Black Candidates Maintain Strong Showing as California Counts Primary Ballots

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media 

As California continues counting ballots from the June 2 primary election, Black candidates across the state appear positioned to maintain a strong presence on the November ballot. Of the 62 Black candidates running for statewide offices, Congress, the Board of Equalization, the State Senate, and the State Assembly, at least 26 are currently tracking to advance to the November general election. 

Under California’s top-two primary system, the two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the November general election regardless of party affiliation. 

In statewide contests, Black candidates are experiencing mixed results. 

In the governor’s race, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond (D) is trailing in the crowded field led by Republican Steve Hilton (R), Democrat Xavier Becerra (D) and Democrat Tom Steyer (D). 

Former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs (D) is running outside the top two in the lieutenant governor’s race. 

Two Black statewide incumbents are performing significantly better. Secretary of State Shirley Weber (D) and Controller Malia Cohen (D) are both holding commanding leads in their races. Weber leads Donald Wagner (R) 54.2% to 41.4%, while Cohen leads Heather Morgan (R) 53.1% to 42.2%. 

Former State Sen. Steven Bradford (D) is not currently in a top-two position in the Insurance Commissioner contest. 

In the nonpartisan Superintendent of Public Instruction race, Nichelle Henderson and Ainye Long are also running outside of the top two. 

Former Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D), who is termed out of the Legislature, is running first in the Board of Equalization District 3 race with 26.3% of the vote. Gipson is positioned to advance to November. 

In congressional races, the state’s three Black incumbents are in positions to advance to the November general election. In Congressional District (CD) 12, which includes Oakland and much of the East Bay, Rep. Lateefah Simon (D) leads with 80.8% of the vote. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D) is ahead with 51.1% in CD 37, covering Southwest Los Angeles and Culver City, while Rep. Maxine Waters (D) leads the field with 61.8% in CD 43, which includes South Los Angeles, Inglewood, Hawthorne and Gardena. 

Two other Black candidates are also positioned to advance in congressional races. In the Central Valley’s CD 13, former Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln (R) is running second. In CD 52, which includes parts of San Diego County, Jeff Belle (R) occupies second place. 

Several other Black congressional candidates are currently running outside the top two, including Lauren Babb Tomlinson (D) in CD 6, which stretches from Sacramento into the Sierra foothills; Ralph Nwobi (R) in Sacramento-area CD 7; Gregory Haynes (D) in East Bay-based CD 11; Arthur Dixon (D) in Los Angeles-centered CD 34; Shonique Williams (D) in Inland Empire-based CD 41; Eric Shaw (D) in Orange County’s CD 48; Star Parker (R) in coastal North San Diego County-based CD 49; and Jimih Jones (R) in CD 4, which covers much of California’s northeastern region and Sierra communities. 

Election night results also show strong performances by Black legislative incumbents. Every Black incumbent reviewed by California Black Media is currently running in a position to advance to the November general election. 

In State Senate races, three of four Black candidates are positioned to advance. Incumbent Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D), who represents Senate District 28 in South Los Angeles, dominates her race with 74.2% of the vote. Tiffanie Tate (D) is advancing in Riverside County-based Senate District 32, while William Brown Jr. (Libertarian Party) currently holds second place in Senate District 12, which stretches across portions of the Central Valley. Daphne Bradford (No Party Preference) is running outside the top two in Senate District 28. 

Black candidates are posting some of their strongest performances in Assembly races. Incumbents Lori Wilson (D) in Solano County-based Assembly District 11, Rhodesia Ransom (D) in Stockton-based Assembly District 13, Mia Bonta (D) in Oakland’s Assembly District 18, Isaac Bryan (D) in Assembly District 55, which includes Ladera Heights, Culver City and parts of Los Angeles, Sade Elhawary (D) in South Los Angeles-based Assembly District 57, Corey Jackson (D) in Riverside County’s Assembly District 60, Tina McKinnor (D), who is running unopposed in Assembly District 61, which includes Inglewood, Hawthorne and surrounding communities, and LaShae Sharp-Collins (D) in San Diego’s Assembly District 79 are all running in positions to advance. 

Other Black candidates currently occupying top-two positions include Andre Sandford (D) in Oakland-based Assembly District 18, Rickey Tracy Hayes II (R) in Assembly District 40, Ayanna Davis (D) in Compton-based Assembly District 65, Carolyn Essex (D) in Long Beach-based Assembly District 69, Paula Swift (D) in Orange County’s Assembly District 70 and Constance Jewel Menzies (R) in South Los Angeles-based Assembly District 57. 

The Assembly District 65 contest is attracting particular attention because it will determine who succeeds Gipson in the Legislature. Davis leads the field and is positioned to face Lydia Gutierrez (R) in November. 

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who is seeking a second term, has secured a place in the November runoff election, according to the Associated Press. With about 63% of the vote counted, Bass leads with 34.8%, followed by Spencer Pratt at 30.4% and City Councilmember Nithya Raman at 22.3%. The contest for the second runoff spot remains too early to call. 

California election officials will continue counting vote-by-mail, provisional and other ballots in the days ahead. Under state law, county elections officials must complete their canvass and certify results before the statewide certification deadline of July 10, 2026. 

California voters will return to the polls for the General Election on Nov. 3, 2026.