Californians vote in critical primaries for governor and Congress, with fears that a split vote in the open-primary system could allow a Republican to advance past the incumbent Democrat.

Californians have their final chance to vote Tuesday in a fiercely contested gubernatorial primary ahead of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s mandate coming to an end at the end of the year. The state's open-primary system, which allows the two best-performing candidates to advance regardless of party, has raised fears among Democrats that a split vote will pave the way for a Republican victory.