LA Mayor's Race Takes Turn After Video from Ballot Counting Facility LEAKS
Los Angeles Ballot Processing Facility Shows Empty Workstations Amid Large Backlog
A visit to the Los Angeles County ballot processing facility revealed numerous vacant workstations and understaffed areas at a time when hundreds of thousands of ballots remained unprocessed following the June 2 primary. The 144,000-square-foot center handles a significant volume of mail ballots for one of the largest voter rolls in the country.
Conditions Observed at the Facility
Reporters observed dozens of empty chairs and workstations across multiple sections. In an area designated for manual review of ballots that scanners could not process, approximately 25 bins of ballots sat ready while no employees were present at nearby desks. In another section responsible for opening envelopes and preparing ballots, roughly 75 workers were active, although the space could accommodate more than twice that number.
County officials announced Wednesday that 77,521 additional ballots had been processed since election night. An estimated 713,180 ballots remained outstanding at that time. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office operates with an annual budget of approximately $336 million and manages more than 1,100 budgeted positions. Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan oversees the department and earns $448,179 annually.
When asked about the appearance of understaffing despite the backlog, one election center staff member told reporters not to be “fooled by what you see” but offered no further explanation.
Political Reactions and Proposals
California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton called for the creation of an Emergency Election Count Accelerator Corps to provide additional personnel and resources to counties facing ballot-counting backlogs. He criticized the pace of results in the state.
“California is the laughing stock of the nation when it comes to election reporting. We are the fourth-largest economy in the world, home to Silicon Valley and some of the most advanced technology on earth, yet government bureaucrats need a month to count fewer than 10 million ballots.”
Hilton stated that any acceleration effort would comply with existing election laws and security procedures.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social about the counting process.
“The Dumocrats are at it again! They are trying to STEAL THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA PRIMARY, AND THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES, PRIMARY, AWAY FROM TWO GREAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES. Here we go with the very late and massive numbers of MAIL IN BALLOTS.”
Official Response
The office of Governor Gavin Newsom responded that there is misinformation circulating about California’s election process and shared an explainer video from CNN. The statement added that officials also wish the votes were counted faster.
Context and Comparisons
Los Angeles County has more than 5.8 million registered voters. Several other states that held elections on the same day have reported much higher percentages of ballots counted. New Jersey has reported roughly 93 percent, while New Mexico and Montana are approaching 98 percent.
The next update on Los Angeles County ballot counts is expected Thursday evening. With more than 700,000 ballots still outstanding, officials and observers have indicated that it could take weeks before final results are known in some races, including the Los Angeles mayoral contest and the gubernatorial primary.
The observations at the processing facility have added to ongoing scrutiny of election administration in California’s largest county and have prompted calls for faster processing while maintaining required verification procedures.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Drops HUGE Hint About 2028 - Democrats Just Got ROCKED
Washington, D.C. - June 10, 2026
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Leaves Door Open to 2028 Presidential Run While Prioritizing Healthcare
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has not ruled out a potential 2028 presidential campaign but has stated that expanding access to healthcare remains her primary focus. In recent comments to Fox News, she addressed speculation about her future in national politics.
“Could I be president? Could I not be president? Maybe, maybe not,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
She emphasized that the impact of policy outcomes matters more than holding any particular office.
“What matters more is that we guarantee healthcare in this country,” she told Fox News Digital.
Ocasio-Cortez indicated that pursuing higher office could conflict with her legislative priorities.
“There’s a world where in order to do that, I shouldn’t have that job,” she said. “There’s a world where, maybe. But the most important thing is getting everyone healthcare in this country.”
Her remarks come amid ongoing speculation among Democrats about potential 2028 presidential candidates. Several prominent figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are frequently mentioned as possible contenders.
Other Democratic Figures Address Future Plans
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has stated that he will not run for president in 2028. Moore, who is in the third year of his first term, said he remains focused on his responsibilities as governor and plans to seek reelection in Maryland next year.
“I’m not running,” Moore told The Associated Press.
He also clarified that he is not positioning himself for a potential vice presidential role and described his out-of-state travel as efforts to bring business opportunities back to Maryland.
Pete Buttigieg has continued to engage in media and public discussions following his time in the Biden administration. He has indicated that he is prioritizing conversations with voters and party members rather than pursuing specific offices in the immediate term.
Buttigieg told the Washington Examiner that he is using his voice in traditional and new media to discuss ways to improve outcomes for people who do not identify with established parties.
“I don’t know what that means for me, politically or professionally, a long way from making any decisions about that, but I know that’s what I need to be doing right now,” Buttigieg said.
Broader Context of Democratic Planning
Speculation about the 2028 Democratic field continues as the party assesses its direction following recent electoral outcomes. Ocasio-Cortez’s comments reflect a focus on policy priorities such as healthcare access, while other potential candidates have offered varying levels of clarity about their intentions.
Some healthcare experts have noted that government-provided healthcare systems in other countries face significant challenges, including high costs and access issues, though perspectives on these models differ.
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As Democratic figures continue to navigate their individual paths, the party’s approach to the next presidential cycle remains a subject of ongoing discussion among observers and participants.
