California Midterm Voter Guide

In a competitive midterm election year, California voters face difficult choices about state propositions and candidates.

On Nov. 8, all 435 U.S. House of Representative members and 35 senators are up for election. In California, Democrats hope to retain their supermajority in the state legislature while Republicans aim to elect the first Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

The past two and a half years have been politically tumultuous in California. The partisan rancor culminated in the attempted and failed recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom last year. Next week, California residents have the opportunity to support officials and propositions they believe in, although many will have to carefully note their votes thanks to redrawn districts this year.

Propositions

There are seven propositions for California voters to consider. 

Proposition 1 would constitutionally codify rights for reproductive freedom, including the right to seek an abortion and the right to choose or refuse contraceptives, in the California Constiution. Proponents of Proposition 1 argue that it would protect an individual’s choice in reproductive care and ensure that medical decisions would continue to stay confidential between a patient and their provider. Those opposed to Proposition 1 claim that it is unnecessary since state law already protects the right to have an abortion and implementing this new measure would be more costly for taxpayers. Currently, abortion is legal in California up until fetal viability or if the mother or child is at risk. Proposition 1 is supported by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), Planned Parenthood and the California Medical Association, among other groups. It is opposed by the Republican Party of California, the Knights of Columbus, and former U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell (R). More information on Proposition 1 can be found in this article from The Santa Clara. 

Propositions 26 and 27 would regulate sports betting in California. Proposition 26 would allow  in-person roulette, dice games and sports wagering on tribal lands. Proposition 27 would legalize online sports gambling for people who are 21 or older. A YES vote on both would legalize and tax sports betting, providing resources for mental health care (15% of revenue from Proposition 26), services aimed at helping Indian tribes (15% of revenue from Proposition 27) and homelessness programs (85% of revenue from Proposition 27). A NO vote would result in the continued illegality of sports betting. Currently, 35 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized sports betting. Proposition 26 is being primarily supported by gaming tribes like the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and Pechanga Band of Indians, and is opposed by casinos and gaming businesses. Proposition 27 is supported by online gambling businesses and the gaming tribes supporting Proposition 26 are opposing Proposition 27. 

Propositions 28 and 30 would provide state funding for certain programs. Proposition 28 is geared towards bolstering arts and music education in PK-12 public schools by allocating additional funding to these programs. Proposition 30 would increase taxes for individuals who make $2 million annually in personal income and allocate this tax revenue to fund programs designed to reduce air pollution and prevent wildfires. Opponents emphasize that the creation of a statewide charging network to support zero-emission vehicle programs would put unnecessary strain on an already-struggling electricity grid. 

Propositions 29 and 31 are healthcare related. Proposition 29 would require dialysis clinics to have trained medical staff on-site during all patient treatment hours. Those in favor state that this measure is important because it would ensure dialysis patients receive proper care from a clinician or doctor and mitigate the risk of infection. Opponents counter that this law would cause dialysis clinics to shut down from the burdensome regulation, risking the lives of 80,000 dialysis patients. Proposition 31 approves a 2020 law prohibiting the retail sale of most flavored tobacco products. Its aim is to reduce tobacco-related healthcare expenses and protect kids by ending the sale of flavored tobacco. The ban would reduce state tobacco tax revenues by tens of millions of dollars annually. 

Candidates: In-State Races

There are a number of seats up for election in California. Two candidates are competing for the position of governor: incumbent Democrat Gavin Newsom and Republican ​​Brian Dahle. Dahle has worked in state legislature for over a decade and touts himself as a strong challenger to Newsom, especially in regards to COVID-19 policies. Newsom gained a national name for placing the first stay-at-home order against COVID-19 in March of 2022 and for leading California’s efforts to expand abortion access. However, some progressives in the state believe he has not fulfilled campaign promises of addressing the homeless crisis and revamping the healthcare system.

Currently, the California State Senate is composed of 31 Democrats and 9 Republicans. Republicans need to flip 5 seats if they are to ensure that Democrats do not have a supermajority in the upper house.  

In the Santa Clara district (District 10) two Democrats are competing: Fremont mayor Lily Mei and Hayward council member Aisha Wahab. Mei is running a relatively non-ideological campaign, instead choosing to focus on her accomplishments in office. She has faced some backlash from the Democratic party, however, and was deemed an anti-LGBTQ candidate by the Alameda County Democratic Party. She supports and receives funding from business groups and moderate Democrats. Wahab is aiming to become the first Afghan woman elected to California’s state office. Wahab is the Democratic Party’s pick, and has strong support in San Francisco and Oakland. Her primary campaign goals are to create more affordable housing, combat climate change and support small businesses. She also supports protecting reproductive rights and improving the police force, especially in terms of mental health and homelessness training. Find more information about other districts here.

In the California State Assembly, all 80 seats are up for reelection. In the Santa Clara district (District 26), voters must pick between incumbent Democrat Evan Low and Republican Tim Gorsulowsky. Low plans to continue supporting environmental protection policies and expanding reproductive rights. As chair of the LGBT Caucus, he plans to continue providing resources and safety to California’s LGBTQ+ population. He also supports affordable housing and, as co-chair of the California Legislative Technology & Innovation Caucus, hopes to promote and protect California’s technology sectors. Gorsulowsky owns a Silicon Valley security business, and his primary goal is to strengthen the police force to improve public safety. He plans to improve the education system, stating that “Common Core was proven to be unsuccessful,” and wants to better regulate green energy and fire policies. 

Candidates: Congressional Seats

For the U.S. Senate, constituents will decide between Republican Mark Meuser and incumbent Democrat Alex Padilla. Meuser is known for being involved in a number of lawsuits against Gavin Newsom for alleged abuses of power during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though Meuser’s anti-crime rhetoric and dedication to ensuring constitutional rights may be valuable for undecided voters, he nonetheless faces an uphill battle against Padilla due to California’s largely Democratic voting pool. Padilla was appointed by Gov. Newsom when former Senator Kamala Harris left the position and has a relatively stable Democratic backing. He has shown support for issues such as Medicare for all and ending the Senate’s filibuster. 

The U.S. House district that encompasses Santa Clara (District 17) has voters choosing between Democratic incumbent Rohit “Ro” Khanna and Republican Ritesh Tandon. Khanna is working towards revamping the country’s climate agenda and making public colleges tuition-free, among other goals. Tandon is passionate about strengthening the police and military to promote safety and to bring STEM education to the forefront of public schools.

How to Vote

Californians can vote early for the Nov. 8, 2022, general election. Active registered voters receive a vote-by-mail ballot automatically, but any registered voter can request and receive a ballot in person via a county election office. Mail ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 8, 2022, and drop-box ballots must be deposited by 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 8. The ballot must be filled in blue or black ink, and anyone can drop the ballot off for a voter so long as the authorization section found on the outside of the ballot envelope is filled out.

Information for voter registration: registertovote.ca.gov

Ballot tracking:wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov