President Donald Trump has accused Democrats of "BIG cheating" in California's statewide primary elections, alleging manipulation in the ongoing vote counting process. His remarks, made on Truth Social, come as election officials in California continue to process millions of ballots in key contests, including the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral races, with final results expected days or even weeks away.
"There’s BIG cheating by the Dumocrats in California. Votes are all tied up. May not be in for weeks. Under…" — President Donald Trump, Truth Social
California's unique primary system allows all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, to appear on a single ballot. The top two vote-getters then advance to the general election. In the current cycle, both the race for governor and the Los Angeles mayoral contest remain officially unresolved as counties across the state diligently tally outstanding ballots under California's extended counting protocols.
President Trump specifically targeted what he termed "Dumocrats," claiming they were attempting to "STEAL" crucial races in California. He further suggested that the widespread use of mail-in ballots was contributing to the delays and alleged an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. However, no official confirmation or public evidence from the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been provided to substantiate the claim of an active investigation into election fraud.
Early returns from the gubernatorial primary show Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra leading, though additional candidates remain mathematically in contention as ballots are continuously counted. Similarly, in the Los Angeles mayoral race, incumbent Karen Bass holds a lead, with Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman identified as top challengers. The outcomes in these competitive races could still shift significantly as more ballots are processed and added to the official tallies.
California election officials have consistently explained that the state's vote-counting timeline is inherently among the slowest nationwide. This is primarily attributed to its extensive reliance on mail-in ballots, the option for same-day voter registration, and stringent verification procedures designed to ensure accuracy and prevent fraud. Under state law, ballots postmarked by Election Day are legally accepted if they arrive days later. These ballots then undergo a meticulous process of signature verification and eligibility checks before they can be officially counted, a measure officials state is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
Officials emphasize that the deliberate pace is a feature, not a flaw, of the system, prioritizing comprehensive accuracy and broad voter access over rapid result dissemination. With more than 23 million registered voters, California's sheer scale further contributes to the necessity of extended counting periods. Moreover, county election offices are mandated to complete thorough audits, reconciliation processes, and certifications before results can be officially finalized, a procedure that can extend for several weeks, particularly in closely contested elections.
The office of California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has publicly responded to President Trump's allegations via its official social media channels, rejecting the claims of cheating and defending the state's established election system.
Election analysts and data observers, cited in various reports, have noted that the remaining uncounted ballots could still influence the final outcomes in several competitive races. Some analysts have pointed out that late-counted mail ballots in certain regions have historically tended to lean Democratic, though they universally stress that definitive outcomes remain uncertain until all legal votes are fully processed and tabulated. Prediction markets, such as Polymarket, have also reflected speculative trading on potential results, though these are not official indicators of election outcomes.
President Trump has a documented history of raising concerns about election integrity in past contests, including his longstanding claims regarding the 2020 presidential election. These claims were widely rejected in numerous court rulings. These past disputes continue to shape his public commentary on election administration, particularly concerning states that heavily utilize mail-in voting systems, a practice he has frequently criticized. As the vote count proceeds, neither the California gubernatorial nor the Los Angeles mayoral races have been officially called, with election officials cautioning that additional batches of ballots could still meaningfully alter current standings in the coming days.
