California, Iowa, 4 Other States Hold Primaries: Key Races to Watch

The California gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral primaries are among the most closely watched races today.

A drive-up ballot box for early Iowa primary voters outside the Johnson County Administration Building in Iowa City, Iowa, on May 22, 2026. Charlie Neibergall/Getty Images

A drive-up ballot box for early Iowa primary voters outside the Johnson County Administration Building in Iowa City, Iowa, on May 22, 2026. Charlie Neibergall/Getty Images

Voters in six states will go to the polls today for a series of key races.

The biggest item of the night will be the litany of races in California, the nation’s largest state. Others will be held in Iowa, Montana, New Mexico, New Jersey, and South Dakota.