President Donald Trump has criticized California’s vote-counting process as ballots continue to be processed days after Election Day, raising concerns about delays in several high-profile races. The president alleged that Democrats were attempting to influence election outcomes, though he did not provide evidence to support those claims.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that the state’s prolonged counting process was creating uncertainty in key contests, including the Los Angeles mayoral race and the election to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. He also referenced a possible investigation by federal authorities, although details about any such inquiry have not been publicly confirmed.
Trump later expanded his criticism, focusing on California’s top-two primary system. Under that system, all candidates appear on a single ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election. Trump claimed the ongoing ballot count could affect which candidates ultimately move forward.
According to reports, Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra currently occupy the top two positions in the race to replace Newsom, though a substantial number of ballots remain uncounted. Election officials have cautioned that standings may continue to shift as additional votes are processed.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass is leading the field and appears likely to advance to a runoff election. Spencer Pratt, a registered Republican and television personality, is currently in second place, while City Council member Nithya Raman remains within range as vote counting continues.
Newsom’s office responded to Trump’s allegations on social media, rejecting the claims and defending California’s election procedures. State officials have consistently maintained that the vote-counting process is designed to prioritize ballot security, voter participation, and accuracy over rapid reporting.
California has long taken more time than many other states to finalize election results. Election experts note that changes in reported vote percentages can occur as counties update turnout projections, process new batches of ballots, and refine estimates of outstanding votes.
Critics of the system argue that extended counting periods and changing projections can create confusion and undermine public confidence. Supporters, however, contend that careful verification helps ensure that every eligible ballot is properly counted and that election results are accurate.
Several factors contribute to California’s lengthy counting process. The state mails ballots to all registered voters and relies heavily on vote-by-mail participation. Ballots postmarked by Election Day can arrive up to seven days later and still be counted. In addition, election officials must verify signatures, review provisional ballots, examine damaged ballots, and complete mandatory audits before results can be certified, a process that can take up to 30 days.