Candidates crisscrossed the state, on the eve of California’s primary election, to make their final pitch to voters before they head to the polls on Tuesday.
In the heated Los Angeles mayor’s race, incumbent Karen Bass spent the morning greeting hungry voters at Pann’s Restaurant before courting supporters at a cafe in San Pedro.
The Democratic mayor made a final stop later in the afternoon at Harold & Belles in South LA, according to her social media, where she talked about her plans to address the city’s affordability crisis and growing concern around homelessness.
“Visited Harold & Belle’s for a great meal and to connect with folks in South LA,” Bass said on X. “We’re building a safer and more affordable city for all.”
Nithya Raman, Bass’ colleague turned foe, also hit the campaign trail — pitching a message of change, while also seemingly giving a nod to challenger Spencer Pratt for recognizing the frustration among Angelenos.
“You know, I think Spencer Pratt is tapping into very really frustrations, that also prompted me to get into this race,” Raman told reporters outside the El Mercadito in East Los Angeles. “I think there is a real challenge that Angelenos are facing right now, they are looking at the direction of the city and feeling like it is moving in the wrong direction.”
The city councilmember said Bass has represented change in LA’s trajectory, but “we can do more.”
“I want people to feel a palpable change, and to trust that every dollar is being spent with accountability,” Raman said.
Meanwhile, Spencer Pratt remained largely out of the spotlight the day before the election.
His campaign team told The Post that the reality TV star spent the day meeting privately with voters to discuss their concerns in a more intimate setting, while spreading his message.
The crux of Pratt’s campaign has centered around the Palisades Fire — promising to expedite the building process, while also vowing to crack down on crime and homelessness.
In the governor’s race, former Biden administration official Xavier Becerra held a campaign event at Planned Parenthood in Sacramento.
The Democratic candidate told MediasTouch he’s “feeling pretty good” about the current state of the race, and seemingly called out challenge Tom Steyer for trying to buy the election.
“When you’ve got millions of dollars as a billionaire, you can put up pretty much any commercial you want,” Becerra told the outlet. “We’re going to rely on our momentum, we’ve got the momentum — someone’s got to snatch it from us, and we’re going to cross the finish line.”
Steyer spent the final day before the primary holding a get the youth vote event at UCLA.
The billionaire said it was a “fantastic” event, describing young people as “the beating heart of our democracy.”
“Young people know that their future is at stake, and they know we need a true fighter in the governor’s office to make that change happen,” Steyer said on X.
Republican candidate Steve Hilton spent Thursday night campaigning in Fresno, before making the trek down to Los Angeles.
He joined Newsmax Friday to offer a final pitch to voters — saying he is the candidate of “change.”
“I’m the only change candidate who’s got a shot at getting in the top two in tomorrow’s primary election,” Hilton told the outlet.
In his final message to voters, the former Fox News host encouraged Californians not to cast a ballot for his Republican counterpart, for Sheriff Chad Bianco, as it will only help Democrats.
“Don’t waste your vote on chad Bianco or any other candidate who doesn’t have a shot at being in the top two, it just helps the Democrats,” Hilton told the network.
California has a jungle primary system, meaning all candidates, regardless of political part appear on the same primary ballot with the top two voter-getters advancing to the general election.
Polls open at 7am on Tuesday and close at 8pm.
