California's primary election is marked by low turnout and a pending surge of mail-in ballots, delaying final results. Key points: 1) Early returns may show a 'Red Mirage' of Republican votes, but a 'blue shift' is expected as Democratic ballots are counted later.
2) Billionaire Tom Steyer has spent a record $213 million on his gubernatorial campaign, but wealthy candidates have historically fared poorly in California. 3) Voters are considering multiple tax measures amid high cost of living concerns, with 44% citing it as the top issue.
The outcome remains uncertain as ballots continue to arrive.