Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom advance in California's top 2 races

California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is the frontrunner to replace Gov. Jerry Brown — (Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) easily made it on the ballot to seek re-election in November, and California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) earned a slot to replace outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown (D), The Associated Press and other news organizations project. California has a "jungle primary" system where the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, and Feinstein will face either former state Senate President Kevin de Leon (D) or one of several largely unknown Republicans.

NBC News projects that Newsom will face off against Republican businessman John Cox, though former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, in third place, has requested that voting be extended to Friday due to nearly 120,000 voters being left off the roster in Los Angeles County (they can vote via provisional ballot). If Cox wins, California's weakened Republicans won't be shut out of the state's top two races.

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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.