California’s Newsom cruises to easy primary victory

By ADAM BEAM
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has cruised to an easy primary victory. Early returns Tuesday showed the first-term Democrat with just over 60% of the votes to advance to the general election in November. His opponent will be little-known Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle. He was was a distant second with 15%. Newsom looked vulnerable last year after more than 1.7 million voters signed a petition to recall him from office. But he easily defeated that recall and now is an overwhelming favorite to win reelection. In the U.S. Senate primary, Democratic incumbent Alex Padilla — who Newsom appointed to the seat vacated by Kamala Harris — easily advanced to a November runoff. His likely opponent is Republican attorney Mark Meuser.