ca governor race results: Top 5 things you need to know about this historic showdown
- Voter turnout shattered records as turnout surpassed 78%, driven by a surge in mail-in ballots and early voting, which accounted for nearly 60% of all votes cast—a new state record.
- The leading candidate, Gavin Newsom, secured a decisive victory with 67.5% of the vote, despite facing a recall attempt earlier this year, marking the largest margin of victory for a California governor since 1950.
- Key swing counties like Orange and San Diego shifted blue by over 10 points compared to the 2020 election, reflecting a growing distaste for controversial recall efforts that galvanized Democratic voters.
- A surprise surge from third-party candidates, including a Green Party contender who raked in 3.2% of the vote, siphoned crucial support from the GOP runner-up, ultimately widening Newsom's lead in early projections.
- Exit polls revealed that abortion rights and climate change were the top motivators for voters, with 71% citing these issues as "extremely important," a major factor that neutralized Republican attacks on crime and housing costs.