Gov. Jerry Brown easily advances in California primary; will try for record fourth term

Gov. Jerry Brown has easily advanced to the general election, setting up a historic bid for his fourth term as California governor.

In early returns from Tuesday’s primary, the Democratic governor led a large field of gubernatorial candidates.

It’s the first election for statewide office held under California’s new primary system, in which the top two vote-getters advance regardless of party affiliation.

The leading candidates seeking to challenge him in November are Republicans Tim Donnelly, a state lawmaker, and Neel Kashkari, a former U.S. Treasury official who led the bank bailout. That contest remained too close to call.

Brown said he planned to “campaign hard” and take nothing for granted in November. He has amassed more than $21 million in his campaign account but has barely campaigned so far.