OC Politics Blog | Tag Archives: 2020 Election

The O.C. Republican candidates who are prevailing so far in the General Election

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Editor Posted in 2020 Elections, Orange County 1 Comment

As the O.C. Voter Registrar’s staff continues to tally the votes from Tuesday’s General Election a few Republican candidates are prevailing even as the Democrats have dominated most of the House races and local municipal elections.

The Democrats appear to have hung on to all the House seats in Orange County except two – the 48th District, where Supervisor Michelle Steel has about a 2,000 vote edge over the Democrat incumbent, Harley Rouda, and the 39th District, where Young Kim has a small 1,500 vote edge over the Democratic incumbent, Gil Cisneros.
A lot of folks counted Supervisor Andrew Do out as the First District, which he represents, has become bluer since it was redistricted. However Do is ahead by about 9,000 votes over his Democratic challenger Sergio Contreras.
Janet Nguyen lost her State Senate seat to Tom Umberg a couple years ago. But she is back now and is leading in the 72nd Assembly District over her Democratic challenger, Diedre Nguyen.
Assemblyman Steven Choi was lagging in the early returns but is now ahead of his Democratic challenge, Melissa Fox, in the 68th Assembly District by about 10,000 votes.

How the CA State Ballot Measures fared in Tuesday’s General Election

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Editor Posted in 2020 Elections Leave a comment

If you are wondering how all the State Ballot Measures fared in Tuesday’s General Election, read on.

The biggest shocker was the passage of Prop. 17, which will allow felons to vote again. In a similar vein, Prop. 20 failed. That measure would have put some teeth back in our criminal justice system. The only positive note in that regard was that Prop. 25 failed, which means we will still have a cash bail system in place.

Here are the results, courtesy of the California Secretary of State:

Yes – 14 Bonds to Continue Stem Cell Research, 5,816,671 Yes Votes – 51.1%, 5,575,456 No Votes, 48.9%
No 15 Property Tax to Fund Schools, Government Services 5,589,406 Yes Votes, 48.3%, 5,989,793 No Votes, 51.7%
No 16 Affirmative Action in Government Decisions 5,018,486 Yes Votes, 43.9%, 6,406,725 No Votes, 56.1%
Yes 17 Restores Right to Vote After Prison Term 6,812,726 Yes Votes, 59.0%, 4,731,193 No Votes, 41.0%
No 18 17-year-old Primary Voting Rights 5,189,891 Yes Votes, 44.9%, 6,378,289 No Votes, 55.1%
Yes 19 Changes Certain Property Tax Rules 5,846,253 Yes Votes, 51.5% , 5,497,294 No Votes, 48.5%
No 20 Parole Restrictions for Certain Offenses 4,257,869 Yes Votes, 37.7%, 7,042,043 No Votes, 62.3%
No 21 Expands Governments’ Authority to Rent Control 4,590,304 Yes Votes, 40.2%, 6,837,536 No Votes, 59.8%
Yes 22 App-Based Drivers and Employee Benefits 6,716,137 No Votes, 58.4%, 4,776,752 No Votes, 41.6%
No 23 State Requirements for Kidney Dialysis Clinics 4,108,287 Yes Votes, 36.0%, 7,311,482 No Votes, 64.0%
Yes 24 Amends Consumer Privacy Laws 6,343,809 Yes Votes, 56.1%, 4,966,910 No Votes, 43.9%
No 25 Eliminates Money Bail System 5,018,349 Yes Votes, 44.6% 6,238,701 No Votes, 55.4%

The early election results are mostly bad news for O.C. Republicans

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Editor Posted in 2020 Elections, Orange County Leave a comment

The early results are in and it looks like Orange County Republicans are not faring too well in tonight’s General Election.

Here are the early results in the State Legislative races:

Republican Janet Nguyen is losing to Democrat Diedre Nguyen in the race for the 72nd Assembly District by a margin of a couple percentage points. This race is still very close.
Tom Daly, the incumbent in the 69th Assembly District, is leading comfortably over Trumper Jon Paul White with over 75% of the vote.
Irvine City Councilwoman Melissa Fox, a Democrat, is leading in the race for the 68th Assembly District over incumbent Steven Choi by about 5 percentage points
Josh Newman is leading the Republican incumbent, Ling Ling Chang, with 56% of the vote in the 29th State Senate District
In a shocker incumbent Republican John Moorlach is losing to Democratic challenger Dave Min in the 37th District by about 14 percentage points

The Democrats are holding on to the local House seats in the early results:

Gil Cisneros is leading with 52% of the vote in the 39th District, over Republican Young Kim – that margin could be larger as that District includes voters in L.A. County who typically vote Democrat
Katie Porter is leading with over 60% of the vote in the 45th District, over Republican Greg Raths
Lou Correa is leading with over 72% of the vote in the 46th District over Republican James Walters
Harley Rouda is leading with over 55% of the vote in the 48th District over Republican Michelle Steel
Mike Levin is leading with over 51% of the vote in the 49th District over Republican Brian Maryott, however that vote is misleading as that District includes voters in San Diego County who typically vote Democrat

Supervisor Andrew Do, a Republican, is ahead of his Democratic challenger, Sergio Contreras, by about three percentage points in the First Supervisorial District.

In the race for the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Trustees these candidates are leading:

In Area 3 former Santa Ana City Councilman Sal Tinajero is leading his opponent, Mike Gonzales, with 65% of the vote.
In Area 5 the endorsed Democrat, David Crockett, is leading former Santa Ana City Councilman Brett Franklin with 54% of the vote
In Area 7, as we predicted, Dr. Tina Arias Miller is leading former U.S. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez with over 53% of the vote

Election Day is the last day to vote, not the first

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Editor Posted in 2020 Elections Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, CA –October 31, 2020 – The Registrar of Voters is strongly encouraging voters to vote ahead of Election Day (Tuesday, November 3, 2020) if at all possible. Election Day is the end of a 30-day voting period, which has provided voters many options for voting-at-home, or in-person prior to Election Day to avoid congestion.

To date approximately 888,000 ballots have been returned via the USPS, in official drop boxes, or turned in at a Vote Center. This compares with 413,000 during the same period in 2016 (a 115% increase). In addition, as of 7 p.m. this evening 87,000 voters have voted in-person at one of 168 Vote Centers across Orange County.

Total turnout in the 2016 Presidential General Election was 80.7% (1,239,405 ballots cast). Turnout in the 2020 Presidential General Election is currently at 57% with 3 days of voting left.

Voters can find the closest Vote Center, or official ballot return options, by visiting ocvote.com.

Quote by Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley:
“Ballots processed ahead of Election Day are handled in the same manner as ballots cast on Election Day.” He continued, “Voters can avoid lines and potential delays due to COVID-19 precautions by voting on either Sunday or Monday, or using their official ballot they received through the mail – many options exist for returning their ballot.”

All voters received an official ballot through the mail and all voters can check their registration, re-register, and register to vote at ocvote.com. For more information, call 714-567-7600 or visit ocvote.com.

Michelle Steel attends another COVID-19 superspreader event with no masks and no social distancing

Posted on October 26, 2020 by Editor Posted in 2020 Elections, Michelle Steel, Orange County 1 Comment

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — After yesterday’s astonishing photos of Michelle Steel attending an indoor fundraiser with no masks and no social distancing, new photos came to light showing Michelle Steel at ANOTHER superspreader event. Michelle Steel attended an indoor speaking event with right-wing activist Charlie Kirk on October 20th.

Congressman Harley Rouda issued the following statement reacting to the event:

“As Orange County’s top official, Michelle Steel violated public health orders to attend multiple COVID-19 superspreader events. Under her leadership, Orange County residents have lost their lives and livelihoods during the coronavirus crisis. Michelle Steel’s blatant disregard for the health, safety, and economic security of the community she supposedly serves is sickening.

Orange County families buried their loved ones alone. Grandparents watched their grandchildren be married over Zoom. Students celebrated their graduations with zero pomp and circumstance. Our community has sacrificed to protect public health and help our economy.

Michelle Steel’s actions have made clear that she will not serve California’s 48th district — she will only serve herself.”

Additionally, in a desperate attempt to deflect from Steel’s dangerous actions, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee shared a picture from January of Congressman Rouda with supporters without a mask. Despite being corrected, the NRCC spokesperson has yet to take down her misinformation.

The Libertarians on the ballot in California in the Nov. 3, 2020 election

Posted on October 25, 2020 by Editor Posted in 2020 Elections, Libertarian Party, Orange County 2 Comments

The Libertarian Party is picking up steam this year as more Americans than ever are getting sick of the Democrats and Republicans. Here are all the Libertarian candidates running in California (if we missed one please let us know!):

Azadeh Weber, Saratoga Union School District Board of Trustees https://azadeh4saratoga.org
Bob Goodwyn, US House District 18
Bob Karwin Menifee City Council District 1, http://www.karwinforcouncil.com
Brian Holtz, Purissima Hills Water District, Board President, http://holtz.org
James Just, State Assembly District 7, https://just4assembly.com
Jamie Dluzak State Senate District 9, https://jamiedluzak4senate.com
Joe Dehn, U.S. House District 17, https://dehn.votelibertarian.us
John Alpay, San Juan Capistrano City Council, https://www.johnalpay.com/
John Harrington, San Gabriel City Council
Kalish Morrow, Hanford City Council, https://morrow4hanford.us
Kate O’Brien, Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District Board of Directors
Kennita Watson , State Assembly District 24
Misty Janssen, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Seat 3, https://www.facebook.com/Misty4PYLUSD
Ricky Estrada, Mayor, Menifee, http://www.estrada4menifee.com
Samuel Ulloa, Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees, https://www.facebook.com/Ulloa4RSCCD
Starchild, State Assembly District 17