California Voters Decide 14 Propositions as Villegas Leads District 22

California voters weighed in on 14 statewide ballot propositions in the November midterm election after campaigns for and against the measures spent a combined total of nearly $1 billion, according to CalMatters reporting published by Mountain View Voice and NBC Bay Area election returns. Alongside the statewide ballot measures—where Democrat Xavier Becerra defeated Republican Steve Hilton in the race for California governor—early congressional returns showed Democratic challenger Randy Villegas leading six-term Republican incumbent David Valadao in redistricted Congressional District 22, according to KALW 91.7.

Statewide Housing, Fiscal Reserve, and Research Propositions

With 54% of the expected vote counted in NBC Bay Area's statewide tally, voters approved Proposition 1, which authorizes the state to borrow up to $11.25 billion for housing construction and renovation, primarily for rental units and affordable housing. Proposition 1 passed with 59.15% Yes votes (4,140,322 votes) to 40.85% No votes (2,859,786 votes), matching the 59% approval reported at 11:00 p.m. by CalMatters and the Associated Press.

Voters also approved Proposition 2, allowing California to deposit more money into its rainy day reserve fund beyond 1970s-era surplus savings caps. Proposition 2 passed with 59.55% Yes votes (4,165,548 votes) to 40.45% No votes (2,829,838 votes) with 54% of the expected vote reporting, or 60% in early Associated Press returns at 10:00 p.m. Proposition 3, which makes permanent a 2012 temporary income tax on individuals earning more than $360,000 per year to fund primary and secondary education, passed with 58.54% Yes votes (4,127,476 votes) to 41.46% No votes (2,923,600 votes) with 55% of the expected vote in, or almost 59% as of 2:55 a.m.

In housing and medical finance, Proposition 37—creating a state fund to issue repayable down payment assistance loans to middle-class homebuyers—passed with 60.75% Yes votes (4,266,679 votes) to 39.25% No votes (2,756,291 votes) at 54% reporting, and more than 61% in Associated Press calls at 10:00 p.m. Proposition 38, dedicating $8.4 billion ($8,400 million) in state funds to immunology research—with roughly half going to the three-person nonprofit California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy co-founded by Gary K. Michelson—led with 56.18% Yes votes (3,926,639 votes) to 43.82% No votes (3,063,085 votes) at 54% reporting, and 57% in 10:00 p.m. returns.

Wealth Taxes, Election Rules, Clinic Mandates, and CEQA

On governance and election rules, Proposition 4, which would allow state and local governments to establish public campaign financing with spending limits, trailed with 52.19% No votes (3,608,220 votes) to 47.81% Yes votes (3,305,466 votes) at 54% reporting (almost 52% opposed at 10:00 p.m.). Proposition 5, which restructures California recall elections so the initial ballot only asks whether to remove an elected official before a second election chooses a replacement, held a narrow lead with 50.13% Yes votes (3,436,344 votes) to 49.87% No votes (3,417,888 votes) at 53% reporting. Proposition 39, a measure largely funded by Illinois billionaire Richard Uihlein to require proof of citizenship at polling places or a Social Security or official ID number on mail-in ballots, trailed with 58.8% No votes (4,207,726 votes) to 41.2% Yes votes (2,945,903 votes), with the Associated Press projecting it to fail with more than 60% opposed at 10:00 p.m.

Three competing tax measures also drew sharp voter divisions. Proposition 40, a healthcare union-backed one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires projected to raise approximately $100 billion over five years, trailed with 56.3% No votes (4,042,855 votes) to 43.7% Yes votes (3,132,645 votes). Proposition 41, sponsored by opponents of the billionaire tax to set stricter state tax audit and spending limits, trailed with 52.2% No votes (3,675,479 votes) to 47.8% Yes votes (3,361,090 votes), or almost 53% opposed at 10:00 p.m. Conversely, Proposition 42, which bans new personal property or wealth taxes on investment accounts and personal assets, led with 54.6% Yes votes (3,881,753 votes) to 45.4% No votes (3,222,998 votes), or more than 54% in favor.

Meanwhile, Proposition 43, which would raise the threshold for citizen-initiated local special taxes from a simple majority to two-thirds, trailed with 54.61% No votes (3,763,031 votes) to 45.39% Yes votes (3,127,418 votes) at 53% reporting. Proposition 44, backed by Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) to require community health clinics to spend at least 90% of annual revenues on patient care, was rejected with 82.22% No votes (5,638,189 votes) to 17.78% Yes votes (1,219,229 votes) at 53% reporting (more than 81% opposed per the Associated Press). Proposition 45, which would modify the 1970 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), trailed with 54.09% No votes (3,710,488 votes) to 45.91% Yes votes (3,149,067 votes) at 53% reporting.

Randy Villegas Leads David Valadao in Redistricted District 22

In the Central Valley, KVPR Kern County reporter Amaray Alvarez reported from an election night watch party starting at 8:00 p.m. at La Movida nightclub in Bakersfield for KALW 91.7 host Taylor Barton that newcomer Randy Villegas, a populist Democrat, held the lead in early polling results over Republican incumbent David Valadao. Valadao had won six prior elections in Congressional District 22, which was redistricted under Proposition 50 to become more Democratic in response to Texas redistricting. Alvarez reported that District 22 has the highest share of residents on Medicaid in the nation, and that voters were swayed by Medicaid, Medicare, and affordability after Valadao voted for legislation that cut money to Medicaid.