Tuesday was one of the busier days of the 2026 state election calendar, with voters heading to the polls across California, Iowa, New Mexico, South Dakota, Montana. Headlined by a trio of open gubernatorial seats, the day also featured hundreds of legislative races and key executive office contests.
California
Governor
California voters faced an unusually crowded field on Tuesday, with 61 candidates on the ballot vying to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom (D). The sheer size of the field had raised concerns earlier this year that Democrats might split their vote so deeply as to risk shutting both of their candidates out of the November runoff, a possibility under California's top two primary system, in which the two highest vote-getters advance regardless of party.
Due to California's high volume of mail-in ballots and the competitiveness of the race, the top two finishers have not yet been determined as of this writing. Republican Steve Hilton currently leads with 28% of the vote, followed by Democrats Xavier Becerra at 25% and Tom Steyer at 20%. As counting continues, the remaining 42% of ballots could significantly alter the standings.
Steve Hilton (R) is a Fox News Channel contributor who hosted The Next Revolution on the network from 2017 to 2023. He previously worked as a senior advisor to former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and an advertising executive. His campaign platform includes positioning California as the global capital of cryptocurrency, maintaining the state's leadership in artificial intelligence, revitalizing the film and television industry, cutting taxes, and refocusing the state's climate policy on wildfire prevention and forest management.
Xavier Becerra entered the race as a relative long shot, polling in the single digits earlier this year. The tide shifted in mid-April when former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (D) exited the primary, consolidating Democratic support and allowing Becerra's statewide name recognition to take hold. The former Secretary demonstrated a steady rise in the polls in the weeks that followed. Becerra brings extensive public service experience to the race. He served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2021 to 2025, and before that as California Attorney General from 2017 to 2021, a role in which he frequently litigated against the first Trump administration. He previously represented California in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than two decades. His gubernatorial platform centers on resisting the current Trump administration, expanding affordable housing, addressing price gouging and utility rate increases, fostering artificial intelligence development, and strengthening the state's disaster preparedness infrastructure.
Tom Steyer, a billionaire investor and prominent Democratic activist, is the founder of NextGen America, a progressive advocacy organization that has focused heavily on opposing President Donald Trump. Steyer previously sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, suspending his campaign in February of that year. His gubernatorial priorities include reducing gasoline prices, protecting the state's environmental and climate policies, preserving California's status as the entertainment capital of the world, expanding access to quality healthcare, building affordable housing, and closing corporate tax loopholes.
This race has been rated as Solid Democratic by the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball.
Attorney General
California’s nonpartisan primary for Attorney General consisted of three candidates: incumbent Attorney General Rob Bonta (D), attorney Michael Gates (R), and Green Party candidate Marjorie Mikels. As the top two candidates of the night, both Bonta and Gates will advance to the general election in November.
First elected in 2021, Attorney General Bonta has led the California Department of Justice’s work in cracking down on fentanyl, taking down organized retail crime schemes, fighting for gun reform, and addressing hate crimes. Bonta has also led several lawsuits against the Trump administration, taking them to court more than 50 times in the past year. If reelected, he can be expected to continue to sue the Trump administration for more alleged constitutional violations. Before his time as attorney general, Bonta served more than eight years in the state assembly where he created the strongest tenant protection law in the country and helped pass a law ending surprise medical billing. He also previously worked as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco.
Michael Gates previously served as a Huntington Beach City Attorney where he created the city’s local criminal prosecution program. In 2025, Gates was appointed to deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. In this role, he managed around 100 attorneys across employment, voting and elections, housing and civil enforcement, and criminal sections. As attorney general, he would work to prosecute violent and repeat offenders, implement and enforce Prop 36, restore accountability throughout the criminal justice system, and collaborate closely with local law enforcement to strengthen community safety.
Treasurer
Californians will be voting for a new state treasurer, as Fiona Ma, who is currently running for lieutenant governor, is no longer eligible to hold the treasurer's office after being elected in 2018. Among the six candidates arrayed in the nonpartisan primary, the top two vote-getters were state senator Anna Caballero (D) and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis (D).
Caballero has served in the senate representing the 14th district since 2022. From 2018 to 2022, she represented the 12th senate district. She also represented district 30 in the state assembly from 2016 to 2018, and the 28th district from 2006 to 2010. Caballero was appointed to serve as the secretary of the business, consumer services and housing agency of former governor Jerry Brown's (D) cabinet. She also served as mayor of Salinas and on the Salinas City Council. If elected to the treasurer’s office, Caballero’s priorities will include affordable housing, homelessness, retirement security, and climate change.
Kounalakis assumed office in 2019. She also ran for governor but did not make the ballot for the primary. After earning her MBA from UC Berkeley, Eleni joined her father in building the housing development firm AKT Development. In 2010, she was appointed by President Obama as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary. As qualifications for the treasurer’s office, she touts her record of fiscal stewardship, commitment to equity, and vision for investments that is aligned with California’s values, along with her private sector experience, diplomatic skill, and executive leadership ability.
Legislature
Twenty (20) out of the 40 state senate seats and all 80 state house seats are up for election. Eight senate incumbents and 13 house incumbents did not file for reelection. Several of these sitting legislators have opted to run for higher office, including Senator Aisha Wahab (D) who is running for California’s 14th Congressional District that was left vacant after Eric Swalwell resigned and Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R), who ran unsuccessfully for Lt. Governor.
Los Angeles Mayoral Race
LA has experienced significant hardships over the past four years, culminating in the 2025 Pacific Palisades fire. The nation’s second largest city has also struggled with affordable housing and a growing unhoused population. Despite this environment, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass (D) has secured enough votes to proceed to the November 3 general election. Even with locking up key Democratic establishment support, Bass faced a crowded field of challengers that led to a hotly contested primary battle.
As of Wednesday morning, ballots are still being counted, and no candidate has secured the final spot in the general. Two starkly different candidates are running neck and neck: Spencer Pratt (R) and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman (D).
Seemingly out of nowhere, former reality television villain Pratt burst onto the political scene with his bid for mayor earlier this year. He has been a vocal critic of Bass and Governor Newsom since his family’s home burned down in the Palisades fire. Pratt has been endorsed by President Trump and has raised an impressive $3.7 million since January. His campaign has been focused on increased public safety, mental illness and addiction treatment programs, and heightened emergency preparedness.
Raman is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and has represented the city’s 4th district for the past six years after defeating an incumbent council member running to the left. Raman has also been critical of the Bass administration’s response to the devastating fires and unhoused population. Raman is also focused on lowering rents and protecting tenants’ rights, investing in small businesses, and bringing accountability measures to city hall.
Iowa
Governor
While the state does not have term limits for governor, incumbent Governor Kim Reynolds (R) is not seeking a third term, marking the first open governor’s race in nearly two decades.
The Republican primary consisted of state representative Eddie Andrews, U.S. Congressman Randy Feenstra, businessman Zach Lahn, former state representative Brad Sherman, and former director at the Iowa Department of Administrative Services Adam Steen. Ahead of election day, there was no clearly favored candidate. The most recently released poll had Lahn leading Feenstra 24% to 22%, suggesting that the race could head to a Republican convention as a candidate in Iowa must clear a 35% threshold to win outright.
Lahn cleared the threshold with approximately 37% of the vote, securing the Republican nomination. While Feenstra had President Trump’s endorsement and the funds to back his bid, Lahn campaigned as a challenger to Iowa’s political establishment. Lahn’s campaign centers the theme “Iowa First” which prioritizes Iowa families, businesses, and long-term health over corporate interests and out-of-state investors. This includes improving economic opportunities in the state, protecting local ownership and stewardship, expanding access to clean water, and strengthening the state’s education system.
Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand was uncontested in the Democratic primary. First elected auditor in 2018, Sand has a track record of ousting Republican challengers, defeating an incumbent Republican and becoming the first Democrat to hold the state auditor office since the 1960s. During his reelection bid in 2022, he was the only Democrat reelected statewide. Sand has worked across party lines in his role as state auditor and plans to bring bipartisanship to the governor’s office. He has criticized both Democrats and Republicans of being more concerned over political donations rather than the actual problems faced by Iowans. If elected, Sand would work to lower the costs of living, strengthen the economy, and improve state education. Sand also supports implementing a public primary where all eligible voters can participate and allow the top four candidates to advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
Sand will face Lahn in a competitive general election race that could flip the governor’s seat in Democrats’ favor for the first time in over a decade. Sabato’s Crystal Ball has labeled this race as leans Republican and the Cook Political Report has labeled this race as a toss-up.
Attorney General
Incumbent Attorney General Breena Bird ran unopposed in the Republican primary for attorney general. First elected in 2022, her reelection bid builds upon her accomplishments in office including protecting state rights from federal overreach, supporting state and local law enforcement, and preventing fentanyl from entering the state by increasing drug penalties. She previously served as counsel to former governor Terry Branstad (R) where she worked closely with him to fight against EPA regulations that were harming Iowa farmers.
Former state representative and attorney Nate Willems ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for attorney general. Willems served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2009 to 2013 where he spent time as vice chair of the Labor Committee and passed key legislation to strengthen workers’ rights. Since 2010, Willems has been a full-time labor lawyer and partner at Rush & Nicholson, P.L.C where he has represented tens of thousands of Iowan workers and taken on cases against corporations related to stolen wages, workers’ rights, and injured workers on the job. As attorney general, he would work to secure convictions for violent crimes and increase accountability for corporations.
Treasurer
Incumbent State Treasurer Roby Smith ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Prior to being elected in 2022, he served in the Iowa State Senate from 2011 to 2023 and was a local family banker for nearly a decade. His campaign for a second term builds upon his work in office including strengthening Iowa’s 529 college savings program, increasing financial accessibility for Iowans with disabilities through the IAble program, improving financial literacy education, and continuing to increase state investment earnings.
John Norwood ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Since 2019, Norwood has worked as a Business Advisor with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program where he has coached founders and CEOs on growth strategy, financial performance, and long-term sustainability. Norwood’s campaign focuses on protecting Iowa’s financial foundations, highlighting Iowa’s over $1 billion structural budget deficit. As treasurer, he would prioritize small businesses, workers, and rural communities, working to strengthen the agricultural economy and revamp tax credit and subsidy programs that prioritize large corporations.
Legislature
Twenty-five (25) out of the 50 senate seats are up for election and all 100 house seats are up for election. Eight (8) Senate incumbents and seventeen House incumbents did not file for reelection. This includes Senate President Pro Tempore and State Government Committee Chair, Ken Rozenboom (R), who is retiring at the end of his term in January 2027.
New Mexico
Governor
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) is term limited. Five candidates sought to replace her in yesterday's primary.
On the Democratic side, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland defeated Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, securing the nomination with approximately 72% of the vote.
Haaland represented New Mexico's 1st congressional district from 2018 to 2021. President Joe Biden nominated her as Secretary of the Interior on December 17, 2020, one month after she won reelection to a second term in the U.S. House. Prior to Congress, she served as tribal administrator of San Felipe Pueblo, chairwoman of the Laguna Development Corporation Board of Directors, and chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. Her campaign priorities include expanding summer reading and after-school programs, increasing down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, improving access to substance use treatment and recovery services, and using budget surpluses to address Medicaid gaps.
The Republican primary featured Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull against businessmen Duke Rodriguez and Doug Turner. Hull advanced to the general election with approximately 47% of the vote.
Before entering public service, Hull operated two businesses for more than a decade. First elected mayor in April 2014, he was reelected in 2018 and again in 2022, making him Rio Rancho's longest-serving mayor. His campaign priorities include protecting rural healthcare, stabilizing the state's law enforcement workforce, expanding career and technical education in high schools, and addressing chronic absenteeism in New Mexico schools.
This race has been rated as Likely Democratic by the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball.
Attorney General
Democratic incumbent Raul Torrez ran unopposed in yesterday's primary, moving one step closer to a second term. Torrez previously served as Bernalillo County district attorney and as an assistant U.S. attorney with the Department of Justice. His campaign highlights accomplishments from his first term alongside priorities for the future. Notable achievements include establishing the office's first cold case unit and creating the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) portal. Looking ahead, he is focused on ensuring public access to natural resources and has an extensive record of initiating litigation against major social media platforms over online safety.
On the Republican side, attorney Samuel Kane also ran unopposed. His campaign centers on preserving natural resources, reducing crime, and striking a balance between economic development and environmental protection.
Treasurer
Both candidates in the treasurer's race ran uncontested in their respective primaries.
Incumbent Treasurer Laura Montoya (D) is seeking a second term as New Mexico State Treasurer. Before her election to the statewide office, she served as Sandoval County Treasurer from 2013 to 2022. Her campaign priorities include establishing financial literacy as a high school graduation requirement, expanding access to financial independence accounts for individuals with disabilities, and leveraging state resources to address economic disparities.
Republican challenger James Ellison entered the race as a write-in candidate in the primary. He previously served on the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission from 2023 to 2024. Before that appointment, he worked as an electric utility analyst and engineer. His campaign centers on reforming the state's unclaimed property program, increasing investment transparency, and promoting responsible stewardship of public funds.
Legislature
There are no senate seats up for election this year, but all 70 house seats are on the ballot. Only six incumbents are not seeking reelection, including three Democrats and three Republicans. Thirteen incumbents faced primary challenges, but just one was unseated: Representative Marian Matthews (D) lost her Democratic primary to challenger Abby Foster (D) by four points.
South Dakota
Governor
Incumbent Governor Larry Rhoden (R) faced three primary challengers in his reelection bid: Congressman Dusty Johnson (R), South Dakota State Representative Jon Hansen (R), and Toby Doeden (R). Johnson and Doeden were running ahead of Governor Rhoden in polling leading up to the primary.
In South Dakota primaries for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House, candidates must receive at least 35% of the vote to win the nomination. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the top two vote-getters advance to a July 28 runoff. And, for the first time in state history, a runoff is officially needed to determine the GOP nominee for governor: Neither Doeden nor Governor Rhoden secured the magic number.
Doeden garnered approximately 30% of the vote yesterday. He has built businesses across several industries in South Dakota and has never run for public office before this campaign. Doeden is an outspoken supporter of “South Dakota First” policies and closely aligns himself with President Trump’s agenda. He has loaned his campaign $4 million throughout the primary. If elected governor, his priorities would include reducing property taxes, reducing wasteful spending, opposing ideologies in education like Gender Theory and Critical Race Theory, and addressing corruption in government.
Governor Rhoden secured approximately 25% of the vote. Rhoden, a fourth generation South Dakotan, ascended to the governorship when former governor Kristi Noem (R) was appointed Secretary of Homeland Security in 2025. His campaign has focused on his accomplishments in the Noem administration and his own. Among these, he lists the largest tax cut and largest business investment in state history, improved education outcomes and support for teachers, workforce investment, and South Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program. He pledges to continue to promote property rights, law enforcement, and opportunities for future generations.
The general election is rated Solid Republican. Trump has not endorsed a gubernatorial candidate in South Dakota.
Attorney General
In South Dakota, candidates for attorney general are selected via convention rather than primary vote. Former state senator Lance Russell is facing Austin Hoffman in the Republican convention for Attorney General on June 27. Russell assumed office in 2017 and left in 2021. He also served in the State House from 2009 to 2018. Outside of public office, Russell has worked as an attorney. Hoffman has been the McPherson County State's Attorney since 2020 and previously interned with the South Dakota Attorney General's Office. He also opened a private law practice.
No Democratic candidate has advanced.
Treasurer
Former state senator Jeff Monroe and businessman Heath Shields are running in the Republican convention for South Dakota Treasurer on June 27. Representing district 24, Monroe assumed office in 2013 and left in 2021. Shields’ campaign platform includes a better unclaimed property system, modernized treasurer’s office, and improved transparency.
No Democratic candidate has advanced.
Legislature
All 35 senate seats and all 70 house seats are up for reelection this year. Four senate incumbents and 23 house incumbents did not file for reelection. These include current Houser Speaker Jon Hansen (R), who ran unsuccessfully for governor, and House Minority Leader Erin Healy (D).
Montana
Legislature
Twenty-five (25) out of the 50 senate seats and all 100 house seats are on the ballot. Fourteen (14) senate incumbents did not file for reelection, leaving over half of these seats open. Twenty-four (24) house incumbents did not file for reelection. Republicans are expected to maintain control both chambers.