President Donald Trump has accused Democrats of cheating in California’s ongoing statewide primary races, pointing to delays in vote counting across key contests as evidence of potential irregularities.
The remarks come as election officials continue processing millions of ballots in the state’s governor and Los Angeles mayoral races, where final results remain days or even weeks away.
California’s primary system places all candidates on a single ballot regardless of party, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election.
In the current cycle, both the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral races remain unresolved as counties continue tallying ballots under the state’s extended counting process.
Trump escalated his criticism on Truth Social, alleging “BIG cheating” by so-called “Dumocrats.”
He claimed the ongoing vote count was being manipulated, writing that “Dumocrats” were attempting to “STEAL” key races in California.
He also suggested that mail-in ballots were contributing to delays and alleged that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles was involved in an investigation, though no official confirmation or public evidence has been provided, according to Newsweek.
Early returns show Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra leading in the gubernatorial primary, while additional candidates remain mathematically in contention as ballots continue to be counted.
In the Los Angeles mayoral race, incumbent Karen Bass currently leads, with Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman among the top challengers in a contest that could still shift as outstanding ballots are processed.
California election officials have repeatedly explained that the state’s vote-counting timeline is among the slowest in the nation due to its reliance on mail-in ballots, same-day registration, and strict verification procedures.
Ballots postmarked by Election Day can legally arrive days later, requiring signature verification and eligibility checks before being counted.
Officials emphasize that the process is designed to prioritize accuracy and voter access over speed.
With more than 23 million registered voters, California’s scale further contributes to extended counting timelines.
County election offices must also complete audits, reconciliation, and certification procedures before results are finalized, a process that can stretch for weeks in close races.
The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) responded to Trump’s allegations through its official social media account, rejecting the claims and pushing back on criticisms of the state’s election system, according to The Independent.
Election analysts and data observers cited in reporting say remaining ballots could still influence outcomes in several competitive races.
Some analysts note that late-counted mail ballots may lean Democratic in certain regions, although they stress that final outcomes remain uncertain until all votes are processed.
Prediction markets such as Polymarket have also weighed in on potential outcomes, though these reflect speculative trading rather than official election results.
Trump has repeatedly raised concerns about election integrity in past contests, including longstanding claims about the 2020 presidential election, which were widely rejected in court rulings.
Those disputes continue to shape his public commentary on election administration, particularly in states that rely heavily on mail-in voting systems.
As counting continues, neither the gubernatorial nor Los Angeles mayoral races have been officially called, with officials warning that additional batches of ballots could still meaningfully shift results in the coming days.
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