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Becerra defeats Hilton to become California's next governor
Democrat Xavier Becerra beat Republican Steve Hilton to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, with the Associated Press calling the race just after polls closed. Becerra, a former state attorney general and U.S. health secretary, will be California's first Latino governor since 1875.
Voters reject Proposition 39 voter ID measure
California voters rejected Proposition 39, the Republican backed measure requiring government identification to vote in person and ID numbers on mail ballot envelopes. About 60 percent voted no, and the Associated Press declared the measure failed with about half the vote counted.
Billionaire tax, Proposition 40, trails in statewide returns
Proposition 40, a one-time 5 percent tax on Californians worth more than 1 billion dollars, was trailing with about 56 percent opposed in Tuesday night returns. The union backed measure would have raised an estimated 100 billion dollars, mostly for health care.
Los Angeles mayor's race too close to call as Raman moves ahead overnight
Mayor Karen Bass led challenger Nithya Raman by fewer than 10,000 votes late Tuesday, but Raman moved narrowly ahead in the early morning count. Neither candidate claimed victory, and county updates continue Wednesday, with certification not scheduled until November 27.
Democrats flip two California House seats in the Valadao and Issa districts
Randy Villegas unseated Republican Rep. David Valadao in the Central Valley's 22nd District with about 65 percent of the vote, and Marni von Wilpert won the open 48th District seat held by retiring Rep. Darrell Issa. Both districts were redrawn under Proposition 50.
Pan defeats Kiley in Sacramento area 6th District
Democrat Richard Pan, a former state senator and pediatrician, defeated Rep. Kevin Kiley in the redrawn 6th District covering parts of Sacramento, Placer and Yolo counties. Kiley, who ran as an independent, conceded before the Associated Press called the race around 11 p.m.
Bonta wins a second term as attorney general
Attorney General Rob Bonta defeated Republican Michael Gates, a former Huntington Beach city attorney, to win a second term. Bonta campaigned on fraud enforcement and his office's roughly 100 lawsuits against the Trump administration since January 2025.
Fiona Ma elected lieutenant governor
State Treasurer Fiona Ma was elected lieutenant governor over Gloria Romero, a former Democratic Senate majority leader who ran as a Republican, CBS News projected. Ma succeeds Eleni Kounalakis, who ran to replace Ma as treasurer.
Bay Area voters approve transit taxes for BART, Muni and Caltrain
Voters in five Bay Area counties approved the Regional Transit Measure, a 14 year sales tax expected to raise nearly 1 billion dollars a year for more than 20 transit agencies. San Francisco voters also approved Proposition H, a parcel tax funding Muni.
Campaigns and Ballot Measures
Housing bond, rainy day fund and high earner tax among measures passing
Early returns showed Proposition 1, an 11.25 billion dollar housing bond, passing with about 59 percent support, Proposition 2 on the state rainy day fund at about 60 percent, and Proposition 3, making a high earner income tax permanent, near 59 percent.
Recall change holds narrow lead while public financing and CEQA measures trail
Proposition 5, which separates recall votes from successor choices, held a narrow lead near 50 percent. Proposition 4 on public campaign financing, Proposition 43 on local tax thresholds and Proposition 45 on faster environmental review were all trailing in early returns.
Kim leads Allen in all Democratic insurance commissioner race
Former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim led state Sen. Ben Allen with about 52 percent of the vote in the race to succeed termed out Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Kim proposes a public disaster insurance program; Allen emphasizes wildfire mitigation and market stability.
Democrats lead down ballot races for treasurer, controller and secretary of state
Eleni Kounalakis led for state treasurer, Malia Cohen for controller and incumbent Shirley Weber for secretary of state, each with about 64 to 65 percent in returns reported late Tuesday. All three faced Republican challengers who trailed by wide margins.
Wiener leads Chan in race for Pelosi's San Francisco seat
State Sen. Scott Wiener led Supervisor Connie Chan by about 11 points in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Nancy Pelosi in the 11th District. Wiener addressed supporters as the likely winner, while Chan said the race remained too early to call.
Calvert leads Kim in Republican versus Republican 40th District
Rep. Ken Calvert led Rep. Young Kim with about 54 percent of the vote in the reshaped 40th District spanning Riverside and Orange counties. Proposition 50 drew the two Republican incumbents into the same district, guaranteeing one would lose.
Gray holds his Central Valley seat in the 13th District
Rep. Adam Gray, a Merced Democrat, defeated former Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln with about 61 percent of the vote and nearly all precincts reporting. Gray, in his first reelection bid, campaigned on lowering costs and supporting Central California agriculture.
Vote counting continues, with state certification due December 11
California's count will continue for days as counties process mail ballots postmarked by Election Day, which can arrive through November 10. Counties must certify results by December 3, and the secretary of state certifies the statewide statement of vote by December 11.
Press groups warn some county poll rules may exceed state law
A coalition led by CalMatters and the First Amendment Coalition says media rules in Kern County and at least nine others may go beyond state law on filming and interviewing near polling places. The Secretary of State's office said it was seeking clarity.
Bay Area Brief · 11/2/26
Governor
Newsom proposes expanding film and TV tax credit to at least 1 billion dollars
Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed raising the state film and television tax credit from 750 million dollars to at least 1 billion dollars a year and extending it through 2040. The plan adds above the line talent eligibility and 100 million dollars for independent productions.
TheWrap · 11/2/26
State details election protection laws and counting investment ahead of the vote
The governor's office said California enacted 13 election protection bills this year, including new felonies for seizing ballots, and invested nearly 40 million dollars for county counting staff and technology. Federal courts rejected Justice Department attempts to set aside about 20,000 ballots.
Office of the Governor · 11/2/26
Education
Barrera leads Shaw in superintendent of public instruction race
San Diego Unified board president Richard Barrera led Chino Valley board president Sonja Shaw with about 57 percent of the vote for superintendent of public instruction. The winner succeeds Tony Thurmond in the nonpartisan statewide schools post.
Wildfire and Insurance
FEMA rental aid ends for Los Angeles fire renters as state seeks more recovery money
Federal rental assistance for renters displaced by the Eaton and Palisades fires ended October 9, while homeowners remain eligible through July 2027. California says more than 732 million dollars in approved public works money still awaits final federal sign off.
San Francisco Inquirer · 11/2/26
Mercury grows California homeowners book by 10 percent as fire costs linger
Mercury General said its California homeowners policies grew about 10 percent this year to 968,000, even as the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires added reserve costs for a third straight quarter. The carrier received a 6.9 percent state rate increase in July.
Local Spotlight
San Francisco voters reject reopening the Great Highway to cars
Early results showed San Francisco voters rejecting Proposition G, which would have allowed private vehicles back on the Upper Great Highway. The no vote keeps the roadway closed as Sunset Dunes park, and the San Francisco Chronicle called the race.
Washington
Democrats retake the House and Senate in midterm sweep
Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, flipping seven Republican held Senate seats and retaking the House for the first time since 2023, according to network projections. California's redrawn districts added Democratic seats to the party's new majority.