Voters in six states—California, Iowa, New Jersey, Montana, South Dakota, and New Mexico—headed to the polls on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, to determine candidates for critical gubernatorial, Senate, and House races. The primaries set the stage for November’s general election, with control of Congress and key state governorships hanging in the balance.
California’s Gubernatorial Scramble and Mayoral Runoff
California’s primary system, which advances the top two vote-getters regardless of party affiliation, has left the state’s gubernatorial race in a state of flux. With Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom term-limited, the field of over 60 candidates has been narrowed, though the final contenders remain unclear. According to NBC News, the state’s notoriously slow vote-counting process means final outcomes for the tightest contests could take days or weeks.
Current reporting from The Guardian indicates that Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra are leading the pack for the two slots. Tom Steyer is trailing as the third major contender. The race saw a major shift earlier in the cycle when former Representative Eric Swalwell withdrew following allegations of sexual misconduct. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass successfully advanced to a runoff election, though as of Wednesday, the second candidate to join her on the November ballot has yet to be called by the Associated Press, as reported by The Press Democrat.
Democratic Senate Hopes and Congressional Battles in Iowa
Iowa has emerged as a focal point for Democrats attempting to reclaim a path to the Senate majority. State Representative Josh Turek secured the Democratic nomination for the open U.S. Senate seat, setting up a contest against Ashley Hinson, a former television anchor and state senator endorsed by Donald Trump and retiring Senator Joni Ernst. In the race for the governor’s mansion, Zach Lahn narrowly claimed the Republican nomination and will face Democrat Rob Sand in November.
According to NPR, these races are central to the Democratic Party’s strategy to flip Republican-leaning states. Additionally, Christina Bohannan won the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s 1st congressional district and will challenge incumbent Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks. The intensity of these races reflects a broader, nationwide effort by both parties to secure slim legislative majorities.
Medical Scrutiny and Political Transitions in New Jersey
In New Jersey, the 7th congressional district race has gained national attention. Democratic voters selected Rebecca Benett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, to challenge incumbent Republican Representative Tom Kean Jr. The race is viewed as a high-stakes contest, particularly as Kean has faced scrutiny for missing over 100 House votes due to an undisclosed medical issue. In the 12th district, Adam Hamawy, an army doctor who entered politics after a medical mission in Gaza in 2024, won the Democratic nomination to face Republican Gregg Mele.
White House Briefing on Presidential Health
While election results dominated the headlines, the health of the presidency remained a subject of public discourse. Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, addressed questions regarding President Trump’s recent medical checkups at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Despite public skepticism surrounding the President’s health—often fueled by reports of him appearing to fall asleep during meetings or exhibiting physical symptoms like swelling—Oz maintained that the President’s health metrics are excellent.
“I think he likes the results. He does really well. He aces the test every single day.”Dr.
Oz further characterized the President’s frequent medical exams—three in the last 13 months—as a product of his desire to remain in control of his own data.
“I do actually believe that he’s curious to make sure everything’s going in the right direction, for him to want to know the numbers and keep on top of it. It’s the same reason he calls people at odd hours, because something’s on his mind and he wants to deal with it.”Dr.
Looking Toward November
The primary results from June 2 serve as a clear indicator of the political landscape heading into the fall. In New Mexico, Deb Haaland’s victory in the Democratic gubernatorial primary positions her to potentially become the first Native American woman elected governor in U.S. history. With the general election set for November, the next few months will see intensified campaigning in the battleground districts of New Jersey, Iowa, and California. Voters, particularly in states like California, will continue to watch for final vote tallies as the electoral process concludes in the coming weeks.
