Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has renewed his criticism of California’s election system and Governor Gavin Newsom, citing the state's extended ballot counting timeline as a flaw in its civic culture. The comments came on Thursday as hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots continued to be processed for several key races, including the Los Angeles mayoral primary.
Contrasting Election Systems
In a post on X, DeSantis highlighted the disparity between Florida’s rapid tabulation and California’s slower process. "Florida processes more than 10 million votes in a matter of hours. California takes days — or sometimes even weeks — to count the votes," he wrote. He described the situation as "pathetic" and argued it is corrosive to civic culture.
The difference stems from distinct policy approaches. Florida overhauled its system after the 2000 election, requiring mail ballots to be received by Election Day and limiting signature cure periods. Conversely, California prioritizes voter access. Every registered voter receives a mail ballot, and those postmarked by Election Day can still be counted if received within seven days. Counties have up to 30 days for the official canvass.
Impact on Los Angeles Mayoral Race
The ongoing count has directly influenced perceptions of the LA mayoral primary. DeSantis pointed to a Polymarket post showing declining odds for reality TV star Spencer Pratt, suggesting that "vote dumps" were shifting results in favor of incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
However, official data shows only modest shifts. As of Wednesday afternoon, Bass’s share rose slightly from 34.78% to 34.97%, while Pratt slipped from 30.44% to 29.91%. City Councilmember Nithya Raman also saw a small gain. No credible reports indicate widespread fraud affecting the 2026 primary.
Historical Context of the Feud
This latest exchange continues the long-standing rivalry between DeSantis and Newsom, which gained national attention during their 2023 televised debate. The conflict often centers on governance styles and policy differences, with both governors using high-profile issues to draw contrasts.
