Vote count for California governor, L.A. mayor could be painfully slow. Don't expect 'instant gratification'

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It took three weeks to call a particularly competitive 2022 U.S.House race in California’s Central Valley, the outcome coming down to a couple of hundred votes.

Two years later, state Sen.Laura Richardson waited 17 days to be announced victor of a hotly contested race in South Los Angeles.

That same year, an unprecedented second-place tie in Northern California forced a recount that took almost two months to sort out.California — and particularly Los Angeles County — are notorious for slow election counts.

But Tuesday’s primary could the test the patience of even the most-knowing political junkies as some of the highest profile races, including California governor and L.A.mayor, remain tight.“We’re trying to keep people calm,” said Tracy Hernandez, chief executive of New California Coalition, a nonpartisan group that works on policy solutions.

“Expect not to know.” California Everything you need to know about how to vote in the 2026 California primary election.How to register and check you status, where to vote and more.Experts who spoke to The Times say results from some of the most publicized and close contests will probably not be clear Tuesday night, though many races could be called by then.

Most estimated that the runoff candidates for California governor and L.A.mayor are unlikely to be confirmed until Wednesday or Thursday, though there are several factors that could stretch that process out even longer.Primaries in California identify the top two vote-getters in each race — regardless of party preference — who then advance to November’s general election.

The lengthy vote count in California is primarily a result of the many ways voters can cast ballots in the state, which election officials say expands access and participation — but increases the time on the back end of that process to confirm and verify ballots.In particular, the expansio...