With 82.5% of precincts reporting, Republican Pete Peterson and Democrat Alex Padilla are locked in a neck-and-neck battle in the California Secretary of State race, although both will ultimately move on to the general election in November, according to the Los Angeles Times election results tracker.
California’s primary employs a “top two” system, in which the two candidates receiving the most votes, regardless of party, advance to the general election.
While about 4,000 precincts await results, Padilla leads Peterson 29.9% to 29.6%. Just 7,000 votes separate the candidates, who were both widely expected to win the primary.
Perhaps the most significant news to come out of the race is that state Sen. Leland Yee, who dropped out after being indicted on corruption and gun-running charges but whose name remains on the ballot, looks like he will finish a strong third, ahead of Independent candidate Dan Schnur. It was Yee’s indictment in March that opened up the race to allow Peterson and Padilla an easier path to victory.