Tense California governor’s race comes to a head: Key primaries to watch Tuesday

Voters in half a dozen states will vote in primaries on Tuesday, with the spotlight on the race to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). 

Democrats crowded into the wide-open race, raising concerns that the splintered field could open the door for Republicans. But after controversy squeezed Democrat Eric Swalwell out of the running, support started to consolidate around former state Attorney General Xavier Becerra and billionaire Tom Steyer as the party’s top prospects.

Across the aisle, President Trump endorsed Republican Steve Hilton, but top two vote-getters will advance to November’s general election regardless of their party affiliation.

Tuesday’s primaries will also decide who leads Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the country — and cement key congressional races in Iowa, where Democrats see rare openings amid the fight for control in Washington. 

New Jersey, South Dakota, Montana and New Mexico are also holding June 2 primaries. Here are six races to watch: 

Tuesday’s primary for governor of the Golden State could all but decide who succeeds Newsom at the helm of the fourth-largest global economy.

Becerra, the former Health and Human Services Secretary under former President Biden, made an unexpected surge to frontrunner status after Swalwell exited the race amid sexual misconduct allegations, which the now-resigned congressman denies. 

He boasts experience running statewide, and has avoided the skepticism that dogs Steyer, his billionaire rival. If elected, he could become the first Latino governor of a state where the bloc makes up roughly 30 percent of the electorate.

Still, some say Steyer could make the top two, as he argues that “the billionaires and the corporations” are “supporting everybody but me, and in particular they’re supporting Xavier Becerra.” 

There’s a chance that two Democrats emerge from the unique nonpartisan primary setup — but experts at this point predict a more traditional blue-on-red showdown between a leading Democrat and Republican Steve Hilton, who has coalesced GOP support with the help of Trump’s endorsement. If that’s the case, the Democrat is expected to glide to victory this fall. 

In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen........

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