Even as the polls close in California, it could be quite a while — potentially days or even weeks — before results become clear in the state’s nonpartisan primary for governor.
Counties will first report ballots that have already been processed from early in-person and mail voting. Next, they will report in-person Election Day votes. In the days that follow, counties will report their remaining ballots, known as the “late mail” vote. Those reports will include ballots received on Election Day and those postmarked by Election Day, provided they arrive within a week.
A majority of Californians vote by mail, and these ballots can take a while to count. In a crowded race that has been relatively close in most polling, waiting for “late mail” votes may be necessary to determine the two candidates who will advance to the general election in November.
There are a few key counties to pay attention to on election night and beyond.
Los Angeles County
About 20 percent of California’s primary vote typically comes from Los Angeles County, the state’s most populous county, which contains the city of Los Angeles and its neighboring cities and suburbs.
Xavier Becerra, one of the leading Democrats in recent polling, has close ties to the area after representing parts of Los Angeles in Congress, including heavily Hispanic areas in East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights for more than two decades.
But Tom Steyer, a billionaire who is Mr. Becerra’s chief rival on the Democratic side, has spent $200 million of his money on the campaign, and has targeted Los Angeles voters with his ad spending.
If Mr. Steyer performs well in the early reports out of Los Angeles, that could be a sign that he has been able to cut into Mr. Becerra’s base.
San Diego County
The state’s second-most populous county contains San Diego, as well as neighboring areas that range from suburban to rural. It has a larger share of Republican and independent voters than Los Angeles, making it a potential bellwether for the state as a whole.
Steve Hilton, the Republican front-runner, has been endorsed by President Trump. A strong showing for him in the early voting results out of San Diego could be a good sign for him as things unfold since he would be expected to perform better in the Election Day vote, which typically skews Republican.
San Francisco and Alameda Counties
San Francisco County, which is a single-city county, and Alameda County, which sits across the San Francisco Bay and contains the cities of Oakland and Berkeley, are key progressive strongholds. Mr. Steyer lives in San Francisco and made his fortune there, and he has built his candidacy on progressive policies that appeal to many voters there.
A key question in the governor’s race is whether the supporters of former Representative Eric Swalwell, who dropped out of the primary after he faced sexual assault allegations, will consolidate behind Mr. Steyer or Mr. Becerra. Mr. Swalwell represented several East Bay communities in Alameda County, so this area could offer a strong indication of where the Swalwell voters landed.
Santa Clara County
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, which includes Cupertino, Mountain View, Palo Alto and San Jose, will be an indicator of how voters in the tech industry are feeling. Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose, could potentially perform well at home after having gained support among Silicon Valley elites, though his campaign has appeared to stall in recent weeks.
Orange County
Once a longtime conservative stronghold in a blue state, Orange County voted Republican in every presidential race from 1940 to 2012 before Hillary Clinton won it by eight percentage points in 2016. The county voted Democratic in the 2020 and 2024 presidential races as well, but has remained a battleground in congressional races.
The county’s purple electorate makes it important for both parties. Former Representative Katie Porter, whose seat in Congress was located in the county, may be relying on strong support in the region as her best chance at advancing to the general election. On the Republican side, Mr. Hilton will be looking to pile up votes from Orange County’s wealthy suburbanites, many of whom voted for Mr. Trump in 2024.
Riverside and San Bernardino Counties
Chad Bianco, a Republican who performed well in early polls before falling behind Mr. Hilton, has strong regional ties to the sprawling metropolitan area known as the Inland Empire, which is made up of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Mr. Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County, has centered his campaign on public safety. Mr. Trump won both counties in 2024, so Mr. Bianco’s vote totals against Mr. Hilton in his home region could be a test of how much sway Mr. Trump’s endorsement holds.
Fresno County
The heart of California’s Central Valley, Fresno is an agricultural hub and another potential battleground for Mr. Hilton and Mr. Bianco. On the Democratic side, Mr. Becerra, whose wife is from the area, has campaigned in Fresno. A majority of the county’s residents are Hispanic, a key demographic for Mr. Becerra.
Christine Zhang is a Times reporter specializing in graphics and data journalism.
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