Election Day is on November 8. After today (October 24), it's too late to register to vote in your current county and receive a ballot by mail. You will need to go into a County polling place to submit a Provisional Ballot for same-day registration.
We'll vote on multiple positions and seven propositions, ranging from Governor to online gambling. Early in-person voting began on October 11 in San Francisco. Ballots must be cast in person, dropped off at a county polling place or drop box, or postmarked by Election Day to be valid.
CA turnout in the last three midterm elections: 2018 - 64.5% of registered voters; 2014 - 42.2%; 2010 - 59.6%
SF turnout in the last three midterm elections: 2018 - 74.5% of registered voters; 2014 - 53.0%; 2010 - 61.0%
CALIFORNIA
Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Alex Padilla, and most other statewide officials should coast comfortably for re-election. The one contested statewide race is for Controller between Malia Cohen and Lanhee Chen. Chen is vying to become the first Republican Controller since Houston Flournoy finished his term in 1975.
- Controller -
Lanhee Chen (R): chair of the board of directors at El Camino Health; Hoover Institution Fellow at Stanford; previous UC Berkeley visiting scholar at the Institute for Governmental Studies; nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the US Senate for the Social Security Advisory Board; senior adviser for Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential campaign; policy director for Mitt Romney's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns; healthcare adviser for George W. Bush's 2004 presidential campaign; four Harvard degrees.
Endorsements: CA Republican Party, LA Times, OC Register, Sacramento Bee, San Diego Union-Tribune, San Jose Mercury News, SF Chronicle, Andrew Yang, former CA Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, former CA Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, former Sen. Joe Lieberman
Malia Cohen (D): CA Board of Equalization, District 2 representative; founder of Power Forward consulting firm; former SF Board of Supervisors President and District 10 Supervisor; field organizer for Gavin Newsom's 2003 mayoral campaign; Carnegie Mellon graduate degree
Endorsements: CA Democratic Party, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla, State Sen. Scott Wiener, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, SF Mayor London Breed, Bay Area Reporter, SF Examiner, CA Teachers, Planned Parenthood, SEIU CA, Sierra Club
- 7 CA Propositions -
Proposition 1: Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom
Amends California Constitution to include the right to an abortion or the use of contraceptives.
YES: CA Democratic Party, CA Green Party, CA Peace and Freedom Party, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Governor Gavin Newsom, State Sen. Scott Wiener, State Asm. Phil Ting and Matt Haney, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Bay Area Reporter, LA Times, Sacramento Bee, San Diego Union-Tribune, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, ACLU, CA Teachers, GrowSF, Kaiser Permanente, Planned Parenthood, SEIU CA, Sierra Club
NO: CA Republican Party, State Sen. Brian Dahle, Knights of Columbus
Proposition 26: Gambling Expansion
Expands state gambling options at four racetracks (sports betting) and tribal casinos (roulette, craps, sports betting).
YES: CA Peace and Freedom Party, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Bay Area Reporter, Graton Rancheria, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, NAACP, Pechanga, SF Berniecrats
NO: CA Libertarian Party, CA Republican Party, SF Green Party, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, LA Times, OC Register, Sacramento Bee, San Diego Union-Tribune, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, American Federation of State-County-Municipal Employees, Artichoke Joe's, City of San Jose, GrowSF, Hawaiian Gardens Casino, SPCA SF/LA
Proposition 27: Online Sports Betting
Allows tribal casinos or contracted businesses to offer online sports betting - with over $400 million to date spent on this measure.
YES: Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, DraftKings, FanDuel, San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness
NO: CA Democratic Party, CA Green Party, CA Libertarian Party, CA Peace and Freedom Party, CA Republican Party, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Bay Area Reporter, LA Times, OC Register, Sacramento Bee, San Diego Union-Tribune, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, CA Teachers, Coalition on Homelessness SF, Graton Rancheria, GrowSF, NAACP, Pechanga, SPUR, VFW Dept. of CA
Proposition 28: Arts Funding in Schools
Provides about $1 billion annually to K-12 schools for arts and music education.
YES: CA Democratic Party, CA Green Party, CA Peace and Freedom Party, Barbra Streisand, Dr. Dre, LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, My Chemical Romance, Vampire Weekend, Weird Al Yankovic, Bay Area Reporter, LA Times, OC Register, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, CA Teachers, GrowSF, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU CA, SFMOMA, Universal Music Group
NO: CA Libertarian Party, San Diego Union-Tribune, SF Examiner
Proposition 29: Dialysis Clinic Requirements
Requires dialysis clinics to have an on-site medical professional, disclose physicians' ownership interests, and report infection data.
YES: CA Democratic Party, CA Green Party, CA Peace and Freedom Party, CA Labor Federation, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU CA
NO: CA Libertarian Party, CA Republican Party, Bay Area Reporter, LA Times, OC Register, San Diego Union-Tribune, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, CA Chamber of Commerce, CA Medical Association, CA Nurses Association, DaVita + Fresenius dialysis corporations, GrowSF, NAACP, VFW Dept. of CA
Proposition 30: Tax for Environmental Programs
Taxes those earning over $2 million to fund zero-emission vehicle purchases, vehicle charging stations, and wildfire prevention.
YES: CA Democratic Party, Rep. Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna, State Sen. Scott Wiener, LA Mayor Eric Garcia, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, San Jose Sam Liccardo, SF Mayor London Breed, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, American Lung Association, BART, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, GrowSF, Lime, Lyft, Rivian, SPUR
NO: CA Libertarian Party, CA Peace and Freedom Party, CA Republican Party, SF Green Party, Governor Gavin Newsom, LA Times, OC Register, Mercury News, San Diego Union-Tribune, SF Examiner, CA Chamber of Commerce, CA Teachers
Proposition 31: Flavored Tobacco
Prohibits the sale of most flavored tobacco products.
YES: CA Democratic Party, CA Green Party, CA Peace and Freedom Party, Governor Gavin Newsom, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Barbara Lee, State Sen. Scott Wiener, State Assm. Phil Ting, SF Mayor London Breed, Michael Bloomberg, Bay Area Reporter, LA Times, Sacramento Bee, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, American Heart Association, CA NAACP, CA NOW, CA Teachers, Equality CA, GrowSF, Kaiser Permanente, Planned Parenthood, SEIU CA, Sierra Club
NO: CA Libertarian Party, CA Republican Party, OC Register, San Diego Union-Tribune, National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds
SAN FRANCISCO
The new 15th Congressional district, which spans from East Palo Alto up to southern San Francisco (including Excelsior and Portola), is an open seat with Jackie Speier retiring after 7+ terms. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins should be re-elected without difficulty. Fourteen City propositions are on the ballot.
- House District 15 -
David Canepa (D): San Mateo County District 5 Supervisor; Board of Director for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District; former Daly City Mayor and Councilmember; USF and Skyline College graduate
Endorsements: SF Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton, Board of Equalization Chair Malia Cohen, Millbrae Mayor Anne Oliva, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, National Nurses United, Union of Food and Commercial Workers
Kevin Mullin (D): State Assm. for District 22 and Speaker Pro Tempore; former South SF Mayor and Councilmember; former district director for State Sen. Jackie Speier; founder of KM2 Communications, a multimedia production company; USF and SF State graduate
Endorsements: CA Democratic Party, SF Democratic Party, Gov. Gavin Newsom, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Jackie Speier, State Sen. Scott Wiener, State Assm. Phil Ting and Matt Haney, Bay Area Reporter, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, American Medical Association, CA Teachers, GrowSF, SEIU CA, Sierra Club
- 14 SF Propositions -
Proposition A: Retiree Pension Adjustments
Adjusts certain retirees' pensions, and permits the Retirement Board to hire an executive director without contract limitations.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Republican Party, All 11 Board of Supervisors, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, GrowSF, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU 1021, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Firefighters Local 798, SPUR
NO: SF Green Party
Proposition B: Public Works Consolidation
Merges the newly created Department of Sanitation and Streets into the Department of Public Works, but retains the Sanitation and Streets Commission as is.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Republican Party, Mayor London Breed, former Mayor Willie Brown, former Assm. Tom Ammiano, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Sing Tao, Friends of the Urban Forest, GrowSF, League of Pissed Off Voters, SF Apartment Association, SF Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club, SPUR
NO: SF Green Party, Assm. Matt Haney, Laborers Local 261 (sanitation), SF Firefighters Local 798
Proposition C: Homelessness Oversight Commission
Oversees the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing with a new commission, split between Mayoral and Board appointees.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, all 11 Board of Supervisors, State Assm. Matt Haney, Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, League of Pissed Off Voters, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Firefighters Local 798, SPUR
NO: SF Republican Party, GrowSF, SF YIMBY
Proposition D: Affordable Housing Approvals
Streamlines affordable housing projects (no more than 140% Area Median Income) with certain requirements.
YES: Mayor London Breed, State Sen. Scott Wiener, Bay Area Reporter, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, GrowSF, Habitat for Humanity, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF YIMBY, SPUR, United Way Bay Area
NO: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, SF Bay Guardian, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU 1021, SF Tenants Union, Sierra Club
Proposition E: Affordable Housing Approvals
Streamlines affordable housing projects (no more than 120% Area Median Income) with certain requirements.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Bay Guardian, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Party, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU 1021, Sierra Club, SF Firefighters Local 798
NO: SF Green Party, SF Republican Party, Bay Area Reporter, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, GrowSF, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF YIMBY, SPUR
Proposition F: Library Preservation Fund
Extends the Preservation Fund beyond 2023, and expands library hours by at least 15%.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Mayor London Breed, all 11 Board of Supervisors, State Sen. Scott Wiener, Assm. Phil Ting and Matt Haney, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, Friends of SF Public Library, GrowSF, SEIU 1021, SF Chamber of Commerce, SPUR
NO: SF Republican Party
Proposition G: SFUSD Grants
Creates a Student Success Fund for SFUSD to cover 15 years of grants.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, State Assm. Matt Haney, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, GrowSF, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU 1021, SF Chamber of Commerce, SPUR
NO: SF Republican Party
Proposition H: City Election Reform
Shifts City elections to even-numbered years, extends current terms through January 2025, and slightly increases the number of required signatures for initiatives.
YES: SF Democratic Party, Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, GrowSF, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU 1021, Sierra Club, SF Tenants Union, SF YIMBY, SPUR
NO: SF Green Party, SF Republican Party, Bay Area Reporter, SF Examiner, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, SF Chamber of Commerce
Proposition I: Golden Gate Park Vehicle Use
Allows vehicle use within Golden Gate Park except on Sundays (6am-6pm) and Saturdays (April-September), and removes car restrictions on the Great Highway.
YES: SF Republican Party, Treasurer Fiona Ma, Arc SF, Fine Arts Museums (de Young/Legion of Honor), SF Gray Panthers, SF Latinx Democratic Club
NO: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Mayor London Breed, State Sen. Scott Wiener, State Assm. Matt Haney, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, GrowSF, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, SF Bike Coalition, SF YIMBY, Sierra Club, SPUR, WalkSF
Proposition J: Golden Gate Park Recreational Use
Maintains existing City law to block private car use for parts of Golden Gate Park.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Mayor London Breed, Sen. Scott Wiener, Assm. Matt Haney, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, Green Apple Books, GrowSF, SF Bike Coalition, SF YIMBY, Sierra Club, SPUR, WalkSF
NO: SF Republican Party, Arc SF, Fine Arts Museums (de Young/Legion of Honor), SF Gray Panthers, SF Latinx Democratic Club
Proposition L: Sales Tax for Transportation Projects
Extends the existing 0.5% sales tax for an additional 19 years, with a new 30-year transportation plan. Needs 2/3 to pass.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Mayor London Breed, State Sen. Scott Wiener, Assm. Phil Ting and Matt Haney, Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, GrowSF, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, SEIU 1021, SF Berniecrats, SF Bike Coalition, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF YIMBY, Sierra Club, SPUR, WalkSF
NO: SF Republican Party
Proposition M: Vacant Unit Tax
Taxes residential housing in buildings with 3+ units if unused for at least half of the year, and uses the proceeds for affordable housing and rent subsidies.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton, SF Bay Guardian, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU 1021, SF Tenants Union, SF YIMBY, Sierra Club
NO: SF Republican Party, Bay Area Reporter, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, GrowSF, SF Apartment Association, SF Association of Realtors, SF Chamber of Commerce, SPUR
Proposition N: Golden Gate Park Underground Parking
Shifts oversight of the underground parking garage in Golden Gate Park from a nonprofit to the Recreation and Park Commission.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Mayor London Breed, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, GrowSF, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU 1021, SF Bike Coalition, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF YIMBY, Sierra Club, SPUR, WalkSF
NO: SF Examiner
Proposition O: City College Parcel Tax
Creates a new parcel tax for property owners to pay for certain City College needs.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Assm. Phil Ting and Matt Haney, SF Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, SEIU 1021, SF Latinx Democratic Club, United Educators of SF
NO: SF Republican Party, SF Examiner, Mayor London Breed, Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Catherine Stefani, GrowSF, SF Chronicle, SF Apartment Association, SF Chamber of Commerce, SPUR
