Election 2026 updates: CA gov race remains close between Hilton, Becerra as count continues

John Sileo, a 65-year-old business owner, said he voted for candidates who would put a check on Trump and also California's liberal government.

The self-described moderate Republican said he never liked Trump and voted for Democrat Joe Kerr for Congress rather than the two Republican contenders.

"Trump has a monopoly now and you've got to at least turn the House," he said outside a vote center in Orange.

Sileo said he refused to vote for Steve Hilton for California's governor because he is backed by Trump, and wouldn't vote for Xavier Becerra because he sees him as a continuation of Democrats' policies in the state.

"I voted for Tom Steyer because at least he's a disruptor," he said. "He was the best of poor choices."

One of California Democrats' top targets when they redrew the state's congressional map was Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley. They split his Northern California district in two, tethering each half to more Democratic areas near Sacramento to create two Democratic-leaning seats.

Kiley opted to run in the 6th District, which is crowded with local Democratic candidates. He became an outspoken critic of political gerrymandering and then left the Republican Party to run as an independent. That might be his best shot of survival with the new California map.

Jude Mayer says she wasn't thrilled about voting for a billionaire for governor. But she believes Democrat Tom Steyer "is talking about the environment in the way that I want to hear about it."

The 24-year-old says climate change is an imminent threat to her home state in particular.

"I don't want to be under water in 10 years," Mayer said Tuesday after voting in Los Angeles.

For those voting in person, polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. Voters have the right to cast their ballot as long as they are in line by 8 p.m., according to California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber.

California citizens who missed the voter registration deadline can still register and vote on Tuesday through "Same Day" or "Conditional" voter registration, which is available at every county elections office, polling place, or vote center, Weber said.

Information on county elections offices can be found at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices.

Voters who have filled out their ballot can drop it off at any polling location, vote center, or ballot drop box in the state. More information is available at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/make-plan-vote .

Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and be received not later than seven days after Election Day. To ensure a ballot is postmarked by June 2, voters should get a hand-stamped postmark from a postal employee inside a U.S. Post Office.