designed for Democratic advantage raised eyebrows.

The full night confirmed what seasoned observers already knew: California’s primary electorate still leans left, party machinery still matters, and money—while important—can’t guarantee breakthrough if voters don’t want to hear your message. Steyer learned that lesson the hard way. For Republicans, it was a night of consolidation around Steve Hilton and careful coalition-building in unexpected places. For Democrats, it was a night of showing up, but also a warning. June gave them the result they wanted in November’s matchup. Whether that translates to victory in a presidential year remains the real question.