> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://ivn.us/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # No, It's Not Fraud. It is Steyer $$$$... - URL: https://ivn.us/newsletter-6-10-2026/ - Published: 2026-06-10T18:49:15.000Z - Updated: 2026-06-10T18:49:14.000Z - Description: and Maine's biggest story has nothing to do with Graham Platner - Author: IVN Editorial Board - Tags: Weekly Newsletter The President spent the day after the election on Truth Social calling California a "third-world nation" because Los Angeles takes more than one night to count its ballots. Slow counting isn't fraud. And the actual story has nothing to do with rigged machines. [It's Tom Steyer's $$$$](https://ivn.us/it-wasnt-fraud-its-steyer/). Steyer dropped more than $200 million of his own money into the California governor's race that was reportable. He also spent unknown amounts funding the turnout operations of organizations his progressive positioning spoke to, including the Democratic Socialists of America, Our Revolution, the Working Families Party, and labor groups that endorsed his "outsider" candidacy. All perfectly legal. That's why Karen Bass woke up the morning after election day expecting Spencer Pratt in November and got Nithya Raman instead. CNN's Harry Enten said it plainly: "She wanted to face Pratt. She wanted nothing to do with Raman." The rules may be worth a debate. But there was no wholesale cheating. [There was a billionaire](https://ivn.us/it-wasnt-fraud-its-steyer/). Elsewhere, IVN exposed several other stories the national narrative has missed, including: - [In Oklahoma, election officials rejected nearly 58,000 signatures](https://ivn.us/oklahoma-rejected-nearly-58-000-signatures-for-open-primaries-now-voters-want-answers/) from an open primaries petition. Voters are demanding answers. - [In Maine, the story everyone's ignoring isn't a candidate's sexting scandal](https://ivn.us/maines-best-political-story-has-nothing-to-do-with-graham-platners-sexting/). It's a quiet shift that could reshape how the state votes. - [In New Mexico, the tired myth that independent voters are too apathetic to show up just died](https://ivn.us/the-myth-of-independent-voter-apathy-dies-in-new-mexico/) a very public death. Check out more stories that go outside the two-sided narrative below. ### *FEATURED ▶▶▶* ## It Wasn't Fraud. It's Steyer $$$$. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/06/tom-steyer-california-primary-turnout.webp)](https://ivn.us/it-wasnt-fraud-its-steyer/) The conspiracy theory is that California cheated. The reality is that Top Two forced Democrats to fight each other in public. The President called it fraud. CNN's Harry Enten called that "the dumbest conspiracy theory I have ever heard." The truth is far simpler - and far more revealing. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was supposed to coast into a second term against a Republican in a city where Democrats outnumber the GOP three to one. Instead, she's facing fellow Democrat Nithya Raman in November, and **the reason isn't a rigged count**. It's Tom Steyer's money and a primary system that forced Democrats to fight each other in public. California's Top Two primary doesn't protect incumbents or guarantee partisan outcomes - it makes every candidate earn it. That's exactly why party insiders hate it, and **exactly why it works**. [**Read the full breakdown on IVN →**](https://ivn.us/it-wasnt-fraud-its-steyer/) [READ NOW](https://ivn.us/it-wasnt-fraud-its-steyer/) ### *POPULAR ON IVN ▶▶▶* [Maine's Best Political Story Has Nothing to Do with Graham Platner's Sexting ](https://ivn.us/maines-best-political-story-has-nothing-to-do-with-graham-platners-sexting/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/Cara-McCormick-IVN.png) Cara Brown McCormick [ ![Maine ranked choice voting candidates](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/06/hannah-pingree-Shenna-Bellows-Troy-Jackson.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/maines-best-political-story-has-nothing-to-do-with-graham-platners-sexting/) [The Last Trusted Americans: Veterans Lead the Way in Independent Campaigns ](https://ivn.us/the-last-trusted-americans-veterans-lead-the-way-in-independent-campaigns/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/05/matt-shinners.png) Matt Shinners [ ![Veterans lead the way in independent campaigns](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/06/independent-veterans-lead-the-way-candidates-reform.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/the-last-trusted-americans-veterans-lead-the-way-in-independent-campaigns/) [Oklahoma Rejected Nearly 58,000 Signatures for Open Primaries. Now Voters Want Answers. ](https://ivn.us/oklahoma-rejected-nearly-58-000-signatures-for-open-primaries-now-voters-want-answers/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/dJY12ln-_400x400.jpg) Shawn Griffiths [ ![Oklahoma open primaries](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/06/oklahoma-open-primaries-3.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/oklahoma-rejected-nearly-58-000-signatures-for-open-primaries-now-voters-want-answers/) [Mississippi Independent Ty Pinkins Wants to Break Big Money's Grip on the Senate ](https://ivn.us/ty-pinkins-makes-the-case-for-sending-an-independent-caucus-to-the-senate/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/05/matt-shinners.png) Matt Shinners [ ![Ty Pinkins](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/06/ty-pinkins.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/ty-pinkins-makes-the-case-for-sending-an-independent-caucus-to-the-senate/) [New Mexico's First Semi-Open Primary Exposed the Cost of Locking Voters Out ](https://ivn.us/new-mexicos-first-semi-open-primary-exposed-the-cost-of-locking-voters-out/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/dJY12ln-_400x400.jpg) Shawn Griffiths [ ![New Mexico first open primary](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/06/new-mexico-holds-first-open-primary.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/new-mexicos-first-semi-open-primary-exposed-the-cost-of-locking-voters-out/) [The Myth of Independent Voter Apathy Dies in New Mexico ](https://ivn.us/the-myth-of-independent-voter-apathy-dies-in-new-mexico/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/06/1517747530842.jpg) Jeremy Gruber [ ![New Mexico independent voters](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/06/new-mexico-independent-voters.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/the-myth-of-independent-voter-apathy-dies-in-new-mexico/) [The Top Two Panic Wasn't Analysis. It Was Political Manipulation. ](https://ivn.us/the-top-two-panic-wasnt-analysis-it-was-political-manipulation/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/06/UELDiNlS_400x400.jpg) Open Primaries [ ![California voters June 2 primary](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/06/California-voters-June-2-primary.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/the-top-two-panic-wasnt-analysis-it-was-political-manipulation/) ### *POLL RESULTS ▶▶▶* ## We Were Right: Becerra Rides Latino Support to Win Primary [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/06/IVP-_-Independent-Voter-Survey-_-Latino-Primary-_-May-2026_CA-Gubernatorial-Race_Bar-chart.png)](https://ivn.us/poll-only-22-of-latino-voters-support-return-to-partisan-primaries-bacerra-big-lead-for-governor/) The [Independent Voter Project poll](https://ivn.us/poll-only-22-of-latino-voters-support-return-to-partisan-primaries-bacerra-big-lead-for-governor/) got it right. While other pollsters spun narratives that didn't hold up, we showed Xavier Becerra surging into a commanding lead well before the results confirmed it - making us **the first poll to call his rise** and the strength he'd carry with Latino voters, the fastest-growing bloc in the state. As Becerra heads toward a traditional R-vs-D general against Steve Hilton, the "two Republicans will advance" panic looks exactly like the manufactured fear we said it was. And on the question of open primaries themselves? Those same Latino voters made their position clear: **only 22%** want to go back to closed partisan primaries. [SEE POLL RESULTS](https://ivn.us/poll-only-22-of-latino-voters-support-return-to-partisan-primaries-bacerra-big-lead-for-governor/) ### *NEW EPISODE ▶▶▶* ## Independent Voter Podcast Fresh off the California gubernatorial primary, Chad, Cara, and Ethan break down why the "Top Two will produce two Republicans" narrative was a manufactured fear - and why it collapsed the moment voters actually voted, with Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra heading toward a traditional R-vs-D general. [WATCH NOW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwwAJiFSQMk&ref=ivn.us) ### *GOING VIRAL ▶▶▶* ## Flashback: CA Independents Locked Out of Primaries Pre-Top-Two [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/06/PreTopTwo_Flashback_IG.png)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYNyK62iUll/?ref=ivn.us) Remember when California independents were "second class citizens"? Before 2010, political parties got to decide - election by election - whether to even let independents vote in their primaries. In heavily one-sided districts, that meant millions of NPP voters had no real say in who represented them. Our video showing news coverage of the effort to pass the Top-Two primary has racked up over a **million views** on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYNyK62iUll/?ref=ivn.us). [WATCH NOW ON INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYNyK62iUll/?ref=ivn.us) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/05/jungle-320x50.gif)](https://yourprimary.com/?ref=ivn.us) ## NEW: Join the Conversation Now, when you [sign-up for an account on IVN](https://ivn.us/#/portal/signup), you can help frame, change, and inform the discussion. In fact, you can [submit your own news stories](https://ivn.us/publish/), as long as you follow the simple [IVN Etiquette](https://ivn.us/etiquette/). [SIGN UP NOW](https://ivn.us/#/portal/signup) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/05/omp-320x50-1.gif)](https://openmyprimary.org/?ref=ivn.us)