California Democrats swept Tuesday’s elections with results that exceeded even the party’s own expectations, reclaiming the U.S. House by a wide margin and flipping the Senate with surprise wins in traditionally Republican strongholds including Kansas, South Carolina and Texas. The outcome hands Democrats significant leverage to push back against President Donald Trump during his final two years in the White House.
A national Associated Press poll released Tuesday found widespread voter dissatisfaction with both the president and Congress, with many respondents saying lawmakers have failed to do their jobs.
The results carry particular weight for the Inland Empire and broader Southern California region, as several local representatives are positioned to take on new leadership roles when Democrats assume the House majority in January.
Rep. Robert Garcia of Long Beach delivered a blunt warning to Republicans — “Lawyer up” — as he appears on track to chair the House Oversight Committee, a panel with broad authority to investigate federal agencies and officials.
Rep. Pete Aguilar of San Bernardino, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, and Sen. Alex Padilla, the top Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee, are also expected to gain greater influence as their party works to check the administration’s agenda.
Both lawmakers took to social media Tuesday night to signal their intentions. Padilla posted an image symbolizing a Democratic wave, poking fun at Trump’s recent campaign rallies where he urged supporters to vote as though his own name were on the ballot. “America: HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR,” Padilla wrote. Aguilar was similarly direct, posting that “House Republicans’ days of rubber stamping Trump’s reckless agenda are coming to an end.”
Despite earlier concerns among Democrats that Trump might contest unfavorable results, the president told The New York Times on Tuesday that he would accept the outcome and said he looks forward to working with the incoming Democratic majority.
A New Governor for California
Xavier Becerra’s victory in the governor’s race was far less of a surprise than the national congressional shakeup, given California’s heavily Democratic electorate. Polls had shown Becerra with a comfortable double-digit lead over Republican Steve Hilton for months, and news outlets called the race for Becerra within minutes of polls closing. By Tuesday night, he had secured roughly 64% of the vote, making him California’s first elected Latino governor.
“Tonight I have a message for all those who have been made to feel afraid,” Becerra told supporters. “There’s a new sheriff in town. … If anyone wants to come after California or any one Californian, they better be ready for a fight.”
Hilton, who raised more than $33 million to Becerra’s $38 million, campaigned on bold promises including $3 gasoline, eliminating the DMV and major tax cuts. He struck a defiant but resigned tone in his concession remarks. “This isn’t the best year to be running for office as a Republican when we see what’s going on around the country,” Hilton said. “The change we hope for may be delayed, but the change is coming. Our fight goes on and I’ll be there with you.”
Democrats claimed nearly every other statewide office on the ballot as well. Two races remain too close to call — state superintendent, where the Democratic-aligned candidate holds a significant lead, and insurance commissioner, where Democrat Jane Kim currently leads fellow Democrat Ben Allen.
Ballot Measures: A Mixed Bag
Voters delivered a mixed verdict on the 14 statewide propositions. Proposition 40, which would have created the nation’s first state-level wealth tax, was trailing with only 44% support as of Tuesday night. While several Bay Area counties favored the measure, most of the state appeared poised to reject it.
Of the two billionaire-funded countermeasures designed to block Prop. 40, only one was leading: Proposition 42, which would prohibit new taxes on personal assets, held 55% support. Proposition 41, which would have capped certain new state taxes, was trailing with 48%.
Other results as of Tuesday night:
Proposition 1, an $11.25 billion housing bond, passed.
Proposition 2, allowing the state to build a larger reserve fund, passed.
Proposition 3, making permanent a tax on high earners, passed.
Proposition 4, which would lift the ban on public financing of political campaigns, was trailing with 48%.
Proposition 5, altering how recall elections function, held a narrow lead at just over 50%.
Proposition 37, establishing a homebuyer loan program, passed.
Proposition 38, funding immunology research, was ahead with 56%.
Proposition 39, which would have mandated voter identification, failed.
Proposition 43, making citizen-led local tax measures harder to pass, was trailing with 45%.
Proposition 44, which would have required health clinics to increase patient-care spending, failed.
Proposition 45, easing certain environmental review requirements for development projects, was trailing with 46%.
State Legislature Trends Blue
Republican candidates in competitive state legislative races also struggled Tuesday night, suggesting Democrats will retain their supermajorities in both the Assembly and Senate.
In the Sacramento region, Democrat Amy Slavensky, a retired school superintendent, held a 53% to 47% lead over Republican incumbent Assemblymember Josh Hoover. Other vulnerable GOP incumbents — Assemblymembers Jeff Gonzalez, Greg Wallis and Leticia Castillo — were also trailing their Democratic opponents.
Democrats additionally led in four open seats that Republicans had hoped to flip. In Fresno, Democrat and county Supervisor Brian Pacheco held 63% of the vote against former Merced Mayor Mike Murphy, a Republican.
Business- and tech-backed Democratic candidates also performed well. Grow California, an independent expenditure committee funded by wealthy donors, poured millions into state Senate candidate Sara Hernandez and Assembly candidate David Penaloza, both of whom held leads over more progressive rivals in races still too close to officially call.
Original source: CalMatters
