4:45 p.m. Supporters of Failed Prop
37 Say Campaign Brought National Attention to an
Important Issue
More than 4 million Californians voted for the
food labeling initiative, but that amounted to only 46 percent
of voters while 53 percent opposed.
David Murphy with Yes on 37 says the California campaign
succeeded in drawing national attention.
"This is a social movement," said Murphy. "Building
awareness about an issue, genetically-engineered foods, it wasn't
even on the on map five years ago, politically, in a national
conversation."
Murphy says the California initiative engaged over 10,000
volunteers. Stacy Malkan is with Yes on 37.
"It did build an organizing force that's ready to go forward,
with just so much passion and energy," she said.
The organizers are funneling that energy into passing labeling
initiatives in Washington state and Oregon, and rallying to push
legislation in Connecticut and Vermont.
A coalition of consumers groups and organic farmers is also
pressuring the Food and Drug Administration for national labeling
regulations.
The issue could be pushed to the forefront if the FDA
approves a variety of genetically-engineered salmon.
4:04 p.m. Senate Leader Steinberg Comments on New
Supermajority
California Democrats have captured a supermajority in the state
Senate, giving them the authority to raise taxes.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrel Steinberg says that doesn't mean
they will. He says Democrats will exercise their new power with
strength, humility and reason.
But he says it is time to reinvest.
"We're not going to just go do whatever we want to do and we
won't have the ability to restore all of the losses that have
occurred over the last four years, but we will take the opportunity
to fight for and restore some of the worst of the worst cuts that
have been made," said Steinberg.
In a statement, Senate Republican leader Bob Huff says
Republicans are committed to working with the Governor and
Democrats.
He added that doing so will require a focus on job creation,
quality education and improved oversight of taxpayer resources.
10:46 a.m. School Bond Measures Do Well
In Davis, Measure E, the local school parcel tax, appears to
have won with a margin of 68.9 percent "Yes." It required a
two-thirds majority to win, so that's a 2.2 percent
margin.
Other area school bond measures did well. These are all
measures to help pay for campus improvements -- everything from
fixing leaky windows to installing new technology.
In Sacramento, Measure Q collected 69 percent of the vote and
Measure R got 67 percent.
San Juan Unified's Measure N collected 58 percent of the vote,
and Folsom Cordova's Measure P came in with 69 percent.
8:00 a.m. Propositions Round-up
California voters approved about half of the 11 ballot
measures they faced at the polls.
Measures that Passed:
It was a major win for California Governor Jerry Brown, as
Californians approved Proposition 30 - his sales and income tax
measure.
Californians also approved Proposition 35, which increases
penalties for human trafficking…and 36, which changes the state's
three strikes law to allow for shorter sentences in some
cases.
Voters gave the go-ahead to Proposition 39, which changes the
way multi-state corporations pay California tax; many will pay
more.
And Californians overwhelmingly
approved Proposition 40, which was a referendum of the
state's new Senate district map. That means the current lines
drawn by the citizen's commission will stand.
Measures that Failed:
California voters rejected Proposition 31, which
would have changed the state budget process.
They also rejected Proposition 32, which would have
banned campaign contributions from corporations and
unions.
It was the most expensive battle on November's ballot. More
than 120 million dollars was raised to both fight and support the
measure.
Jake Suski is spokesman for the "Yes on 32"
campaign.
"The unions and the big corporations were in adamant
opposition to Prop 32 and the unions spent over 70 million dollars
fighting it, and at the end of the day those special interests came
out as victors in this election."
While labor led the No on Prop. 32 fight, businesses and
wealthy Republicans funded the opposing campaign.
Voters also rejected Proposition 33, which would
have let auto insurers charge drivers based on their history of
coverage.
Proposition 34 , which would repeal the death penalty -
is trailing, but too close to call. Voters
rejected Proposition. 37, which would have required labels on
products containing genetically modified ingredients.
And they said "no" to Proposition 38, the tax
measure that billed itself as a better alternative to Governor
Brown's measure.
8:00 a.m. Incumbents Hold Seats in Several
Congressional Races
Incumbents will hold on to their seats in several area
congressional races:
Stockton-area Democrat Jerry McNerny defeated Republican Ricky
Gill, 54% to 46%, in the 9th District.
Solano-area Democrat John Garamendi has defeated Republican
challenger Kim Vann in the 3rd district by a 54 to 46 percent
margin.
In the 6th District, Sacramento-area Democrat Doris Matsui
easily won her seat against Republican challenger Joseph McCray,
Senior, with 74 percent of the vote.
In the 10th District, Modesto-area Republican Jeff Denham has
defeated Democrat - and astronaut - Jose Hernandez, 54% to
46%.
In the U.S. Senate, Democrat Dianne Feinstein defeated
Republican challenger Elizabeth Emken 62% to 38%.
7:45 a.m. Voters Approve Proposition 30
After a campaign full of twists and turns, California voters
approved Governor Jerry Brown's sales and income tax measure - but
not without a suspenseful Election Night.
It's been the cornerstone of Jerry Brown's agenda since the
day he returned to the California governor's office: Win voter
approval of a tax measure to bring an end to the state's years of
never-ending budget deficits.
After a campaign full of twists and turns, voters approved the
governor's sales and income tax measure, Proposition 30 - 54
percent to 46 percent - but not without a suspenseful Election
Night.
Californians usually don't go for statewide tax measures.
They've rejected them the last seven times they've seen them
on the ballot. And late into Election Night, Prop 30's fate
was far from certain. Early returns showed the measure
trailing, then pulling even. Then, just as it took a narrow
lead after 11pm, Governor Brown took the stage at the Sheraton
Hotel in downtown Sacramento.
Brown: "Well, here we are. We have a vote of the people
- I think the only place in America where a state actually said,
let's raise our taxes for our kids, for our schools, for our
California dream."
It sounded like a victory speech…
Brown: "We had to overcome a lot of obstacles - we overcame
'em. Yes on 30, yes on our kids, yes on California!
We're all in it together. Thank you very much!"
Yet at that moment, less than half of the votes had actually
been counted. And opponents like Aaron McLear with the "No on
30" campaign held out hope a while longer.
McLear: "I think it's too early to tell. It's just after
midnight on Election Night. We have a lot of counties to
go."
It wasn't until after 3am that the Associated Press officially
declared Prop 30's passage.
7:15 a.m. Possible Supermajority in Both State and
Assembly
In a surprise development, Assembly Speaker John Perez says
Democrats have won two-thirds of the seats in the lower house. That
would give them the supermajority needed to pass tax increases
without Republican votes.
The contest that may put Democrats over the top in the Assembly
is between Fullerton Mayor Sharon Quick-Silva and Republican
Assemblyman Chris Norby. Quick-Silva is leading by about
one-thousand votes, with some mail ballots still to be counted.
Democrats were always expected to have a good shot at winning
two-thirds of the state Senate seats - but the Assembly is a
surprise. Perez says it will present a big opportunity his
party:
"What it means is that we can build in the success of the
past couple of years. It means that we'll have two thirds of
the members of both houses who are ready to roll up their sleeves
and focus on continuing the work we've done in terms of stabilizing
the economy and growing jobs."
Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg has not yet declared victory in
the upper house, but the races are trending toward a Democratic
supermajority.
If Democrats control two-thirds of both houses, it would also
allow them to override a Governor's veto and put constitutional
amendments on the ballot. The verdict is still out -
but it's looking like a real possibility.
7:15 a.m. Propositions Round-up
Californians reject Propositions 31, 33, 34, 37, approve
36, 35, 39
Three Strikes
California voters have approved reforming the nation's
toughest three strikes law to allow for shorter sentences.
Proposition 36 eliminates 25 years-to-life sentences for
inmates whose third felony conviction is not a serious or violent
crime.
Dan Newman, with the "Yes on 36" campaign, says the change
will save the state millions of dollars.
Newman: "It's a great victory for California taxpayers to keep
communities safe because we can focus those law enforcement
resources on violent and dangerous criminals instead of wasting
money the way we were under this flaw in the law."
Previously, any felony conviction, no matter how minor,
triggered the automatic sentence for an offender with two previous
felony convictions.
Opponents argued the law needed no alteration and was meant to
punish California's habitual offenders.
An effort to repeal California's death penalty appears headed
for defeat.
Death Penalty
Proposition 34 would have replaced the death penalty with life
without the possibility of parole.
Supporters of the repeal say the state is wasting money on
special housing and taxpayer financed appeals for inmates on death
row.
But Peter DeMarco, the spokesman for the "No on Prop 34"
campaign, says it appears that voters don't buy that
argument.
DeMarco: "In the onslaught of millions of dollars in
misleading advertising and claims that were never substantiated we
had a very strong message that said stand with the victims and
their families."
DeMarco says guaranteeing murderers lifetime housing and
healthcare would cost taxpayers more money.
With 75-percent of precincts reporting, the proposition was
failing 46 to 53-percent.
Others
For the second time in three years, California voters have
rejected a ballot initiative that would have let auto insurers
charge drivers based on their history of maintaining
coverage.
Proposition 33 failed with about 55 percent voting against
it.
Voters also rejected Prop 37 which would have required labels
on products containing genetically modified ingredients.
Californians voted in favor of Prop 35, increasing human
trafficking penalties.
And Proposition 39, which ends a tax break for some
businesses, passed.
It's expected to generate about a billion dollars a year
Three Strikes
California voters have approved reforming the nation's
toughest three strikes law to allow for shorter
sentences.
Proposition 36 eliminates 25 years-to-life sentences for
inmates whose third felony conviction is not a serious or violent
crime.
Dan Newman, with the "Yes on 36" campaign, says the change
will save the state millions of dollars.
Newman: "It's a great victory for California taxpayers to
keep communities safe because we can focus those law enforcement
resources on violent and dangerous criminals instead of wasting
money the way we were under this flaw in the law."
Previously, any felony conviction, no matter how minor,
triggered the automatic sentence for an offender with two previous
felony convictions.
Opponents argued the law needed no alteration and was meant
to punish California's habitual offenders.
An effort to repeal California's death penalty appears
headed for defeat.
Death Penalty
Proposition 34 would have replaced the death penalty with
life without the possibility of parole.
Supporters of the repeal say the state is wasting money on
special housing and taxpayer financed appeals for inmates on death
row.
But Peter DeMarco, the spokesman for the "No on Prop 34"
campaign, says it appears that voters don't buy that
argument.
DeMarco: "In the onslaught of millions of dollars in
misleading advertising and claims that were never substantiated we
had a very strong message that said stand with the victims and
their families."
DeMarco says guaranteeing murderers lifetime housing and
healthcare would cost taxpayers more money.
With 75-percent of precincts reporting, the proposition was
failing 46 to 53-percent.
Others
For the second time in three years, California voters have
rejected a ballot initiative that would have let auto insurers
charge drivers based on their history of maintaining
coverage.
Proposition 33 failed with about 55 percent voting against
it.
Voters also rejected Prop 37 which would have required
labels on products containing genetically modified
ingredients.
Californians voted in favor of Prop 35, increasing human
trafficking penalties.
And Proposition 39, which ends a tax break for some
businesses, passed.
It's expected to generate about a billion dollars a
year
6:15 a.m. Changes in School Bonds and Sales Taxes in
Sacramento
Tuesday's election resulted in a number of changes for the City
of Sacramento.
People who make purchases in the City of Sacramento will pay a
little more next year. Voters approved a half-cent sales tax
hike with the passage of Measure "U."
Measure "T," was ahead at last count. It would put the
method of trash collection back in the hands of the City
Council.
School bonds in the City and in the Folsom Cordova and San Juan
school districts all passed.
Who will serve on the City Council was not resolved last night.
The District Two and Four races are both too close too
call.
6:15 a.m. Lungren - Bera Race Too Close To
Call
The race for California's 7th congressional district is still
too close to call. Sacramento County has at least 50,000
vote-by-mail and provisional ballots to count.
The two were separated by a few hundred votes when elections
officials stopped counting for the night. Lungren
thanked supporters last night when it became apparent the race
might be too close to call.
Bera's campaign manager, Josh Wolf says the 50-50 split after
the absentee ballots were counted bodes well for the Bera
campaign.
The Secretary of State's office says about half of registered
voters requested vote-by-mail ballots. Many turned those
ballots into their polling places yesterday.
6:15 a.m. Lungren - Bera Agree on Need For
Reform
Dan Lungren and Ami Bera's Congressional race is still too close
too call. But, after a bitter fight, they have found
something to agree on - the need for campaign finance
reform.
Lungren says people should be able to give as much as they want
as long as the big donors are known to voters.
Lungren says: "If you gave over a certain amount, and we
could argue about whether it's $20,000 or $50,000 or whatever it
would be, that would have to be completed at least five days,
or maybe we do a week before the election so you wouldn't have this
spurt of money coming in the last 24 hours that voters wouldn't be
aware of."
Bera says there is legislation that has failed to pass through
Congress that could change how elections are funded.
Bera says: "I'd love to co-sponsor that and try to get us to
act on that. Yeah, I think a lot of Republicans are looking at how
much money was spent against them and you might be able to create
some bipartisan legislation that starts to enact some real campaign
finance reform. "
According to the Federal Election Commission Bera and Lungren
together raised more than five million dollars for their
Congressional campaigns.
