Updated November 29, 3:30 p.m
From running for governor to representing the Sacramento region in the state legislature, California voters have been asked to call a number of key offices in the 2022 midterm elections. Here’s a look at what we know about the results of some of the state’s most important races on Tuesday afternoon.
The results for most races may take several days to be known as absentee ballots continue to be received at county election offices for processing.
CapRadio and NPR rely on the Associated Press for race calls. Here is information on how the process works and what to expect with results in the coming days.
See the full California election results here and learn more about the state proposal results here.
Nationwide Offices
governor
Gavin Newsom will receive another term as governor of California after his re-election, according to an appeal by the Associated Press.
Newsom led Republican challenger Brian Dahle, a state senator from rural northern California, 59-41% Tuesday afternoon. The AP called the race shortly after polling stations closed on Election Day. After winning a recall election in 2021, Newsom has been in a comfortable position this cycle. He spent much of that fall’s campaign season running for other Democratic candidates and causes, including a nomination to add abortion rights to California’s constitution.
US Senate
Alex Padilla (D) has won his first full term in the US Senate after being appointed to fill the seat vacated by Vice President Kamala Harris. He was challenged by attorney Mark Meuser (R). Padilla is actually on the ballot twice, once for the remainder of Harris’ term and once for his first full term. The AP has called both races for Padilla.
Attorney General
Acting Rob Bonta (D) will remain as California Attorney General, according to an Associated Press race call. Bonta had around 59% of the vote Tuesday afternoon, with challenger Nathan Hochman (R) at 41% with around 97% of the expected vote, according to the AP.
Bonta was appointed to the position by Newsom in early 2021. He replaced Xavier Becerra, who was appointed to a cabinet position in the Biden administration. Hochmann is a former federal prosecutor who has not previously held public office.
controller
Democrat Malia Cohen has won the race for state control, according to an Associated Press race call. Cohen had around 55% of the vote on Tuesday with Republican Lanhee Chen at 45% with around 97% of the vote expected.
Cohen currently serves on the California Board of Equalization. She is also a former San Francisco supervisor. Chen, a Stanford University professor who has been endorsed by former Democratic presidential nominee Andrew Yang and endorsed by editorial offices such as the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle, has been viewed as a possibility to be the first Republican to hold statewide office in California since 2006 holds.
congress
3rd congressional district
Kevin Kiley, a member of the Republican Convention, has given Democrat Dr. Kermit Jones, a doctor and Navy veteran, according to an Associated Press race call Nov. 22. Kiley had 53% of the vote Tuesday afternoon, 85% of the expected vote.
Kiley and Jones competed to represent a massive new congressional district stretching from Plumas County to Death Valley. It also includes the Sacramento-area suburbs of Rocklin, Roseville, and Folsom.
9th Congress district
Josh Harder, a sitting Democrat, has won his race against Republican and San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti, according to an Associated Press call. Harder had 55% of the vote while Patti had 45%. Around 98 percent of the votes were counted on Tuesday afternoon.
The 9th Ward includes Stockton, Lodi, Tracy and Manteca.
State Legislation
8th Senate District
Sacramento City Council member Angelique Ashby had 52% of the vote, compared to 48% for former California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. Around 82% of the votes were received on Tuesday afternoon. Jones conceded to Ashby by email on Tuesday.
The two Democrats are vying in a bitter and expensive race to succeed outgoing Senator Richard Pan. An infusion of independent spending in the final weeks of the campaign resulted in a spate of negative mailers and ads targeting both candidates.
The seat represents the cities of Sacramento and Elk Grove in the Senate.
6th Senate District
In the 6th Senate district, former Republican Houseman Roger Niello had 53% of the vote, compared to 47% for Democratic San Juan School Board member Paula Villescaz. On Tuesday afternoon, 80% of the expected votes have been counted. The district includes the Sacramento County communities of Lincoln, Roseville, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and Galt.
6. Assembly District
Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D) will serve another term in the state assembly, according to an Associated Press call. McCarty had 65% of the vote and his challenger, airline pilot Cathy Cook (R), had 35% of the vote Tuesday with 82% of the vote expected. The district includes Natomas, downtown Sacramento and the Arden Arcade area.
7. Assembly District
Republican challenger Josh Hoover retained a lead on the current vote count IActing Assembly Member Ken Cooley Tuesday afternoon, 50.45% to 49.55%. According to the AP, around 82% of the expected votes were received. Cooley conceded Tuesday’s race
Cooley has been in the Legislature since 2012 and is seeking two more years before reaching the term limit. The district became more conservative after last year’s redistricting.
10. Assembly District
In another Democrat-Democrat race, Stephanie Nguyen had 54% of the vote while her opponent Eric Guerra had 46%. With around 82% of the expected votes as of Tuesday afternoon, Eric Guerra is on the Sacramento City Council and Stephanie Nguyen is a council member for Elk Grove, which also runs a nonprofit organization.
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