CA General Election 2022: What To Expect

CALIFORNIA — By 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, the polls will be closed across California and voters will cast their ballots to set the fate of the governorship, statewide offices, several hot-button propositions and more.

Through Nov. 8, residents were able to vote at hundreds of sites across California's 58 counties, but residents were encouraged to vote early.

"Every person who votes early will help keep lines shorter and reduce wait times at in-person voting locations on Election Day," said California Secretary Of State Shirley Weber.

Despite Weber's pleas for Californians to vote early or vote by mail, early vote returns in California lagged. Just 19 percent of California's 22 million registered voters had turned in ballots as of Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported, using data from consulting firm Political Data Intelligence.

Voters fretted about democracy and polarization in the weeks leading up to the election. California voters are fractured politically and culturally ahead of Election Day, and they are anxious about where their country is heading — on inflation, abortion, immigration, crime and beyond.

"As the November 8th election approaches, we are seeing attempts to undermine our democracy across the country," Weber tweeted in late October. "I urge you to exercise your right to vote, and I promise to keep California’s elections safe and free of interference."

Steeped in division going into the General Election, California voters shared a collective sense of discomfort.

“This election is hugely consequential,” said Edward Foley, a professor at Ohio State University who directs its election-law program. “It’s a question of where our democracy is and how we are doing with our collective self-governance.”

Republican retiree Ron Flores, the son of a Mexican immigrant, told the Associated Press he always had an interest in history and politics but didn’t act on it until more recently and last year formed the group “BASTA!,” which is aimed at encouraging Latinos to vote and promoting mostly — but not solely — politically conservative candidates.

“Are you honest? Are you going to do what we want you to do?” he asked. “I support good governance candidates and sometimes it’s on the left, but most of the time, it’s on my right.”

Flores, now in his 70s, lives in a surf-friendly California beach community not far from the mostly Latino city of Santa Ana, where he lived as a child.

In California, there are measures on the ballot right now about online gambling and abortion. But Flores said there are bigger issues, such as rapidly rising gasoline prices and increasing inflation across the state.

Republicans statewide and across the nation are forecasting a massive red wave as anxious Democrats defended their narrow majorities in Congress while struggling to overcome pervasive concerns about the economy, crime and President Joe Biden’s leadership. Democrats hoped that a backlash against the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade will save them, AP News reported.

The political environment has led to an unusually large playing field as emboldened Republicans pressed into Democratic strongholds like the Golden State.

While 2018 saw a "blue wave," when some suburban congressional districts flipped Democratic, Republicans will attempt to make gains across these districts in the November election.

President Joe Biden was in a neighboring coastal district last month on behalf of another endangered Southern California Democrat, Rep. Katie Porter, a star of the party’s progressive wing. SoCal Democrat Rep. Mike Levin also faced close competition against Republican Brian Maryott, who hoped to claim the 49th District seat.

The Levin and Porter contests are among about a dozen congressional races in California considered competitive — a handful are seen as toss-ups and are viewed by both parties as critical to control of the House.

“If Democrats are scratching and clawing to hang on to districts Biden carried by double digits, they have likely already lost the House,” said David Wasserman, an analyst with the Cook Political Report.

READ MORE: On The Ropes, California's House Democrats Turn To Biden For Rescue

As far as statewide races go, there was at least one that has excited voters. This year, controller, was a seat that lended a Republican candidate a shot at winning a statewide contest for the first time since 2006.

June’s primary was among the most interesting races statewide since Republican, Lanhee Chen, was able to advance.

Here are the statewide races voters will decide on.

Statewide Races

Millions of Californians will be called back to the ballot boxes this year to decide who will occupy the governor’s seat as well as a slew of other important statewide positions.

Golden Staters will be asked to vote on candidates for:

Governor

Gov. Gavin Newsom was up for re-election in 2022, and he’s likely to sail to another victory with ease after surviving a recall election last year and dominating in the primary election.

Nonetheless, he faces opponent state Sen. Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), whom he beat by nearly 40 points in the June primary.

Dahle’s campaign has raised just $2 million, while Newsom’s campaign has raised more than $23 million, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Newsom leads Dahle by a 27-point margin — 58 to 31 percent — among likely voters, according to a September Public Policy Institute of California survey.

The Democratic governor debated the lesser-known Dahle on Oct. 23, where the two went to the mattresses on issues such as abortion, gas prices, the drought and the favored rumor of Newsom's suspected run for president.

“I want to start out by thanking the governor for taking time out of going forward on his dream of being president of the United States and actually coming to California and having a debate,” Dahle said. “Californians are suffering. They’re fleeing California and they’re going to other states where he’s campaigning nationally.”

Moderators asked Newsom if he planned to serve out the full four years if he were handed another term.

"Yes," Newsom returned. "And I’ve barely been out of state. I was out of state for a few hours to take on his party and [the] leader of his party, Donald Trump, who he is a passionate supporter of."

READ MORE: Rumors Of Presidential Run Swirl As Newsom Seeks Re-election

Attorney General

Attorney General Rob Bonta was appointed after Xavier Becerra became the first Latino to hold the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services seat.

Bonta, a Democrat and former state lawmaker, faced off against Republican Nathan Hochman, a former assistant U.S. attorney general and a criminal attorney. Hochman says the state needs a new attorney general who will combat rising crime.

Hochman got 18 percent of the vote in the June 7 primary, while Bonta won 54.8 percent.

Insurance Commissioner

Incumbent Democrat Ricardo Lara will run for a second term as insurance commissioner, a seat that is tasked with regulating the state insurance industry. Republican cybersecurity equipment manufacturer Robert Howell will challenge Lara in the general election.

He has described himself as a “Reagan Republican,” who says he’s committed to helping wildfire victims and insurance premiums that are “abusively inflated,” CalMatters reported.

Secretary of State

Incumbent Secretary of State Shirley Weber, a Democrat, was appointed by Newsom after Alex Padilla ascended to his seat as a senator. She faces Republican Rob Bernosky, who describes himself as a “practical conservative.”

Bernosky, the chief financial officer of a tech company, is a longtime activist and former Hollister school board member. He previously ran for state Assembly in 2010 and in 2012 but was unsuccessful.

Weber said she plans to change the state’s recall system after the attempted recall of Newsom last year. Democrats argue that the recall process was abused.

“Very little conversation occurred about: Does this man need to be recalled? Has he done something so egregious that we want to remove him from office?” Weber told CalMatters.

READ MORE: What Would Shirley Weber Do Next As California Secretary Of State?

Controller

The race for controller in a California general election doesn't typically generate much interest, but June’s primary was among the most interesting races statewide. That’s because a Republican, Lanhee Chen, was able to advance in June. Chen opened the door for a Republican to have a shot at their first statewide office since 2006.

The state’s fiscal officer typically facilitates audits and serves on some 70 state boards and commissions.

On Tuesday, Chen faces Malia Cohen, a Democrat and member of the state Board of Equalization. Chen is a Stanford instructor and former top Republican adviser.

READ MORE: Chen Advances To Runoff For CA Controller

State Treasurer

Democratic incumbent Fiona Ma faces Republican Jack Guerrero in November. Guerrero is a certified public accountant serving on the Cudahy City Council in Los Angeles County.

Ma said her priority would be to meet Newsom’s goal of building 3.5 million homes by 2025, she told CalMatters.

Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Eleni Kounalakis, a Democrat, will be challenged by Republican Angela Underwood Jacobs, a bank manager who has experience serving as a member of the Lancaster City Council.

Kounalakis is the first woman to be elected lieutenant governor of California and said she wants to ensure a woman succeeds to the governor’s seat in 2026, hinting at a run herself.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Unlike the other statewide races, this competition is a nonpartisan one. In November, Lance Ray Christensen, an education policy executive, will try to unseat incumbent Tony Thurmond.

Propositions

Proposition 1

This measure would codify the rights to abortions and birth control within the California’s constitution. Read more about it here.

Proposition 26

California does not currently allow sports betting, but since the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door to legalized sports wagering three years ago, California has become the jackpot for the gambling industry since it has the most professional and college teams in the nation in addition to the largest population and concentration of wealth.

Prop. 26 is a constitutional amendment that would allow it in tribal casinos and racetracks. Read more about it here.

Proposition 27

Prop. 26 seeks to allow sports betting in tribal casinos only and racetracks while Prop. 27 is a constitutional amendment that would allow some tribes and gambling companies such as FanDuel and DraftKings to operate online or mobile sports betting outside of tribal lands. The dueling propositions present a political cage match between gambling entities battling for control over the future of the billion-dollar sports betting industry in California. Because both propositions are diametrically opposed, the passage of both would likely trigger legal battles. Read more about it here.

Proposition 28

Prop. 28 seeks to set aside funding every year for arts and music education in California’s K-12 public schools. Read more about it here.

Proposition 29

Prop. 29 would require clinics to have at least one physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on site when patients are being treated and to report infections related to dialysis treatment. Read more about it here.

Proposition 30

Prop. 30 would increase the tax on personal income above $2 million by 1.75 percent and dedicate the revenue to zero-emission vehicle subsidies, building charging stations and zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, reducing greenhouse gasses and hiring and training firefighters to help combat wildfires. Read more about it here.

Proposition 31

A California law banning the sale of flavored tobacco products in stores and vending machines passed in 2020 but was placed on hold when a referendum initiated by the tobacco industry qualified for the 2022 ballot. Now, the issue is being put to the voters. Proposition 31 essentially asks voters: should the ban go into effect? A yes vote would uphold the ban. A no-vote would kill it. Read more about it here.

Prop 1: California's Abortion Rights Amendment Explained
Prop 26: CA’s Tribal Legalized Sports Betting Measure Explained
Prop 27: CA’s Legalized Online Sports Betting Measure Explained
Prop 28: CA’s K-12 Art and Music Education Initiative Explained
Prop 29: CA’s Dialysis Clinic Requirements Initiative Explained
Prop 30: CA’s Clean Cars And Clean Air Act Explained
Prop 31: CA’s Flavored Tobacco Ban Referendum Explained

The Associated Press and CalMatters contributed to this report.