WASHINGTON — While California has produced Hollywood legends and political superstars, this year’s gubernatorial contest lacks the typical celebrity appeal. Meanwhile, Los Angeles voters will decide whether a reality TV star can challenge the current mayor in a city gearing up for Olympic hosting duties.
Tuesday brings additional primary contests across the nation. Democratic leaders see a unique opportunity to reclaim territory in Iowa, a predominantly rural state that has consistently rejected their candidates in recent election cycles. On the Republican side, concerns mount over a New Jersey representative whose mysterious prolonged absence threatens their fragile House majority.
Voters in six states — California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota — will make their choices today.
Ronald Reagan. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Jerry Brown. Gavin Newsom.
California’s gubernatorial position has historically drawn some of the most prominent political figures, but this cycle breaks that pattern.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla declined to enter the contest. With Newsom prohibited from pursuing a third consecutive term, the succession battle became an expansive and frequently chaotic affair.
As the campaign concludes, focus has centered on Democrats Xavier Becerra, the former congressman and state attorney general who also served as health secretary under President Joe Biden, and Tom Steyer, a billionaire recognized for his environmental advocacy. Republican Steve Hilton is campaigning with President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
California’s primary structure places all contenders on one ballot, with the leading two vote-getters proceeding to November’s general election regardless of party affiliation. The lack of a clear frontrunner encouraged nearly every politically ambitious individual with basic campaign infrastructure to enter, sparking Democratic concerns about vote splitting that could eliminate their candidates from the autumn race. However, these worries have diminished in recent weeks, with party officials now confident of securing at least one November position.
The outcome may reveal voter sentiment in a state where Democrats have controlled statewide offices for twenty years.
In a community still healing from its most catastrophic wildfire, Mayor Karen Bass faces a challenging reelection battle.
The mayor, who frequently draws Trump’s criticism, was traveling in Ghana with a presidential delegation when the fire started. She has admitted to errors but has built her campaign on themes of rebuilding and advancement.
Bass confronts a vigorous challenge from reality television personality Spencer Pratt, who holds Bass responsible for overseeing devastation that destroyed his residence. Pratt, who gained recognition on “The Hills,” has posted artificial intelligence-generated videos depicting himself as a superhero fighting street crime and Democratic officials.
While officially nonpartisan, the race features Bass as a Democrat, along with progressive city council member Nithya Raman, who recently decided to oppose her former ally. Pratt is a registered Republican who has gained Trump’s approval, though not a formal endorsement.
Without a primary majority winner, the top two candidates will compete in November’s general election.
Los Angeles hasn’t chosen a Republican mayor since Richard Riordan secured his second term in 1997, and observers will scrutinize results for signs of discontent with progressive city leadership. The victor will assume national and international prominence as the city prepares for the 2028 Olympics.
Iowa wasn’t always Republican territory.
Prior to Trump’s political transformation, this state launched Barack Obama’s career and sent Tom Harkin to the Senate for five consecutive terms.
Party leaders are especially enthusiastic about Rob Sand, who faces no opposition for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. A Decorah, Iowa native, he possesses the rural background increasingly uncommon among Democrats. Most significantly, he’s demonstrated electoral success in Republican-leaning territory, winning auditor races twice.
Republicans enter their primary with five contenders. Trump endorsed Rep. Randy Feenstra last week.
This marks the first open gubernatorial competition since 2006. Democrats believe a combination of economic damage from Trump’s tariff strategies, increased gas costs from the Iran conflict, and the absence of a Republican incumbent creates their strongest chance in years. Sand also maintains a fundraising edge over Republicans, including Feenstra.
State Rep. Josh Turek and state Sen. Zach Wahls are battling in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate position being left by incumbent Republican Joni Ernst. The contest has split partly over questions of Washington leadership, with Wahls openly criticizing Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. Republicans have largely united behind U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson for the Senate position.
During typical pre-election periods, voters sometimes tire of constant candidate messaging. However, in New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, they’re hearing nothing from one candidate.
Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. runs uncontested in Tuesday’s primary. Yet he faces increasing criticism for an unexplained medical absence lasting three months, causing him to miss over 100 congressional votes.
This statistic troubles any legislator, but proves particularly damaging for someone seeking reelection in a genuinely competitive district. While redistricting has made most House seats safely Democratic or Republican, Kean’s district has changed parties in both recent midterm cycles. Republican Leonard Lance lost to Democrat Tom Malinowski in 2018. Malinowski fell to Kean in 2022.
With Republicans maintaining a thin House majority, they cannot afford losing districts like Kean’s. Multiple Democrats seeking to challenge Kean this fall have emphasized his absence and the surrounding mystery as core campaign themes.
New Jersey provided early evidence of anti-Trump sentiment last year when Democrat Mikie Sherrill captured the governor’s office by over 14 percentage points. Tuesday’s 7th district turnout may indicate whether Democratic momentum continues.
Democrats hope to seriously challenge Republican Senate candidates in solidly red South Dakota and Montana this fall. However, their strongest prospects may not appear on Tuesday’s primary ballots.
Both states feature prominent independent candidates who, lacking party representation, skip primary competitions.
In Montana, five Democrats seek their party’s Senate nomination. Yet independent Seth Bodnar, the former University of Montana president, has raised more funds than all of them together. He’s also significantly out-fundraised Trump-backed Republican candidate Kurt Alme.
In South Dakota, three-term incumbent Republican Mike Rounds expects easy primary victory Tuesday. He’ll meet Democrat Julian Beaudion, a former highway patrol trooper and small business owner, in November. But former Democrat Brian Bengs, a military veteran now running independently, may pose the greater threat.
