Real-Time Results: Petaluma Primary Election 2026

PETALUMA, CA — The polls are closed in Sonoma County, and voters will soon know which two candidates survived the crowded contest for governor, as well a long list of candidates for congressional, state, and local seats, as well as the SMART tax extension, Measure B.

Meanwhile, eight candidates are running for governor. Heading into election day, polls showed Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton leading a crowded field including top contenders Chad Bianco, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, and Antonio Villaraigosa. It’s been a scandal-plagued primary season without a clear frontrunner, dampening voter enthusiasm and early voting turnout on the left.

Early results yielded surprises. With 71.5 percent of California's 19,788 precincts reporting as of 9:50 p.m. the results include:

• Hilton led the gubernatorial race with 26.7 percent of total votes
• Democrat Xavier Becerra trailed Hilton with 25.8 percent of total votes
• Tom Steyer was running in third with 19.7 percent of total votes

The outcome of down-ballot primary races also hangs in the balance in Petaluma, including federal, state, and local seats, as well as the closely-watched Measure B.

In addition, one of Petaluma's most watched races, District 2 Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, appeared relatively close.

Scroll down for real-time Sonoma County election results.

Click here to track your ballot and make sure it is counted.

As of April, the California Secretary of State reported that 23,112,854 Californians were registered to vote, which accounts for almost 84 percent of the state's eligible voting population.

Not surprisingly, there are far more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state, with 45 percent for the former and 25 percent for the latter.

In Sonoma County, the rate of voter registration is high. As of April, it was 89 percent — with 55 percent of voters registered as Democrats, 18 percent as Republicans.

Can't see the results below? Click here for all June 2, 2026, Primary Sonoma County election updates.

Scroll to select the race of your choice in the results below.

Voters returned their ballots later than normal

Voter turnout may be a mixed bag this primary season as voters decided which two candidates will vie in the general election to be the next governor of the Golden State. Top ticket races such the gubernatorial contest usually generate high voter turnout. But that may not be the case this year as the lack of a clear frontrunner appears to have dampened enthusiasm among early voters.

Even Democrats who typically have a high turnout in primary elections — often older, white voters — have been slow to drop off their ballots, said Paul Mitchell, a Democratic strategist tracking ballot returns.

“My joke is: Call your Democratic parents and tell them to turn in their ballot,” he said. “They are holding onto the ballot because they have seen this kind of topsy-turvy governor’s race. They’re waiting to make sure they’re making the right choice.”

About 10% of the state's roughly 23 million voters had voted as of Wednesday, according to Mitchell's tracker. That includes about 15% of Republicans, 10% of Democrats and 7% of voters registered with no or another party. That breakdown is unusual because Democrats in recent years have tended to vote early while many Republicans wait until Election Day.

Races to watch in Petaluma

The only countywide measure for Sonoma County voters is Measure B for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District.

Voters will decide whether to extend an existing quarter-cent sales tax — one already in place and currently being paid — that funds the SMART commuter train running through Sonoma and Marin counties.

Without this extension, the tax expires in 2029 and the train's funding disappears with it, officials said. Approving the measure would keep the tax in place for 30 more years, generating around $51 million per year to maintain train and bike/pedestrian pathway operations, expand the rail line to planned destinations, and keep service running for commuters, seniors, students, and low-income riders.

About 70 percent of Sonoma County voters had approved the measure as by 9:45 p.m., with 66,105 votes cast. A little more than 29 percent rejected the measure, which would continue a tax that already exists rather than create a new one.

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors — District 2

The Sonoma County 2nd District supervisor race flipped from a two-challenger contest into a crowded four-way battle after Supervisor David Rabbitt announced March 6 that he would not seek re-election. His decision triggering a scramble across southern Sonoma County to assemble new campaigns for a competitive race among four candidates.

• John E. King - Operating engineer/farmer
• Sylvia Lemus - Councilmember/businesswoman/mom
• Shelina Moreda - Professional athlete/farmer
• Joanna Paun - Trustee, Petaluma Joint Union High School District, Area 5

Congress

U.S. Representative, 2nd District

Democratic incumbent Rep. Jared Huffman is being challenged by several candidates who share concerns prevalent in Sonoma County, such as climate change, the economy and the future of public lands.

The challengers include:

• Gregory Burgess - Elder caregiver
• Tim Geist- Retired researcher
• Jared Huffman - U.S. representative
• Robin Littau - Enterprise elementary school board member
• Nicolette Hahn Niman - Author/rancher/mother

State Senator

The 2026 election for California's 2nd Senate District is an open seat contest. The current officeholder, Senate Mike McGuire, is terming out and pursuing a run for the U.S. House. The district encompasses Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Sonoma and Trinity counties.

• Damon Connolly (Democrat) — A current state Assemblymember. He has accumulated endorsements including from McGuire, State Attorney General Rob Bonta, four of the five Humboldt County Supervisors and Congressman Jared Huffman.
• Tief Gibbs (Republican) — a co-owner of a vintage car business in Novato who ran for Congress in 2024 but fell short in the Republican primary.
• Aaron Smith (Republican) — filed in Sonoma County.

The top two finishers in the June 2 primary will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

State Assembly, 12th District

California's 12th Assembly District race is wide open in 2026, with incumbent Damon Connolly leaving the seat to run for State Senate. The district covers nearly half of Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Cotati.

Six Democrats have filed to replace him:

• Holli Thier - A Tiburon councilmember who received an endorsement from Equality California.
• Eric Lucan - A county supervisor who led the field at the California Democratic Party's pre-endorsing conference.
• Jackie Elward- A Rohnert Park councilmember who received the second most support at the California Democratic Party's pre-endorsing conference.
• Eli Beckman - A Corte Madera councilmember and business owner. He also received an endorsement from Equality California.
• Eryn Cervantes - A correctional counselor
• Steve Schwartz - A farmer who previously ran for the seat in 2022.

The top two finishers in the June 2 primary will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

State Senator

The 2026 election for California's 2nd Senate District is an open seat contest. The current officeholder, Senate Mike McGuire, is terming out and pursuing a run for the U.S. House. The district encompasses Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity counties.

• Damon Connolly (Democrat) — A current state Assemblymember. He has accumulated endorsements including from McGuire, State Attorney General Rob Bonta, four of the five Humboldt County Supervisors and Congressman Jared Huffman.
• Tief Gibbs(Republican) — a co-owner of a vintage car business in Novato who ran for Congress in 2024 but fell short in the Republican primary.
• Aaron Smith (Republican) — filed in Sonoma County.

The top two finishers in the June 2 primary will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

County Offices

• County Superintendent of Schools — Amy Carter, Incumbent running unopposed
• Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector —Amanda Ruch, Incumbent running unopposed
• County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor —Deva Marie Proto, Incumbent running unopposed
• Judge of the Superior Court Judge, Office #10 — David Kim, Incumbent running unopposed

State Offices

State Superintendent of Public Instruction

• Richard Barrera - State Superintendent Advisor
• Wendy Castaneda Leal - School District Superintendent
• Frank Lara - Teacher/Union VP
• Ainye Long - Public School Teacher
• Gus Mattammal - Educator/Executive/Author
• Al Muratsuchi - Assemblymember/Classroom Educator
• Josh Newman - Educator/Strategic Advisor
• Nichelle M. Henderson - College Trustee/Teacher
• Anthony Rendon - Democracy Advocate/Educator
• Sonja Shaw - School District President

Gubernatorial Primary Offices

California voters headed to the polls Tuesday, facing concerns over homelessness, wildfire insurance shortages, budget deficits and soaring housing costs, as a high-profile gubernatorial primary and several competitive congressional races tested the state’s political landscape.

The governor’s race was defined by record spending, scandal and Democratic anxiety over California’s top-two primary system. Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer poured more than $195 million into television, cable and radio advertising — the largest political ad campaign in the nation this year — drawing criticism from opponents who accused him of trying to buy the governorship. Former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra emerged as Steyer’s chief Democratic rival after former Rep. Eric Swalwell ended his campaign amid sexual assault allegations.

Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton, backed by President Donald Trump, also remained a top contender in polling alongside Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, fueling fears among Democrats that a split Democratic vote could allow two Republicans to advance to the November general election. Under California’s election system, the top two finishers advance regardless of party.

Congressional Races

Congressional races across California were also under intense scrutiny following voter approval of Proposition 50, a partisan redistricting measure expected to reshape the state’s political map. Democrats are targeting several Republican-held seats as they seek to overturn the GOP’s slim House majority.

One of the most closely watched contests is in Southern California’s 40th District, where longtime Republican Rep. Ken Calvert faces fellow Republican Rep. Young Kim after redistricting combined portions of the Inland Empire and Orange County. The bitter campaign featured both candidates accusing the other of disloyalty to Trump.

In Northern California, the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s former 1st District is expected to favor Democrats after district boundaries shifted west and south, while Sacramento-area District 6 and Central Valley District 22 are also expected to be fiercely contested.

In Southern California’s newly redrawn 48th District, longtime Republican Rep. Darrell Issa opted to retire rather than seek reelection in a district that now leans Democratic. Republican San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond entered the race with Issa’s endorsement but faced a crowded field of Democratic and Republican challengers in a district spanning parts of San Diego and Riverside counties.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.