One week later: Midterm election simplified

Cartoon depicting voting, speaking on a podium, and protesting (Photo: Graphic made using Canva by Georgia Laganiere, The Puma Prensa)

By Georgia Laganiere, editor

(All numerical information in this article is from the Secretary of State's website)

One week ago today, thousands of registered voters cast their votes in the midterms, the election that happens in the even numbered year between presidential elections. There were many races and propositions nation-wide, but even just the California-specific elections can be confusing. Here is your one-stop-shop to the election results of the propositions and the contests for the California representatives in the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the California governor. There is also some basic information about each of those races, candidates, and propositions to help digest all of what can feel like election chaos. 

California Propositions  

Propositions are the power of voters to determine whether to implement proposed changes to the state constitution or other laws. They can be proposed by elected officials or by the people but are voted on by the people every two years in a direct vote. This means each person’s vote counts individually and directly, unlike the Electoral College, a famous example of representative voting, where the people vote for other people who then vote for the President.

On this year’s midterm ballot, there were seven propositions and three of them passed. 

• Proposition 1- Yes
  • Summary: Amends the California Constitution to add the right to choose to have an abortion and use contraceptives.
  • Voting Results:
    • Yes: 65.8%
    • No: 35.2%

• Proposition 26- No
  • Summary: Amends the California Constitution to legalize sports betting for adults age 21 and older at Native American tribal lands and horse-racing tracks. Allows roulette and dice games at tribal casinos. Imposes a 10% tax on sports wagering profits at horse-racing tracks.
  • Voting Results:
    • Yes: 31.1%
    • No: 68.9%

• Proposition 27- No
  • Summary: Amends the California Constitution to legalize online sports betting for adults age 21 and older via platforms that have agreements with Native American tribes. Imposes a 10% tax on sports-wagering revenues.
  • Voting Results:
    • Yes: 16.8%
    • No: 83.2%

• Proposition 28- Yes
  • Summary: Requires K-12 public schools to spend at least a certain percentage of their funds on arts and music programs
  • Voting Results:
    • Yes: 62.5%
    • No: 37.5%

• Proposition 29- No
  • Summary: Sets staffing, reporting and patient coverage requirements for kidney dialysis clinics.
  • Voting Results:
    • Yes: 30.4%
    • No: 69.6%

• Proposition 30- No
  • Summary: Imposes an additional 1.75% tax on individual income over $2 million, with proceeds going toward incentives for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure and wildfire prevention.
  • Voting Results:
    • Yes: 41.4%
    • No: 58.6%

• Proposition 31- Yes
  • Summary: Upholds a state law banning the sale of flavored tobacco products.
  • Voting Results:
    • Yes: 62.8%
    • No: 37.2%

California Senate Seat:

For the U.S. Senate, there were two candidates for the one open seat for California this midterm: Alex Padilla, the incumbent (the person who held the seat previously), and Mark Meuser. Senators make up one of the two legislative bodies we have (the Senate and the House of Representatives). Senators and House members (called Representatives) create and vote on legislation. Each state has two Senators. California’s senior Senator, Dianne Feinstein, was not up for election this cycle because she was re-elected in 2018, so she isn’t finished with the six year term. 

• Candidate 1: Senator Alex Padilla- Won
  • Party Affiliation: Democrat 
  • Percent of Vote: 59.8
  • Number of Votes: 4,292,093

• Candidate 2: Mark Meuser- Lost
  • Party Affiliation: Republican
  • Percent of Vote: 40.2%
  • Number of Vote: 2,880,495

California House Seats:

For the House race, there are 52 seats up for election. The U.S. House of Representatives is the second legislative body we have, and the number of these seats per state is determined by state population. Representatives create and vote on legislation. Their terms are up every two years. 

District 4, where Maria Carrillo is, had two candidates: Mike Thompson, incumbent, and Matt Brock. 

• Candidate 1: Rep. Mike Thompson- Won
  • Party Affiliation: Democrat
  • Percent of Vote: 66.5% 
  • Number of Votes: 99,105

• Candidate 2: Matt Brock- Lost
  • Party Affiliation: Republican
  • Percent of Vote: 33.5%
  • Number of Votes: 49,956

California Governor:

The Governor is voted on every four years. The incumbent for California was Gavin Newsom. Governors implement state laws and oversee the operation of the state executive branch. 

• Candidate 1: Gavin Newsom- Won
  • Party Affiliation: Democrat
  • Percent of Votes: 58.3%
  • Number of Votes: 4,210,452

• Candidate 2: Brian Dahle- Lost
  • Party Affiliation: Republican
  • Percent of Votes: 41.7%
  • Number of Votes: 3,012,410