POLITICS

Late mail ballots reshape California primary standings

PUBLISHED Jun 8, 2026, 11:29 PM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 11

Left 9%

Center 73%

Right 18%

Sources: 11

Los Angeles: Late-arriving mail ballots shifted standings in the June 2 mayoral primary this week, erasing reality-television personality Spencer Pratt's early lead and elevating City Councilmember Nithya Raman. Election officials recorded successive batches of mailed ballots over several days, consistent with California rules allowing ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive within seven days. California county offices, including Mendocino County, reported ongoing counts on June 8–9 as thousands of ballots remained unprocessed; Mendocino officials reported 17,720 ballots left to count on June 8. Republican leaders and former President Trump amplified fraud claims, while state officials and Democrats emphasized legal procedures and the certification process pending verification.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

September 27, 2021: Governor Newsom made pandemic-era vote-by-mail measures permanent.
June 2, 2026: California conducted its statewide primary and mailed ballots to registered voters.
Early June 2026: Initial returns displayed early leads for some candidates based on in-person and early returns.
June 6–9, 2026: Successive batches of late-arriving mail ballots shifted results in races, including the LA mayoral primary.
Ongoing: County offices update unprocessed-ballot reports weekly and will certify results after verification and counting concludes.

News Intelligence

Your vote counts, even if it arrives late. California's mail-in ballot rules mean election outcomes can shift days after the polls close. Stay informed by checking county offices' weekly updates on unprocessed-ballot reports.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 11
Right Leaning:: 2
Left Leaning:: 1
Neutral:: 8

Who Benefited

Conservative advocates and some Republican officials have used delayed counting to press for legislative changes like the SAVE America Act.

Who Impacted

Candidates affected by late-arriving ballots, local election offices managing extended counts, and voters facing prolonged uncertainty experienced immediate impacts.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 11
Right Leaning:: 2
Left Leaning:: 1
Neutral:: 8
Distribution:: Left 9%, Center 73%, Right 18%

Who Benefited

Conservative advocates and some Republican officials have used delayed counting to press for legislative changes like the SAVE America Act.

Who Impacted

Candidates affected by late-arriving ballots, local election offices managing extended counts, and voters facing prolonged uncertainty experienced immediate impacts.