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John Cox, a Republican business owner who has tried and failed for nearly two decades to win elected office, snagged a spot in the November runoff for California governor with the help of President Donald Trump, but that support could hurt him in the winner-take-all race with Democrat Gavin Newsom. Cox got about a quarter of the votes counted so far in Tuesday's election to easily outdistance former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for second to Newsom, who won by a comfortable margin. Cox had been struggling to break clear of fellow Republican Travis Allen until Trump tweeted his endorsement two weeks ago — 273 characters that rallied the president's fans but set up a hyper-partisan battle with Newsom. (Cooper, 6/6)

“It looks like voters will have a real choice this November — between a governor who is going to stand up to Donald Trump and a foot soldier in his war on California,” Mr. Newsom told hundreds of supporters at a San Francisco nightclub, as he pledged to push for guaranteed health care for all and “a Marshall Plan for affordable housing.” Mr. Cox, speaking to friends and donors in San Diego, continually painted Mr. Newsom as “part of the status quo” and knocked the Democrat's attacks on Mr. Trump. (Nagourney and Burns, 6/6)

Gov. Scott Walker's latest television ad released Tuesday features a doctor touting the Republican's support for a plan to stabilize the health insurance market but ignores his yearslong attempt to undercut the federal law designed to broaden access to insurance coverage. Democrats accuse Walker of being a hypocrite for supporting the plan to stabilize insurance markets after he's spent years trying to repeal the federal health care law championed by President Barack Obama. (Bauer, 6/5)