California Democratic race too early to call as polls close

Hillary Clinton opens early lead in Califorinia

(Image credit: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

published 8 June 2016

The polls have closed in California, the last state voting in the 2016 presidential nominating contests, and the one with the largest number of Democratic delegates up for grabs. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton both campaigned heavily in the state, and the polls show them within a few points of each other. In the first results, Clinton has a 25-point lead, but "remember that it's wise not to get carried away by the very first numbers you see," cautions David Wasserman at FiveThirtyEight. Clinton will probably do well among early absentee voters, and Sanders will likely do well among people who voted on Tuesday, he said. "So, don't be surprised if we see the margin see-saw quite a bit over the course of the night."

Eight years ago, Clinton won the California primary then quickly conceded the race to Barack Obama. The Clinton and Sanders campaigns have been talking, The New York Times reports, but Sanders is not prepared to concede.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.