Live updates: Polls close in California as midterm matchups take shape in Iowa, New Jersey and 3 other states

Primary elections in six U.S. states—California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota—delivered critical midterm race updates on Wednesday. In California, the gubernatorial primary to succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom remained too close to call with 50% of votes counted, featuring Republican Steve Hilton at 27%, Democrat Xavier Becerra at 26%, and Democrat Tom Steyer at 20%. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco trailed at 11%, leaving only the top two candidates advancing to the general election. In Iowa, businessman Zach Lahn defeated Rep. Randy Feenstra in the Republican primary for governor, rejecting President Donald Trump’s late endorsement. Lahn will now face Democrat Rob Sand, the state auditor, in the November general election. This marked the first midterm primary loss for a Trump-backed candidate in a gubernatorial race. California also saw competitive House primaries and a mayoral runoff in Los Angeles, where Democrat Karen Bass advanced to face another candidate for a second term. Meanwhile, Iowa’s results solidified at least two key House matchups that could influence control of the U.S. House in November, where Republicans hold a narrow majority. The California governor race remains fluid, with Becerra and Steyer both emphasizing underdog narratives as vote counts extend. Hilton’s lead over Becerra narrowed as ballots continued to be processed, underscoring the state’s highly contested primary. The outcomes will shape the November landscape, particularly in California’s high-stakes political races.