Despite drama and suspense nationally, there were few surprises at the ballot box in the North State.
It was a great night for local congressmen. All three incumbent North State representatives were winning handily as the first votes were counted last night.
Democratic Congressmen John Garamendi and Jared Huffman, who represent the Southern Sacramento Valley and the coast and Trinity County, respectively, were well ahead. Tamika Hamilton will likely face Garamendi in November, while Republican Dale Mensing appeared most likely to challenge Huffman.
Republican Doug LaMalfa, representing northeastern California took a commanding lead early. He was leading his nearest opponent, Audrey Denney, by just over a twenty percent margin. LaMalfa will again face Denney in November.
In the state legislature, the husband and wife team of Brian and Megan Dahle were leading in their respective senate and assembly races. Brian faces Democrat Pamela Swartz, while Megan will be challenged by Elizabeth Betancourt. Meanwhile, incumbent Republican James Gallagher bested Democrat James Hanson, they’ll face a November re-match.
Voters statewide and locally seemed to eye new borrowing and taxes warily. A $15 billion statewide school bond measure, proposition 13, appeared headed to a resounding defeat.
North State voters appeared in the same mood. Voters rejected school bonds in Colusa County, a fire protection district and sales tax increase in Shasta County, all three school bond measures in Tehama County along with a sales tax increase for public safety. Voters in Trinity County overwhelmingly supported a measure creating an ambulance district, but rejected a companion bond measure that would have funded it. In Yuba County, voters rejected two school bonds. Butte County voters strongly rejected a park district parcel tax Regional bonds for Yuba College also went down to defeat.
The anti-tax sentiment wasn’t universal. Voters appeared to approve a four percent bump Siskiyou County’s hotel tax and voters in Trinity County approved a School bond measure for the Trinity Alps Unified School District.