Leading up to the June 2 California primary election, NBC Los Angeles will provide detailed updates on the races, candidates and issues impacting voters.
Here’s what’s happening on Thursday: Voter enthusiasm appears to be lukewarm while the war of words remains fiery on the Los Angeles mayoral campaign trail.
Low turnout so far
Less than a week before Election Day, 122 voting centers are open across Los Angeles County. And by Saturday, more than 500 additional polling places will be operating.
Voters already have had nearly a month to vote as the LA County government began sending out vote-by-mail ballots at the end of April.
Whether it’s their dissatisfaction with candidates or distrust of elected officials, a large majority of registered voters in LA County have yet to cast their ballots.
The LA County Registrar Recorder’s Office said about 455,000 voters have returned their mail-in ballots as of Wednesday. That’s less than 8% of the 5.5 million people who are registered to vote in LA County.
Officials continue to urge people to vote early, reminding them there are 400 ballot boxes across the county.
Who will get Newsom’s blessing?
“I’m the Jerry Brown of this cycle,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday, refusing to publicly endorse any of the 61 candidates who are running to succeed him as California’s governor.
Brown famously declined to endorse Newsom during the 2018 Democratic primary as he traditionally avoided taking sides. Brown had said he wanted Democratic voters to decide for themselves without putting his thumb on the scale. Newsom was able to get Brown’s endorsement after the June primary.
Newsom has worked with most of the leading Democratic candidates: Xavier Becerra was his attorney general before Becerra was picked to become President Biden’s Health and Human Services secretary. Antonio Villaraigosa, once a gubernatorial foe, was named Newsom’s infrastructure czar in 2022.
On Thursday, Newsom endorsed Mayor Karen Bass in her re-election campaign.
‘Spencer is just mad.’
Nithya Raman may have accused Spencer Pratt of teaming up with Mayor Karen Bass during NBCLA’s mayoral debate to take down the progressive city councilmember. But gloves appear to be off now between Bass and Pratt.
Pratt this week accused Bass of violating election laws because of a campaign video that showed the incumbent next to a ballot drop box.
As candidates are legally prohibited from campaigning within 100 feet of a polling place, Pratt accused Bass of engaging in illegal electioneering, prompting his lawyer to file a complaint and call for an immediate investigation.
In response, Bass’ campaign team replied, “Spencer is just mad that his supporters are AI cartoons and we have real Angelenos.”
Ouch.