SAN DIEGO (KGTV) San Diego County voters will decide this November on Measure B also known as the San Diego County Health and Safety Act a proposed half-cent increase to the county's sales tax.

If approved, 60% of the funds would go toward health care, childcare and nutrition services. Roughly 17% would be directed to public safety services, including wildfire prevention. A little over 22% would be dedicated to addressing the Tijuana River sewage crisis, a problem that has plagued the South Bay for decades.

The measure is estimated to generate between $400 million and $450 million annually. It carries no end date but would require a citizen oversight committee to audit how the funds are spent.

Measure B is supported by county firefighters, health care unions and childcare organizations, who argue the money is needed due to uncertainty with federal and state funding.

Heidi de la Cruz, a supporter who lives in Ocean Beach, doesn't mind the tax hike.

"I mean at this point, what other options do we have?" de la Cruz said.

"I have no problem for my tax, the taxes that I pay to go towards clean water and supporting families and firefighters in our county." de la Cruz said.

Not everyone supports the measure. Critics say they don't want another tax increase, with some arguing the sewage crisis should be a U.S. and Mexico government problem to solve.

Marvel Harrison, who lives at a waterfront property in Imperial Beach, is undecided on the issue. A vocal advocate for fixing the sewage crisis, she isn't sure those affected by it should have to fund the solution.

"I don't like that it doesn't have an endpoint to it." Harrison said.

"I think that it's a little strange that the people who are being poisoned are then the ones who are going to be penalized and we have the additional tax." Harrison said.

Harrison isn't sure Measure B is the answer to solving the sewage contamination.

"We need a state of emergency by whoever becomes governor in this state because our current governor has been spineless and has not done, anything about it" Harrison said.

A new statewide ABC 10News/Union-Tribune poll shows San Diego County voters broadly support four of the five components of Ballot Measure A, but the measure itself is backed by just 40% of likely voters, with opposition to extending supervisor term limits emerging as a potential drag on overall support.

Among all registered voters, 71% say the county should create an ethics commission, 71% say the county should create an auditor position, 67% say the county should create an independent budget analyst position, and 61% say San Diego County supervisors should vote to confirm senior appointed county staff members, who are currently appointed by the supervisor-chosen top executive. Opposition to those four components ranges from 9% to 17%.

But 76% of registered voters say county supervisors should continue to have a 2-term limit in office. Just 10% want to see the term limit increased to 3.

Ballot Measure A would put all five components into the county charter.

When likely voters are asked how they would vote on Measure A, 40% say yes and 35% say no an uncomfortably small margin, given both the tendency of ballot measure opposition to increase as elections near and the fact that 1 in 4 likely voters say they are still undecided.

Support for the measure is highest among voters ages 18 to 34, where it passes by a 29-point margin, and among liberal voters, who back it by 26 points. Opposition is strongest among voters who supported Donald Trump in 2024, where the measure fails by a 13-point margin, and among voters age 50 and older, where it fails by 10 points.

A separate measure, Ballot Measure B, which would increase the sales tax by one-half cent to fund wildfire prevention, social services, and a cleanup of sewage in the Tijuana River Valley, is performing better. It passes by a 14-point margin, with 49% of likely voters saying yes and 35% saying no. Seventeen percent remain undecided.

The youngest voters are again the most supportive, backing Measure B by a 45-point margin. Voters in households earning less than $40,000 annually support it by 40 points, progressives by 36 points, and liberals and those without a college degree by 30 to 31 points. Opposition is strongest among seniors, where the measure fails by a 12-point margin, and runs in the single digits among Trump voters, conservatives, and upper-income households.

The nonpartisan race for county treasurer-tax collector has not captured widespread voter attention. Fifty-eight percent of likely voters say they are not very familiar (34%) or not at all familiar (24%) with the race, while 35% say they are somewhat familiar (25%) or very familiar (10%) with it.

Seventy percent of likely voters are undecided between the two candidates. Larry Cohen currently stands at 17% and Shirley Nakawatase at 13%. Among the 10% of voters who say they are very familiar with the contest, Nakawatase leads with 38% to Cohen's 30%, with 32% of even those voters still undecided.

In other findings, President Donald Trump holds a net approval rating of -34 among registered voters in San Diego County. Congress has a net approval of -41. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has a net approval of -9, with 28% approving and 37% disapproving of the job they are doing.

On ICE, 32% of voters approve and 56% disapprove of the agency's performance, a net approval of -24. Thirty percent say ICE is making Californians safer, while 56% say ICE is making Californians less safe.

The war in Iran draws the lowest marks of any topic in the poll. Nineteen percent approve and 65% disapprove, for a net approval of -46. Just 16% say the war in Iran is making Californians safer, while 58% say it is making them less safe. Twenty-six percent are unsure.

Click here to view the full poll.

(KGTV) A new statewide ABC 10News/Union-Tribune poll shows Xavier Becerra leading the race for California Governor.

A total of 55 percent of those asked said they would vote for Becerra if the election were held today, while 33 percent said theyd vote for Republican Steve Hilton.

Meanwhile, 58 percent of those asked said they would vote for a Democrat for the U.S. House, while 33 percent said theyd vote Republican.

On Proposition 39, which would prohibit citizens from voting unless they show government-issued ID, 48 percent of those asked said theyd vote yes, while 38 percent said they would vote no.

Meanwhile, 48 percent of those asked said theyd vote yes on Proposition 40, which would impose a one-time tax on certain taxpayers, while 40 percent said theyd vote no.

Of issues most important to Californians, 41 percent said cost of living was the biggest issue, followed by homelessness at 11 percent.

A total of 66 percent said they disapprove of the job President Donald Trump is doing, while 65 percent of those asked said they disapprove of the job Congress is doing.

Meanwhile, 44 percent of those asked approve of the job Governor Gavin Newsom is doing, while 42 percent disapprove.

A total of 39 percent of those asked said they disapprove of the job the California Legislature is doing.

For the statewide poll, a total of 1,000 adults were interviewed from September 15 through September 20.

Click here to view the full results of the statewide poll.

Xavier Becerra also leads the race in San Diego County with 48 percent of those asked saying theyd cast their vote for Becerra, while 35 percent said theyd choose Hilton.

A total of 53 percent of those asked said theyd vote for a Democratic candidate in the US House, while 36 percent said theyd vote for a Republican.

Cost of living was also the most important issue in San Diego County at 49 percent, while 12 percent of those asked said homelessness was Californias biggest issue.

For the San Diego County poll, a total of 700 adults were interviewed from September 15 through September 20.

Click here to view the full county poll.

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - California Treasurer Fiona Ma, a candidate for lieutenant governor, urged voters not to use the U.S. Mail when returning their ballots in November's election during a campaign stop in San Diego Sunday.

Ma held a news conference Sunday after attending services at Bethel Baptist Church in southeast San Diego with Shane Harris, a public advocate and civil rights activist.

Ma reminded voters that ballots will begin arriving in the mail in about two weeks and urged them to be sure to sign the back of the envelope before returning the ballot or it won't be counted.

"And put your ballot into a designated ballot box, not the U.S. Postal Service," Ma said. "As we know, there have been complications in terms of mail and expediency, and so to make sure your vote is counted, make sure you put it into a designated ballot box, usually close to part of a government building or a library or a school," she added.

Ma is facing off against Republican former state Sen. Gloria Romano, who represented the Los Angeles area.

"We are all mail-in ballots now here in California since COVID," Ma said.

Sunday's appearance was part of efforts to deepen Ma's relationship with San Diego's Black community, which Harris says must remain engaged by candidates seeking statewide leadership.

A new poll shows Democrat Marni Von Wilpert leading the race in California's 48th Congressional District.

According to the poll, Von Wilpert holds a narrow lead over Republican Jim Desmond, 45% to 42%, while 13% of likely voters remain undecided.

Most voters said they were satisfied with their choices in the race. 44% said they were somewhat satisfied, 22% said they were very satisfied, and 13% said they were unsure.

When asked about the biggest issue facing Congress, 26% of voters cited inflation and the economy, while 23% pointed to threats to democracy.

The poll also found that 57% of voters believe the war in Iran is making Americans less safe, compared with 29% who said it is making Americans safer.

Elsewhere, 51% of voters said ICE is making Americans less safe, while 41% said the agency is making Americans safer.

SurveyUSA interviewed 625 adults in California's redistricted 48th Congressional District from Aug. 27 through Sept. 1, 2026.

(KGTV) This week, we're taking 10Talks out into the field. Republican candidate for governor Steve Hilton met Kimberly Hunt at the border to see the Tijuana sewage crisis firsthand.

Hilton said during the conversation that, as governor, he would declare a state of emergency.

"How is this not an emergency? How is this not something that obviously requires the governor of the state where this is happening to just get on top of it and take some action?" Hilton said.

"And it starts with the declaration of the state of emergency, cause all the local leaders here have explained that that is what begins the process of solving it, um, amazing. Well, of course, I would do that as governor, of course. It's the least you can do."

Watch the full video in the player below:

ABC 10News has also reached out to Xavier Becerra to talk about important issues affecting San Diegans and is waiting to hear back.

The race for California's newly redrawn 48th Congressional District is quickly becoming one of the most competitive and closely watched congressional contests in the nation.

Following the approval of Proposition 50 last November, district boundaries across California were redrawn, reshaping several congressional seats including the 48th District. The changes have created a more politically balanced district and set the stage for a high-profile general election matchup between Republican Jim Desmond and Democrat Marni Von Wilpert.

Political observers say the stakes extend far beyond San Diego County.

"The road to Washington runs through San Diego this year," said Corey Gustafson, former chair of the San Diego County Republican Party.

The new district now stretches beyond much of North County San Diego to include parts of San Marcos, Vista, and Escondido, along with portions of Riverside County and the Coachella Valley. Previously, the district had a different geographic and political makeup.

According to Gustafson, the redrawn boundaries have created a district where both parties have a realistic path to victory.

"It's a very narrow field where one party or the other can actually compete," he said.

He estimates Democrats hold roughly a four-point registration advantage in the district but notes that the primary election results showed just how competitive the race could become.

"It looks like this is going to be the hotbed of activity in the congressional election, not only in California but across the nation," Gustafson said.

Desmond, a San Diego County supervisor and former mayor of San Marcos, finished first in the primary election. He has already secured endorsements from former Congressman Darrell Issa and President Donald Trump.

"I've been a mayor for 12 years. I've been a county supervisor. I'm a boots-on-the-ground type of person, and the people I want to win over are the voters," Desmond said. "Outside help is wonderful, but the focus for me is going to be the residents of Southern California."

Meanwhile, Von Wilpert, a San Diego City Council member, says the primary results demonstrate that Democrats have a viable path to victory in November.

"It shows that Democrats have a real chance of winning this race," Von Wilpert said. "It will be tough, but I've beaten Republicans before."

With control of the House potentially hinging on a handful of swing districts nationwide, analysts expect outside groups and national political organizations to invest heavily in the race.

Gustafson believes the contest could ultimately become one of the most expensive congressional races in California history.

"This race absolutely has a chance to be the most expensive race in the history of a California congressional race," he said.

One reason is the district's geography. The 48th spans portions of both the San Diego and Los Angeles media markets, significantly increasing the cost of advertising and voter outreach efforts.

"To be able to buy advertising, you're going to have to have enormous resources," Gustafson said. "We might be able to see a record broken in this race."

As the general election approaches, both campaigns are expected to intensify their outreach efforts while national political figures and organizations keep a close eye on the district.

With a competitive electorate, redrawn boundaries, and national attention focused on the outcome, the 48th Congressional District is positioned to become one of the defining House races of 2026.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton sat down with ABC 10News Anchor Kimberly Hunt for a wide-ranging interview after Primary Night.

Watch the full interview in the player below:

We've asked Xavier Becerra for an interview and have not yet heard back.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) As the race for California's 48th Congressional District heats up, the top two candidates are receiving additional support from national political organizers.

On Thursday afternoon, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that Democratic Candidate Marni von Wilpert had been added to the committee's "Red and Blue" program, which provides candidates with organizational and fundraising support.

The DCCC released the following statement.

A spokesperson with the National Republican Congressional Committee responded to the news late Thursday afternoon.

Republican Jim Desmond, who is facing von Wilpert, has been added to the NRCC's "MAGA Majority Program", which also provides resources to candidates.

2026 marks the first election in the 48th Congressional District since California voters approved a proposition to redraw the district.

Proposition 50 was passed after Republicans in Texas redrew their congressional map, a move that California leaders said was designed to favor Republicans.

The passage of Prop 50 increases Democrats' chances of winning an additional five U.S. House seats in the state in November.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) Early election returns showed Republican Jim Desmond with a large lead, with Democrat Marni von Wilpert in second, in the race for the 48th Congressional District seat.

As of Wednesday morning, Desmond the termed-out District 5 county supervisor has garnered 42% of the vote. Von wilpert has taken 19% of the vote, while Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar is in third with 10% of the vote.

LATEST ELECTION RESULTS

The top two vote-getters will face off in November.

In a statement to the media late Tuesday night, Desmond said, in part: "This win belongs to the families who are sick of being taxed out of their own neighborhoods, to the small business owners hanging on, to the seniors stretching a fixed income further every month. They're done being ignored by politicians who tax everything and listen to no one. They voted for a secure border, lower taxes, and a chance to actually afford the life they've worked for. I hear them, and I'm not going to forget it."

Von wilpert, a San Diego City Councilmember for District 5, said in a statement, in part: Im energized by these super strong early results and ready to continue the fight to take back Congress. Thank you to all the people who have powered this campaign and who continue to believe in our fight to stop Trump and build an America where opportunity and dignity belong to everyone again. To my fellow Democrats in this race thank you. We ran on the same values and we have the same mission taking our country back from Trump.

She went on to say Desmond has proven he will be just another rubber stamp for an extreme MAGA agenda that raises costs, attacks fundamental freedoms and leaves working families behind. I got into this race to fight for the America we believe in where workers get a fair shot, the rule of law means something, and we treat one another with dignity and decency, not cruelty and contempt.

In a statement following the release of early results, Campa-Najjar announced he would no longer be pursuing a career in politics. He stated, in part: "While my political career is permanently over, I'm deeply grateful to the voters and supporters who let me into their lives and enriched mine. I promise to continue to serve my country and community, because true patriotism means loving your country even when it doesn't always love us back."

The redrawn 48th District now stretches from San Diego's North County into the Coachella Valley and the Palm Springs area.

The redistricting was approved by voters in November 2025.

Republican Rep. Darrell Issa represents the district and is set to retire. He endorsed Desmond's bid to replace him earlier this year.

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra appeared headed to November's general election Wednesday as they held the top two spots in California's gubernatorial primary.

With returns still being counted statewide, Hilton had 1,244,222 votes, or 27.3%, while Becerra received 1,168,247 votes, or 25.6%, according to the California Secretary of State's Office. Democrat and billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer was third with 900,442 votes, or 19.7%, followed by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco with 509,302 votes, or 11.2%.

LATEST ELECTION RESULTS

The race to succeed termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom has been a lively one, but the campaign in recent days appeared to boil down to a toss-up among Hilton, Becerra and Steyer, and Tuesday night's results showed that scenario playing out.

Becerra had surged in recent polls, with Hilton and Steyer trailing right behind.

Hilton saw a boost in support, moving past Bianco, after being endorsed by President Donald Trump in April.

Hilton has urged voters to back his bid for governor to avoid the possibility of being locked out of the November election by two Democrats. Hilton has spent most of his career as a political strategist and observer.

He worked for former British Prime Minister David Cameron, after which he moved to California, where he's resided for close to 15 years. Hilton has made tax reductions, spending limits and curbs on bureaucratic red tape some of his central campaign themes.

Hilton spoke to his supporters Tuesday night in Huntington Beach, standing on a stage with the words "Change is Coming" behind him.

"I thought, is that a little premature to write the words `change is coming'?" he said. "I don't think so, because change is coming. Change is coming to California. Change is coming to California and it's long overdue."

He added, "It looks very much as if Californians really will have the chance to vote for change in November and take our state in a new direction, a fresh start for our state, which is long overdue. But I just want to say something to every single person who voted for me, and every single person who voted in this election, whether you voted for me or not. I am here for you, for every single one of you."

Hilton has leveled sharp criticism at Becerra over a campaign finance scandal involving two of the candidate's employees caught misappropriating funds. Becerra has denied any knowledge of the fraud.

Becerra has said his priorities as governor would be "fighting Donald Trump"; delivering affordable healthcare "without debt or delays"; building more affordable housing; using "the power of the state to lower prices where the market has failed," ensuring artificial intelligence "that works for everyone" and to "govern differently" in the effort to reduce homelessness, which he called "a moral emergency and policy failure."

If elected, the former state attorney general and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services would be California's second Latino governor since statehood and first since Romualdo Pacheco, who served from Feb, 27-Dec. 9, 1875.

"The California dream? It's alive tonight," Becerra told his supporters in Los Angeles Tuesday night.

He said he ran "a campaign fueled by little more than grassroots support, some sweat equity and the full faith and confidence that California is always worth the fight."

"Almost immediately, he's counted out, an afterthought, overlooked by many, outspent by a ton," Becerra said. "Even called along the way to drop out and save us all the trouble. Well guess what, the underdog stayed in the fight. Like my parents, I never gave up, never stopped putting one foot in front of the other, never stopped believing in the beacon-like goodness of California, and thankfully, neither did you. Because we know the true miracle of Democracy is this -- after all the exhausting ads are run, the pundits are spun and the billionaires trying to buy their way in, it's the people, only the people who get the last word. And tonight the people of the great state of California in the greatest nation on Earth have spoken, loudly and proudly."

During his campaign, Steyer detailed plans to reduce gas prices and bring electricity costs down.

The billionaire investor said "corporations and billionaires (should) pay more taxes." He has highlighted a desire to generate greater employment in the television and film industry statewide by combating runaway production with stay-at-home incentives, as well by eliminating burdensome regulations.

Bianco cast himself as the conservatives' choice in the race. He has called for increasing "penalties on repeat offenders ... to keep dangerous criminals off our streets," while bolstering "legal aid and mental health services for crime victims."

Bianco has made border security a priority in his platform, saying California's "sanctuary state policies" should be abolished to combat human trafficking and stanch the influx of illegal drugs.

Roughly five dozen gubernatorial candidates were on the ballot. Among them was former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who conceded defeat early.

"Tonight didn't turn out the way we hoped, and I offer my congratulations to the winners and offer my best wishes for the road ahead," he said in a statement. "I'm grateful beyond words to my family, my friends, organized labor, and community organizations who stood with us, our staff, and our volunteers."

The statewide ballot also included primaries for seven other statewide offices, four seats on the Board of Equalization, all of California's 52 congressional seats, 20 of the 40 state Senate seats and all 80 seats in the Assembly.

Phones out and eyes glued to screens, San Diego County Democrats packed Stone Brewing in Liberty Station for a watch party as primary results rolled in.

The crowd gathered closely around live results trackers, waiting to see how the night would unfold and came away with at least one certainty: their party will be represented in the gubernatorial race on the November ballot.

Shay Franco-Clausen, co-chair of the California Democratic Party's LGBTQ Caucus, said the outcome was far from guaranteed heading into the night.

"We weren't sure how this election would turn out. This was a very big toss-up, I think, in all the races. But, I feel like its, everyone here is really excited about what we're going to do next."

Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party, said the primary process did what it was supposed to do.

"In the grand scheme of things, the primary tested the candidates, the bad ones fell out, the ones who weren't going to make it also fell out, and so now we're going to have the result that we all expected."

Not all of the night's results were expected, though. Franco-Clausen said some of the other races caught her off guard.

"I'm shocked by all of them. How about the (Superintendent of Public Instruction) race? I didn't see Sonja Shaw coming in over Richard Barrera. It was a little shocking, but he's still in the race."

As results continued to come in, Democrats at the watch party said there is still work ahead and hope that work will lead to meaningful change.

Rodriguez-Kennedy said the moment calls for bold action, not caution.

"This is not the time for going along to get along, this is not the time for moderation, this is the time to, like, really look at the problems, see what's working, see what's not, and really try new things for the people."

The focus for the party now shifts to unifying behind a single candidate ahead of the general election.

Follow ABC 10News Anchor Max Goldwasser on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) It was a packed ballroom at the U.S. Grant Hotel in Downtown San Diego with local Republican leaders, and voters waited for the primary results to be tallied.

The Chairwoman of the San Diego County Republican Party said Tuesday night was one of positivity and momentum.

Everybodys very excited. Were so happy to see our candidates really come to the top, Paula Whitsell, Chairwoman of the San Diego County Republican Party, said.

Those at the Grant approached Tuesday nights Primary Election with optimism as they found out who would be on the ballot in November for the general election.

One of the main focuses as people began paying attention to the early poll numbers was the governors race.

The top two Republican candidates for the governors seat are businessman and former network news contributor Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

The Chairwoman of the San Diego County Republican Party told ABC 10News she feels a Republican gubernatorial candidate does have a fighting chance in a blue state like California.

It doesnt matter whether youre Republican, Democrat, or Independent; everybody can see the state of the State of California. So, I think thats going to get across the finish line, Whitsell said.

UPDATE (June 3, 8 a.m.): As of Wednesday morning, Republican Jim Desmond has a large lead and appears to be on the way to the November general election, with Democrat Marni von Wilpert in second.

In a statement to the media late Tuesday night, Desmond said, in part: "This win belongs to the families who are sick of being taxed out of their own neighborhoods, to the small business owners hanging on, to the seniors stretching a fixed income further every month. They're done being ignored by politicians who tax everything and listen to no one. They voted for a secure border, lower taxes, and a chance to actually afford the life they've worked for. I hear them, and I'm not going to forget it."

Von wilpert said in a statement, in part: Im energized by these super strong early results and ready to continue the fight to take back Congress. Thank you to all the people who have powered this campaign and who continue to believe in our fight to stop Trump and build an America where opportunity and dignity belong to everyone again. To my fellow Democrats in this race thank you. We ran on the same values and we have the same mission taking our country back from Trump.

LATEST ELECTION RESULTS

She went on to say Desmond has proven he will be just another rubber stamp for an extreme MAGA agenda that raises costs, attacks fundamental freedoms and leaves working families behind. I got into this race to fight for the America we believe in where workers get a fair shot, the rule of law means something, and we treat one another with dignity and decency, not cruelty and contempt.

The contest to replace outgoing GOP Rep. Darrell Issa attracted 12 candidates, including Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, who announced he would no longer be pursuing a career in politics.

In a statement following the release of early results, Campa-Najjar said, in part: "While my political career is permanently over, I'm deeply grateful to the voters and supporters who let me into their lives and enriched mine. I promise to continue to serve my country and community, because true patriotism means loving your country even when it doesn't always love us back."

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - The 48th Congressional District race has become one of the most competitive races in California one that could determine who gets control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Three of the biggest names in the race are Republican San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, San Diego City Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert, and former congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar.

The newly redrawn 48th District now stretches from North County San Diego into the Coachella Valley and the Palm Springs area.

Throughout Election Day, voters dropped off ballots and cast their votes, many saying they came to the polls with very different priorities in mind.

Voter Heather Rynerson said integrity and follow-through are what she looks for in a candidate.

"Do they, um, do what they said when they're trying to get elected through their campaign, and do they have integrity? It's very important." Rynerson said.

Rynerson also cited child protection and abortion policy as top concerns.

"The protection of children. Um, abortion is a very personal and a very volatile topic, but there are some laws that have been passed that the people didn't get to really vote on." Rynerson said.

Voter Patricia Brockmeyer said taxes were her top priority.

"Lower gas taxes, federal income, state income, yeah, I mean, kids can't buy houses because a lot of the taxes. So yeah, I'd like to see them go away. -- I reduced -- anyway." Brockmeyer said.

Voter John Woosley said support for the military was the issue that mattered most to him.

"Somebody who's gonna recognize our soldiers, who's gonna give them the respect that they deserve, who's gonna, uh, you know, celebrate them on Memorial Day and not anybody else is, is really important for me." Woosley said.

Desmond spoke at his watch party, expressing confidence about voter turnout.

"Of course we'll, you know, see what their, you know, their strengths and weaknesses are and going forward, but I think we've got a good. We got a good shot of winning this no matter, no matter who I'm up against." Desmond said.

Von Wilpert's team released a statement saying she is energized by strong early results and is ready to continue the fight to take back Congress.

In a statement, she added, "With control of the House on the line, there has never been a more consequential race for Congress in our region. This November, voters will have a clear choice: between more chaos, corruption and cruelty or a leader who will stand up and fight for our communities. "

While vote totals have not been finalized, Campa-Najjar's team has not responded to a request for comment.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego voters appeared to be rejecting Measure A Wednesday, a proposed tax on homes left unoccupied for more than half the year, according to updated results from the county Registrar of Voters.

With votes still being counted, the measure was failing with 109,363 votes, or 57.8%, against it and 79,810 votes, or 42.2%, in support. A simple majority was required for passage.

Measure A, dubbed the "Non-Primary Homes Tax," would impose annual taxes on residential properties within the city that remain vacant for more than 182 days per year. The tax would start at $8,000 in 2027 and increase to $10,000 in subsequent years.

The San Diego City Council voted 8-1 to place the measure on this year's ballot.

Supporters argued the tax would help address the city's housing shortage by encouraging owners to rent or sell vacant properties while generating revenue for housing and other city services. Opponents contended the measure raised questions about enforcement, legality and how any revenue would ultimately be spent.

In a Tuesday night statement, Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera said that San Diegans "showed up tonight against more than $1.3 million in big money opposition spending -- more than four times what our coalition spent -- and they did it because they're tired of watching homes sit empty while their neighbors sleep on the street and struggle to keep a roof over their heads."

"Whatever the final number, the fight to make San Diego a place working people can afford has only just started," said Elo-Rivera, who proposed the ballot measure. "We're going to count every vote, and we're going to keep going either way."

Elo-Rivera said the measure would apply to around 5,100 residences or around 1% of San Diego homes.

Measure A backers said that monied interests "(flooded) the zone with falsehoods, mistruths and scare tactics."

"Homes for San Diego ran a campaign focused on facts, organic storytelling, and community dialogue with the support of teachers, firefighters, veterans, neighbors and dozens of San Diego community, housing, and labor organizations," the backers continued.

At a recent news conference supporting Measure A, Elo-Rivera said the measure will "encourage the absentee owners and investors to either rent those homes out or sell them to San Diegans, or contribute to our General Fund so that we can keep day centers open, fund eviction prevention, keep libraries open, park staff and build affordable housing."

Measure A's supporters argue the largely unoccupied homes have been hoarded by corporations and wealthy investors, reducing the housing supply for working-class San Diegans.

The measure includes a number of exemptions, including those who own homes that are unoccupied due to military deployments, the owner's death within a two-year period, or owners who are in a medical care facility.

"Measure A won't fix this year's budget, but it makes sure we're not having the same painful conversation again and again and again, and we're doing that by asking those who have the most to pay their fair share," Elo-Rivera said.

But opponents say the money generated by the tax won't go specifically toward new housing and that similar measures in other cities had little to no measurable effects on housing construction or costs.

Even if approved, opponents say the measure won't be able to withstand a legal challenge, as a similar tax in San Francisco -- which targeted vacant apartment units -- was ruled unconstitutional by a judge.

Raul Campillo, the lone council member to oppose Measure A, said the San Diego City Attorney's Office was not able to articulate whether Measure A could avoid similar litigation.

Campillo said at a news conference opposing the measure that those litigation fees would be paid by taxpayers, while none of the measure's financial benefits would be seen while it remains in legal limbo.

"There is significant legal risk here by putting this before the voters and having them approve it, only to be mired in litigation," Campillo said.

Opponents say there is additional uncertainty regarding how the measure will be enforced and that the costs incurred by the city unit tasked with tracking and collecting the tax will end up consuming much of the taxes on their own.

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones held a commanding lead Wednesday in the race for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors' District 5 seat.

With votes still being counted, Jones had 41% of the vote, followed by Kyle Krahel, a Democratic Party official, with 20.3%, and Vista Mayor John Franklin with 19.4%, according to the county Registrar of Voters.

In a statement late Tuesday, Jones said she was "grateful for the support" from voters, and "(looks) forward to uniting voters to win the election in November so we can bring common-sense back to county government and reduce the cost of living in San Diego."

LATEST ELECTION RESULTS

The two remaining candidates, tribal leader Norma Contreras and former public health professor Sasha Miller, received 10.79% and 7.93%, respectively. Write-in candidates accounted for 0.32% of the vote, according to the county.

The top two finishers in Tuesday's primary will advance to the Nov. 3 general election, with the winner succeeding Supervisor Jim Desmond.

Desmond, a Republican who is termed out of the Board of Supervisors, is running for the 48th Congressional District seat and was leading that race Tuesday night with nearly 46% of the vote.

Jones, who has served as San Marcos mayor since December 2018, grew up in El Cajon and Ramona. In an email, she identified public safety and quality of life, housing affordability and government accountability as her top priorities.

She was first appointed to the San Marcos City Council in 2007 and served for a decade before seeking the mayor's office.

The county "needs steady, competent leadership that can navigate challenges in a balanced and productive way," Jones wrote.

Jones said that during her tenure, San Marcos "achieved the lowest crime rate in our city's 63-year history, ranked among the top 15 safest cities in California, and became one of America's safest college towns."

San Marcos also "became the only city in the region reporting a major reduction in homelessness -- down 76% -- by combining enforcement with real support services," Jones added. "We banned street encampments while investing in shelter partnerships and mental health support."

An Oceanside native, Krahel told City News Service that if elected, he'll focus on "affordability, housing and making sure North County gets its fair share of funding."

North County has had the highest amount of housing growth over the last decade, and needs the necessary infrastructure.

Krahel said he wants more homes built, but acknowledged that's also "a simple thing to say, but it's more complex than that."

One solution is to update county zoning ordinances to increase suitable housing projects, he said. In turn, more housing will ease the homeless crisis, said Krahel, who also wants more behavioral health outreach and shelters.

Krahel said his time as deputy chief of staff for Rep. Mike Levin, D- San Juan Capistrano, allows him to better identify more funding sources.

He said he helped procure $1 million for Oceanside's first permanent homeless shelter. Krahel, who earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard University in government, said he has a good relationship with Desmond, along with his colleagues Paloma Aguirre, Terra-Lawson Remer and Monica Montgomery Steppe.

When it comes to getting things done, "sometimes, the solution is finding compromise," or "disagreeing without being disagreeable," Krahel said.

On his campaign website, Franklin -- elected as Vista mayor in 2022 after serving two terms on the City Council -- said his main priorities are affordability, public safety, fire prevention, road improvements, no tax hikes and better efforts to ease the homeless problem.

"I'm a passionate opponent of higher taxes because they always fall on the backs of working families, cutting into your paycheck and your purchasing power," Franklin stated. He also posted a pledge to stand up for taxpayers.

Franklin stated that he strongly believes "that we cannot allow people, many of whom suffer from mental illness or substance abuse, to choose homelessness." Instead, leaders need to utilize the conservatorship law enacted by former Gov. Ronald Reagan in 1967, allowing intervention for people disabled by severe mental illness or substance use disorders, he added.

Franklin noted his role in creating a homelessness strategic plan for Vista. Franklin earned his bachelor's degree in political science from American University in Washington, D.C. He served as a policy adviser for two congressional representatives. In 2006, he founded Franklin Communications, which caters to businesses and nonprofit organizations, and runs the company with his wife. For residents in unincorporated communities, county government is the main provider of services such as law enforcement, public health, infrastructure and animal control.

The Board of Supervisors is considered a non-partisan governing body. But the last few years have revealed sharp ideological divisions between the three Democrats and two Republicans on certain issues, such as immigrant rights.

The county's largest in terms of size, District 5 has between 685,000 to 700,000 residents, according to recent estimates. It is noted for agricultural and considerable forest land; Camp Pendleton; and a portion of North County coastline.

The district includes four major North County cities: Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos and Vista. The district features tribal reservations La Jolla, Los Coyotes, Mesa Grande, Pala, Pauma/Yuima, Rincon, San Pasqual and Santa Ysabel.

It's also home to numerous unincorporated communities, such as Agua Caliente, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Lake Henshaw, Pauma Valley, Rainbow, Valley Center and Warner Springs.

In another San Diego County race, incumbent Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Cohen led the field with 45.79% of the vote. Shirley Nakawatase was second with 34.72%, followed by termed-out Supervisor Joel Anderson with 16.01% and Victor Roy with 3.11%.

An unidentified write-in candidate received 0.37% of the vote.

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Former Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey held a commanding lead Wednesday in the race for San Diego City Council's open District 2 seat, while incumbent Councilman Henry Foster III trailed challenger Martha Abraham in the contest for the District 4 post.

District 6 incumbent Kent Lee also led his reelection bid, while Antonio Martinez paced the field in the race for the open District 8 seat.

With votes still being counted, Bailey was ahead after receiving 9,154 votes, or 38.8%, followed by Nicole Crosby with 7,386 votes, or 31.3%, and Josh Coyne with 2,667 votes, or 11.3%.

LATEST ELECTION RESULTS

Mandy Havlick was fourth at 10.5%, followed by Mike Rickey at 4.1%. Jacob Mitchell was at 1.9%, while Paul Suppa had 1.8%. A write-in candidate received 0.3%.

District 2 is represented by Councilwoman Jennifer Campbell and District 8 by Councilwoman Vivian Moreno, both of whom are termed out.

Foster, first elected in 2024 to replace Monica Montgomery Steppe -- who won a special county supervisor election in 2023 -- was trailing Abraham, who garnered 40.2% of the vote on Tuesday, versus Foster's 38.6%. Johnny Lee Dang was in third place with 20.5%, with a write-in receiving 0.8%.

In the District 6 race, Lee -- first elected in 2022 -- was well ahead with 55%, while challenger Mark Powell received 44.6% and a write-in taking 0.4%.

Antonio Martinez was ahead of three other contenders for the District 8 seat, at 29.1%, according to county voting results.

Candidate Gerardo Ramirez was in second at 23.7%, followed by Venus Molina at 21.3%, Rafael Perez at 17.4% and a write-in candidate getting 8.5% of the vote.

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve a tax on homes that are unoccupied for more than half the year.

Measure A, dubbed the "Non-Primary Homes Tax," will impose taxes on residential properties within the city that are vacant for more than 182 days per year. The measure would impose an initial annual tax of $8,000 in 2027, then $10,000 in subsequent years.

The San Diego City Council voted 8-1 to place the measure on this year's ballot.

Proponents argue the measure will help address the city's housing shortage by bringing those vacant homes back into the market and generating funds to support housing and other city services, while opponents say the tax raises a host of questions regarding how its revenues will be used, its enforcement, and its legality.

Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera, who proposed the ballot measure, said it applies to around 5,100 residences or around 1% of San Diego homes.

At a recent news conference supporting Measure A, Elo-Rivera said the measure will "encourage the absentee owners and investors to either rent those homes out or sell them to San Diegans, or contribute to our General Fund so that we can keep day centers open, fund eviction prevention, keep libraries open, park staff, and build affordable housing."

Measure A's supporters argue the largely unoccupied homes have been hoarded by corporations and wealthy investors, reducing the housing supply for working-class San Diegans.

The measure includes a number of exemptions, including those who own homes that are unoccupied due to military deployments, the owner's death within a two-year period, or owners who are in a medical care facility.

"Measure A won't fix this year's budget, but it makes sure we're not having the same painful conversation again and again and again, and we're doing that by asking those who have the most to pay their fair share," Elo-Rivera said.

But opponents say the money generated by the tax won't go specifically toward new housing and that similar measures in other cities had little to no measurable effects on housing construction or costs.

Even if approved, opponents say the measure won't be able to withstand a legal challenge, as a similar tax in San Francisco -- which targeted vacant apartment units -- was ruled unconstitutional by a judge.

Raul Campillo, the lone councilmember to oppose Measure A, said the San Diego City Attorney's Office was not able to articulate whether Measure A could avoid similar litigation.

Campillo said at a news conference opposing the measure that those litigation fees would be paid by taxpayers, while none of the measure's financial benefits would be seen while it remains in legal limbo.

"There is significant legal risk here by putting this before the voters and having them approve it, only to be mired in litigation," Campillo said.

Opponents say there is additional uncertainty regarding how the measure will be enforced and that the costs incurred by the city unit tasked with tracking and collecting the tax will end up consuming much of the taxes on their own.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) A new poll shows who is leading the California gubernatorial race and what issues are top of mind ahead of the June primary.

In a statewide poll, Steve Hilton and Tom Steyer tied with 20 percent, while 17 percent of those asked said they'd vote for Becerra, and 11 percent said they'd vote for Chad Bianco.

In San Diego County, the poll shows Steve Hilton leading with 21 percent. 19 percent of those asked said they'd vote for Xavier Becerra, 16 percent for Tom Steyer, and 12 percent for Chad Bianco.

Countywide, 60 percent of those asked said there are too many gubernatorial candidates in the race.

When asked about the most important issues facing California right now, the cost of living topped the list at 48 percent, with homelessness coming in at 12 percent, and housing at 11 percent.

A majority of those asked in San Diego County, 67 percent, said the state should fund programs such as Medi-Cal, and CalFresh after Congress cut funding. In the statewide poll, 65 percent of those asked said the state should fund the programs.

As California grapples with a budget gap, 36 percent of San Diegans asked said the governor and legislature should deal with it through a combination of cuts to spending, higher taxes, and running a deficit. 36 percent of statewide voters also support a combination approach.

If it appeared on the November ballot, 61 percent of San Diegans said they would vote yes on a billionaires tax. Statewide, that number was 59 percent.

This SurveyUSA poll was conducted in partnership with the San Diego Union-Tribune. To conduct the statewide poll, SurveyUSA interviewed 1,600 adults from across California from May 28 through May 31. For the San Diego County results, SurveyUSA interviewed 900 adults from May 27 through May 31.

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - More than 200 vote centers are open across San Diego County for the June 2 primary election.

On Election Day all vote centers, official ballot drop boxes and the Registrar of Voters office will extend hours 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters can find the location nearest to them by visiting https://www.sdvote.com/content/rov/en/elections/vote-center-locations.html.

At each center, residents may vote in person, return a vote-by-mail ballot, use a ballot-marking device, register to vote or update their voter registration.

Voters mailing their ballots must make sure it is postmarked on or before June 2 and received within seven days.

Ballots returned at official drop boxes or vote centers must be dropped off by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters using the U.S. Postal Service may sign up for ballot tracking to follow their ballot through the process at sdvote.com/content/rov/en/elections/wheres-my-ballot.html.

Residents were reminded that campaigning within 100 feet of a vote center or official ballot box is not allowed, which includes making visible or audible displays, or circulating petitions.

As Californians prepare to head to the polls on Tuesday, the decades-long Tijuana sewage crisis is shaping up to be a key issue for many South Bay voters.

Several candidates in the governor's race recently toured the Tijuana River Valley with San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, who has been pushing for stronger state and federal action to address the ongoing cross-border pollution crisis.

During the visit, Aguirre asked candidates whether they would declare a state of emergency in response to the sewage contamination that has plagued South Bay communities for years.

Katie Porter, Matt Mahan, Tom Steyer, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Xavier Becerra all said they would support a state of emergency declaration if elected.

Steve Hilton said he would defer to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and work with the Trump Administration to solve the issue.

ABC 10News reached out to Chad Bianco, but has not received a response yet.

Several candidates also emphasized the need to work with federal officials and Mexico to address the flow of untreated wastewater that continues to impact communities along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The candidates' support for a state of emergency declaration contrasts with Gov. Gavin Newsom's position on the issue.

Newsom has repeatedly said he does not believe a state of emergency would solve the problem. Instead, his administration has highlighted investments in projects aimed at reducing cross-border pollution and improving water quality in the region.

A spokesperson for the governor wrote ABC 10News and said:

"In July, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin committed the Trump administration to a permanent, 100% solution  [urlscanner.mailmarshal.cloud] to the Tijuana River. Wed recommend you reach out to the EPA on the status of this commitment, which was frankly long overdue. This is an international issue under the jurisdiction of the federal government, not the state. Look no further than the wastewater treatment plant [urlscanner.mailmarshal.cloud] responsible for the TJ River: it's a federal facility, making the federal government directly responsible for both the infrastructure and the fix."

(AP) Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Wednesday that aims to shield California elections from federal interference, saying he expected President Donald Trump's administration to try to meddle in the midterms this year.

The law, which took effect immediately and came days before next Tuesday's primary, prohibits any person including federal agents from accessing voter rolls or election technology without a court order. Law enforcement officers are restricted from disrupting election workers, except in public safety emergencies.

Trump administration officials so far have said they have no plans to send immigration agents to polling locations across the U.S., a concern raised this year by several Democratic secretaries of state. But Newsom warned we have to be prepared for everything because theres no rules anymore with the Trump administration.

Voting is already underway in California's closely watched primary for governor, where a crowded field of Democrats and two viable Republicans are vying for just two spots on the November ballot. Under the state's open primary system, only the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

Newsom, who cannot seek a third term, said the election law is a response to legitimate anxiety about Trump's tactics, primarily in Democratic-led states, where the president has deployed federal agents over the objections of local leaders. The Democratic governor warned against underestimating someone who doesnt believe in free and fair elections.

I expect the worst with Trump because hes done the worst, he said at a news conference.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The Associated Press later Wednesday that Trump is committed to ensuring that Americans have full confidence in the administration of elections.

Instead of levying false attacks at the President, Newscum should look in the mirror, she said in a statement, using Trump's derogatory nickname for Newsom.

In an interview last year with Vanity Fair, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles knocked down the idea that Trump would deploy the military to suppress voting, saying it was categorically false.

The California law also makes it a crime to knowingly take voted ballots out of the custody of election officials.

Earlier this year, the FBI under Trump seized the 2020 general election ballots from Georgias most populous county, which is heavily Democratic and has long been at the center of the presidents false claims that fraud cost him the race. The FBI and Justice Department also have sought records from previous elections in the largest counties in Arizona and Michigan.

Trump triggered a national redistricting frenzy ahead of the midterms when he urged Republicans in Texas and elsewhere to redraw their U.S. House districts to help the party retain control of the closely divided chamber. Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Tennessee also have enacted new maps that could benefit Republicans, and Louisiana is expected to be next.

Republicans so far think they could gain as many as 14 seats from redistricting in November, while Democrats think they could gain six in California and Utah.

Win or lose, billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer will leave a mark in the history books in his bid to become California's next governor hes running the most expensive political advertising campaign in the country this year.

Steyer a former hedge fund manager turned liberal activist has spent or booked more than $195 million in ads for broadcast TV, cable and radio with the tally still growing, according to data compiled by advertising tracker AdImpact.

His torrent of ads have opened the one-time presidential candidate to criticism that he is trying to buy the governor's chair, and his ad total represents more than 20 times the amount spent by his nearest rival, fellow Democrat Xavier Becerra, as the two duel for a spot in the November election.

Nationally, no one is close.

In Georgia, Republican health care executive Rick Jackson has spent about $83 million on advertising in his primary race for governor, which is headed for a June runoff, ranking him second. The third place spot is held by his Republican rival, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has President Donald Trumps endorsement and has spent nearly $31 million on ads, according to AdImpact.

RELATED STORY | Swalwell suspends bid for California governor amid sexual assault accusations

Following Jones was Democratic U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, who spent over $28 million on advertising in a failed bid for U.S. Senate.

Trying to buy the governors office?'

Katie Porter, a former U.S. House member who is among seven established Democrats in the California race, has repeatedly criticized Steyer for dipping into his personal fortune to keep ads in front of voters with scant competition from rivals.

She isnt spending hundreds of millions of dollars of personal wealth trying to buy the governors office, her campaign wrote in an email to supporters.

In raw numbers, Steyer ad blitz has eclipsed the 2010 record set by Republican Meg Whitman, who spent $178.5 million in total on a losing bid for governor, much of it her own money. At the time, it was the costliest campaign for statewide office in the nations history. When adjusted for inflation, however, Whitman still holds the state record, but that represented spending for the full election, not just the primary.

A crowded field with no clear leader

Steyer's record-level output has lifted him into contention in the crowded race but he's not breaking away from the field. He's among a leading group of several candidates including Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton as the campaign heads toward a June 2 primary. Mail voting started earlier this month.

Still, Steyer's cash advantage is giving him a publicity edge as the contest enters its crucial final days. He's kept up a steady flow of advertising and online posts questioning Becerra's credentials and record, with Becerra, a former state attorney general and Biden administration health secretary, lacking the funds to reply in kind.

One Becerra ad sought to connect with voters who might be getting bleary-eyed from the cascade of Steyer advertising. It used tranquil scenes of Joshua trees, waves curling on a beach and soaring redwoods with a gentle prod, You can stop the endless Tom Steyer ads. Vote Xavier Becerra.

Steyers financial edge has allowed him to stretch the boundaries of his campaign far beyond traditional TV and radio ads, with steady posts on online platforms like YouTube and Instagram. The New York Times reported that his campaign paid a progressive Texas influencer $100,000 to help Steyer win the election. The Sacramento Bee reported that Becerra, too, had hired an influencer.

Many voters have been slow to vote in a race without a star candidate and no clear leader. More than 50 names will be on the ballot. California uses a top two primary system that puts all candidates on one ballot, with only the top two vote-getters advancing to November, regardless of party.

"In a race this close, it all matters," said Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta.

Money doesn't always make the difference

History shows that money doesnt always translate into votes.

Billionaire developer Rick Caruso spent over $100 million in 2022 in his bid to become Los Angeles mayor, much of it his own money, but he was handily defeated by Mayor Karen Bass, who spent a fraction of Carusos total. Billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg spent more than $1 billion of his own money on his 2020 presidential bid before dropping out. And Steyers money was unable to lift him into contention in the 2020 presidential contest, when he dropped out early in the year after a poor finish in the South Carolina primary.

RELATED STORY | Former Vice President Kamala Harris says she will not run for California governor

Democratic San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan's campaign for governor was supported by independent committees bankrolled with millions of dollars from tech leaders and venture capitalists, yet he failed to gain traction in the race.

Steyer has never held elected office.

In a 2019 interview with The Associated Press, Steyer was asked what he would say to people who think hes trying to buy the presidency.

I dont think thats possible, Steyer said at the time, before adding, Im never going to apologize for succeeding in business. Thats America, right?

The contest is unfolding as California struggles with a long-running homeless crisis, wildfire insurance shortages, projected budget shortfalls and housing costs that are out of reach for many working-class families. Voters, meanwhile, are saddled with growing everyday bills for groceries, utilities and gas.

The AdImpact data does not include ads on some popular streaming services like Hulu and YouTube or mail advertising.

(KGTV) California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer sat down with ABC 10News to talk about his campaign weeks ahead of the June Primary.

Steyer spoke on multiple issues, including the cost of gas and electricity, as well as his strategy ahead of June 2.

"Look, I think this campaign has become really simple, Eric, because it turns out there's one person in this race who's willing to take on the corporate special interests that are driving up costs across California. I mean, the basic issue in California is Californians can't afford to live here anymore. And if you look through it, we have really high electricity costs, twice as high as the rest of the country. And I'm saying, I will create local competition and drive down those costs by at least 25%," Steyer said.

Watch the full interview in the player below:

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - California Secretary of State Shirley Weber is urging state residents to register to vote by Monday for the June 2 primary election and to track their mail ballots online.

All active registered voters in California will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the election, Weber said. Voters can verify their registration status at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.

Weber's office reminded voters to complete, seal, sign and return their ballots either by mail, at an official drop box or in person at a polling place or vote center by 8 p.m. June 2. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by June 9.

REGISTER TO VOTE IN CALIFORNIA: https://registertovote.ca.gov

Voters may also sign up for ballot tracking alerts through the state's "Where's My Ballot?" system, which provides text, email or voice notifications on ballot status at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov.

Eligible voters who miss Monday's registration deadline may still cast ballots through California's same-day voter registration process at county elections offices or in-person voting locations through Election Day.

The Secretary of State's Office said California has 3,546 polling locations, 2,758 ballot drop-box locations and 1,988 early voting locations statewide for the primary election.

Additional election information, including voting locations and key deadlines, is available at sos.ca.gov.

Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.

(KGTV) California gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan sat down with ABC 10News to discuss policy ahead of the June primary.

Mahan discussed many top-of-mind issues in California, including homelessness, housing costs, and the gas tax. Mahan currently serves as the Mayor of San Jose, California.

As people get to know me, as they hear that I came from a working-class community, was a public school teacher, got into local government, and have led the third largest city in the state, Mahan said. Uh, you know, obviously San Diego is ahead of us there in population, but I've led San Jose to be the country's safest big city. We've reduced homelessness faster than any other big city. We have housing under control.

Watch the full interview in the player below:

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) Republican Jim Desmond is leading the race for California's 48th Congressional District while a quarter of prospective voters remain undecided ahead of the June primary.

In the race for the congressional seat, 29% of those asked said they would vote for Republican Jim Desmond, while 25% said they are still undecided, 10% said they'd cast their vote for Republican Kevin Patrick O'Neil, 9% said they'd vote for Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar., and 9% said they would vote for Democrat Marni von Wilpert.

A total of 57% of those asked said there are too many candidates in the race. Meanwhile, 70% of those asked said they disapprove of the job Congress is doing, and 56% expressed disapproval for the job President Donald Trump is doing.

A total of 56% of those asked disapprove of the job Immigration and Customs Enforcement is doing, while 51% said they believe ICE is making Americans less safe.

On the war in Iran, 60% of those polled said they disapprove, while 56% said the war is making Americans less safe.

Asked about the biggest issue facing Congress right now, 23% cited inflation and the economy, 23% cited threats to democracy, and 12% said election security.

For this poll, SurveyUSA interviewed 645 adults from California's redistricted 48th congressional District from May 8 through May 14, 2026.

Click here to view the complete poll results.

As Californias primary election approaches, a new poll is offering an early snapshot of where the governors race stands but it also highlights a deeper story about whats driving voters across the state.

According to a recent survey, Republican Steve Hilton has now overtaken businessman Tom Steyer in a crowded field of candidates. Still, a significant number of voters remain undecided, leaving the race far from settled as ballots begin to arrive in mailboxes. Hilton and Steyer are now the top two candidates leading the poll.

Ballots are now being sent to all active registered voters across California, giving residents multiple options to cast their vote. Voters can return their ballots by mail, drop them off at secure ballot boxes, or vote early in person at vote centers and county elections offices.

For many, the decision isnt just about candidates its about the issues that impact daily life.

Statewide, voters are focused on the rising cost of living, access to housing, and public safety. Here in San Diego, two issues are standing out even more: homelessness and gas prices.

Homelessness continues to be one of the most visible and debated challenges in the region. Opinions on how its being handled vary widely, reflecting deep divisions among voters.

Some residents point to ongoing efforts and give credit for trying to address the issue, while others say the results have fallen short. That range of perspectives underscores how complex and polarizing the problem has become.

Another major concern for San Diegans is the cost of fuel. California drivers continue to pay some of the highest gas prices in the country, driven in part by taxes and fees.

The state gas tax alone is about 61 cents per gallon. When combined with federal taxes, local sales taxes, and environmental program fees, the total can approach a dollar per gallon in added costs.

For local businesses, that impact is significant.

One business owner said the difference in fuel costs has forced them to cut back on operating hours, highlighting how rising prices are affecting the broader economy.

The deadline to register to vote in California is May 18. The primary election will take place on June 2, where the top two vote-getters regardless of party will move on to the general election.

As the race continues to take shape, the issues affecting everyday Californians are expected to remain front and center.

LOS ANGELES (AP) A proposal that would require California to verify proof of citizenship when a person registers to vote and require voters to provide identification at polling places will appear on the November ballot, state officials announced Friday.

The announcement comes amid a national debate over election security and what type of requirements voters should face to show they are qualified to cast a ballot. In Congress, Republicans are pushing a strict proof-of-citizenship proposal for residents to vote, encouraged by President Donald Trump.

The California plan also backed by Republicans is being pitched as a common sense idea to strengthen confidence in voting in a vast state with more than 23 million people registered to cast a ballot. State officials said its backers submitted sufficient petition signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

We already show ID for everyday activities like flying, opening a bank account and picking up prescription medications. Thirty-six other states and many countries around the world already use voter ID, said state Sen. Tony Strickland, a Republican from Huntington Beach.

Californians deserve secure, transparent elections, added Strickland, a proponent of the proposal.

If approved in November in the heavily Democratic state, other provisions would require those who vote through popular mail-in ballots would have to give the last four digits of a government-issued ID, such as a Social Security number.

California is among 14 states and the District of Columbia that do not require voters to show some form of identification at the polls or to register to vote.

While California at times has faced questions from critics about the legitimacy of its vote tallies, research shows voter fraud in the country is rare. Voting by noncitizens has occurred, but reviews of state cases have shown it to be uncommon and typically a mistake rather than an intentional effort to sway an election.

Most California residents vote by mail, and in the pursuit of accuracy, thoroughness and counting every vote, the nations most populous state has gained a reputation for tallies that can drag on for weeks and sometimes longer.

The effort to tighten restrictions on voter registration and mail ballots will come in a critical election year, when Californians will be picking their next governor and with control of Congress on the line.

Opponents argued that such requirements make it more difficult for people to vote, especially the elderly, those with disabilities and those without drivers licenses.

The president continues to claim that he was not the loser in the 2020 presidential election and has long falsely said the election was marred by widespread fraud. Trumps claims were rejected by dozens of judges, including several he appointed. His own attorney general and an exhaustive review by The Associated Press found no evidence of widespread fraud that could have changed the results. Multiple reviews, audits and recounts in the battleground states where Trump disputed his loss confirmed Democrat Joe Bidens victory, including several overseen by Republican lawmakers.

Six candidates. One stage. And a debate that could shape the race for governor of California.

The high-stakes showdown put the spotlight on the biggest challenges facing California from housing and homelessness to public safety and the rising cost of living.

But as candidates traded attacks and outlined their visions, the lingering question remained: Did anyone do enough to truly stand out, especially with voters in San Diego?

Katie Porter framed the race as a question of trust, telling voters, This election is about who you can trust to fight for you.

Meanwhile, Tom Steyer leaned into his outsider image, saying, When you say Im the only billionaire in the raceyesbut Im the person who is the change agent in this state. Earlier in the debate, he added bluntly, Theyre scared of me.

The partisan divide was also front and center. Republican candidates Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton pushed for sweeping change after years of Democratic leadership.

Hilton criticized the states direction, saying, Weve had 16 years of one-party rule its given us the highest poverty rate, the highest unemployment rate, the highest cost of living in America. It is obviously desperately time for change in California.

On the Democratic side, experience and leadership took center stage. Xavier Becerra argued California needed steady leadership during challenging times.

California is going through a crisis and we need someone who knows how to govern in crisis, not someone whos gonna need training wheels the moment they walk into the governors office, Becerra said.

The Chair for the San Diego Democratic Party, Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, shared his perspective on how candidates performedand what matters moving forward.

What the game is right now is about getting undecided people to a candidate, he said, noting that the race is far from settled.

Rodriguez-Kennedy also criticized Republican candidates, saying, We saw the Republicans kind of showboating without an actual plan for the state and in fact, some detrimental plans.

Still, he emphasized the importance of connecting with voters in regions like San Diego, where key issues hit close to home.

The more they get here, the better it is for them because theyre going to want to pick up the millions of voters that we have here, he said.

He added that the regions unique challenges could shape the race moving forward.

San Diego really is interesting in that all the major issues touch on our local region they need to lean in on that in a way that makes us think that were being heard.

Even within his own party, Rodriguez-Kennedy acknowledged a split in preference, saying, I have been torn between Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer, and theyre very different in terms of approach and in terms of policy.

With major issues like housing, homelessness, and affordability dominating the debate, candidates made their casebut no clear frontrunner emerged.

And with more debates and campaign events still ahead, the pressure is on.

If candidates want to stand out, theyll need more than strong debate momentstheyll need to prove they can connect with voters where it matters most.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) California's 48th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives is up for grabs this year as Rep. Darrell Issa is set to retire at the end of this term.

The field of candidates is crowded as the control of Congress is potentially at stake after Republicans narrowly secured the majority in the House.

A new KGTV/San Diego Union-Tribune poll, conducted by SurveyUSA, shows there's a chance two Republican candidates could vie for the 48th Congressional District seat.

According to the poll, Republican Jim Desmond leads with 25% of the vote, followed by Republican Kevin O'Neil at 13%. Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar is a close third at 12%.

A total of 56% of those asked said there are too many candidates in the race, while 21% said there are just enough candidates, and 8% said there aren't enough.

Meanwhile, 45% of those asked said they voted yes on Proposition 50, which allowed the Legislature to redraw the state's congressional districts in Democrats' favor; 41% said they voted no, and 6% said they did not vote on the proposition.

A total of 58% of those asked said they disapprove of the job President Trump is doing, while 75% of respondents said they disapprove of the job Congress is doing.

Regarding ICE, 54% of those asked said they disapprove of the job the agency is doing, while 55% said they believe ICE is making America less safe.

On Iran, 60% of respondents said they disapprove of the war, while 33% expressed their approval. 61% of those asked said they believe the war in Iran is making America less safe.

A total of 26% of those asked said the biggest issue facing Congress is the economy and inflation, while 19% said threats to democracy.

To conduct the poll, SurveyUSA interviewed 700 adults from California's 48th Congressional District from April 14 through April 19.

View the complete survey at https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=69867e15-64d4-41d9-841e-5c9fbbd45cd2.

WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed California to use a new voter-approved congressional map that is favorable to Democrats in this years elections, rejecting a last-ditch plea from state Republicans and the Trump administration.

No justices dissented from the brief order denying the appeal without explanation, which is common on the court's emergency docket.

The justices had previously allowed Texas Republican-friendly map to be used in 2026, despite a lower-court ruling that it likely discriminates on the basis of race.

Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in December that it appeared both states had adopted new maps for political advantage, which the high court has previously ruled cannot be a basis for a federal lawsuit.

Republicans, joined by the Trump administration, claimed the California map improperly relied on race as well. But a lower court disagreed by a 2-1 vote. The Justice Department and White House did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

WATCH The chair for the Republican Party of San Diego County reacts to the SCOTUS decision:

The justices' unsigned order keeps in place districts that are designed to flip up to five seats now held by Republicans, part of a tit-for-tat nationwide redistricting battle spurred by President Donald Trump, with control of Congress on the line in midterm elections.

Last year, at Trump's behest, Texas Republicans redid the state's congressional districts with an eye on gaining five seats.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is eyeing a 2028 presidential run, pledged to respond in kind, though he had to win over voters, not just lawmakers, to do so.

Newsom celebrated the court's decision, saying on social media that Trump had started this redistricting war and would end up losing out in the November midterms, when control of Congress is at stake.

California's attorney general, Democrat Rob Bonta, said the decision was good news not only for Californians, but for our democracy.

The state Republican Party, which brought the case, vowed to keep fighting against the map's use in future elections.

"We will continue to vigorously argue for Equal Protection under the law for all of Californias voters, Michael Columbo, counsel for the plaintiffs, said in a statement.

One longtime party strategist, Jon Fleishman, a former executive director of the California Republican Party, said in a post on X that the decision means this years elections will take place on the new lines shrinking the already very small Republican delegation from California."

Filing for congressional primaries in California begins on Monday.

(AP) Billionaire businessman and activist Tom Steyer, who once self-financed an unsuccessful White House campaign and spent his own money advocating for President Donald Trump's impeachment, has launched his bid for California governor as a Democrat.

The 68-year-old's tremendous wealth immediately makes him a notable contender in a free-for-all that includes more than a half-dozen Democrats and two Republicans competing in an all-party June primary, with the top two vote-getters advancing to a November general election to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Steyer announced his candidacy with a pledge to improve economic conditions and by framing his political record as friendly to consumers, working-class voters and the environment.

Californians deserve a life they can afford, he said in a video released Wednesday morning. But the Californians who make this state run are being run over by the cost of living.

The approach puts Steyer on a collision course with other candidates like progressive Congresswoman Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

At one time, Porter was viewed as a top contender but the contest is now seen as wide open. Steyer's personal fortune could give him an advantage in reaching voters through television and digital advertising in an expansive state with nearly 40 million people and multiple media markets. Still, tremendous wealth has not necessarily translated to statewide electoral success in California: Carly Fiorina, a former Hewlett-Packard CEO, could not unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in their 2010 matchup. Meg Whitman, a onetime CEO of eBay, spent more than $100 million of her own money in a losing governor's campaign that same year.

Steyer nodded to his wealth Wednesday, noting his business enterprises made billions of dollars. But he also sounded populist tones.

The richest people in America think that they earned everything themselves," he said, before dismissing that notion with an expletive for bovine excrement. That's so ridiculous.

Steyer said he would make corporations pay their fair share again, and his campaign cited his previous work on ballot initiatives with similar aims. Steyer was a leading advocate for a 2012 ballot initiative that made it harder for corporations to avoid certain taxes. The new revenue was steered to energy improvements in the state's public schools.

In other referendum work, Steyer helped lead the 2016 campaign that yielded a $2 per-pack tax hike on tobacco products. The money was steered to state health care programs, including tobacco-prevention efforts. And Steyer was a top opponent of a 2010 ballot initiative that would have rolled back California's clean air and climate law, which has been viewed as a national standard on climate policy.

Steyer spent millions of his own money touring the country and pushing for Trump's impeachment during the Republican president's first term. He then ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, spending more than $200 million of his fortune and receiving no pledged delegates. After distant finishes in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, Steyer doubled-down with an expensive push in South Carolina, only to finish a distant third behind eventual nominee and President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Steyer then ended his presidential bid, and he financially supported Biden's reelection in 2024 before the Democrat bowed out in favor of then-Vice President Kamala Harris, another Californian.

Steyer's latest campaign comes amid some Democrats questioning Porters candidacy after her combative exchanges with a TV journalist spread online in October. He has long been mentioned, along with Harris and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, as a potential heavyweight candidate who could join the field.

Harris, who is on a national tour promoting her 2024 campaign memoir, has said consistently that she has no plans to run suggesting instead that any future campaign would be for the presidency.

I will be voting, she told The Associated Press on Oct. 17 when asked about entering the governor's race. Asked whether she was satisfied with the field as Porter faced her most intense criticism, Harris said only that she wanted Democrats to have the best and the brightest running and winning and that she was not actively involved."

Padilla has said he will remain in the Senate.

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Justice Department on Thursday sued to block new congressional district boundaries approved by California voters last week, joining a court battle that could help determine which party wins control of the U.S. House in 2026.

The complaint filed in California federal court targets the new congressional map pushed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in response to a similar Republican-led effort in Texas backed by President Donald Trump. It sets the stage for a high-stakes legal and political fight between the Republican administration and the Democratic governor, who's seen as a likely 2028 presidential contender.

Californias redistricting scheme is a brazen power grab that tramples on civil rights and mocks the democratic process, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an emailed statement. Governor Newsoms attempt to entrench one-party rule and silence millions of Californians will not stand.

California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 50, a constitutional amendment changing the congressional boundaries to give Democrats a shot at winning five seats now held by Republicans in next year's midterm elections.

The Justice Department is joining a case challenging the new map that was brought by the California Republican Party last week. The Trump administration accuses California of racial gerrymandering in violation of the Constitution by using race as a factor to favor Hispanic voters with the new map. It asks a judge to prohibit California from using the new map in any future elections.

Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Proposition 50 the recent ballot initiative that junked Californias pre-existing electoral map in favor of a rush-job rejiggering of Californias congressional district lines, the lawsuit says.

Prop 50 was Newsom's response to Trumps maneuvers in Texas, where Republicans rejiggered districts in hopes of picking up five seats of their own ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, when House control will be on the line.

Democrats need to gain just a handful of seats next year to take control of the chamber, which would imperil Trump's agenda for the remainder of his term and open the way for congressional investigations into his administration. Republicans hold 219 seats, to Democrats 214.

The showdown between the nation's two most populous states has spread nationally, with Missouri, Ohio and a spray of other states either adopting new district lines to gain partisan advantage or considering to do so.

The national implications of Californias ballot measure were clear in both the money it attracted and the high-profile figures who became involved. Tens of millions of dollars flowed into the race, including a $5 million donation to opponents from the Congressional Leadership Fund, the super political action committee tied to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

Former action movie star and Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger opposed it, while former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, appeared in ads supporting it, calling it a smart approach to counter Republican moves aimed at safeguarding House control.

The contest provided Newsom with a national platform when he has confirmed he will consider a White House run in 2028.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) Marc Iannarino has jumped into the 48th District Congressional race, challenging Darrell Issa. The district had been solidly Republican; however, with California's newly redrawn congressional map being approved by voters via Prop 50, the election for the seat will be much tighter.

Iannarino is a Navy veteran who deployed out of Coronado aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. He is currently living in Palm Springs and is a bartender. The Democrat told ABC 10News his top issue is making daily life more affordable for working-class people.

10News asked Iannarino the following questions:

There are several candidates running for this competitive seat. 10News is trying to speak with all of them in the near future, and you'll be able to find the interviews in full on our America Votes page.

You can watch the interview with Iannarino in the video player at the top of this page.

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - One day after California voters approved Proposition 50, redrawing the state's congressional district lines to boost Democratic representation in Washington, state Republicans filed a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of the measure.

Assemblyman David Tangipa, R-Fresno, the California Republican Party, and 18 district voters brought the lawsuit, which asks a judge to block the new district lines at least temporarily so California's original map stays in effect for the 2026 midterm elections.

The suit, which also names California Secretary of State Shirley Weber as a defendant, argues that the new Proposition 50 maps are unconstitutional because they improperly use voters' race as a factor in drawing districts and asks the court to block them from taking effect.

"Proposition 50 represents a mid-decade redistricting, precisely the kind of legislative interference that the California Constitution was designed to prevent," the 26-page complaint contends. "It attempts to substitute a legislative map for the one lawfully adopted by the (state redistricting) commission, without any intervening census or constitutional authorization. It attempts to create a third option way for legislators to interpose themselves on a process in which they otherwise were barred from participating in."

The plaintiffs are represented by the Dhillon Law Group, founded by Harmeet Dhillon, who is now the assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump.

"I'm appalled by what has happened -- what the Legislature really pushed through, what the governor has done to violate and break the Constitution," Tangipa said at a news conference Wednesday announcing the lawsuit. "And when I said that the fight for California has just begun, I hope everybody knows I meant that."

Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved Proposition 50, which supporters dubbed "The Election Rigging Response Act." As of Wednesday morning's latest vote tally, the measure was leading 63.8%-36.2%, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, who conceived of what would become Proposition 50 after Texas adopted a mid-decade congressional redistricting plan favorable to Republicans, on Tuesday night called its passage "not just a victory tonight for the Democratic Party, it was a victory for the United States of America, for the people of this country and the principles that our Founding Fathers lived and died for."

Proposition 50 establishes new congressional district maps for the 2026 midterm elections that will also be used for the 2028 and 2030 elections. An analysis by the election news website Ballotpedia said it would shift five Republican-held congressional districts toward Democrats.

Democrats hold a 43-9 advantage in the state's House delegation.

The measure came in response to an effort in Texas for a mid-decade congressional redistricting that analysts said would give Republicans five additional seats. Other Republican-controlled states such as Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nebraska and South Carolina are also considering efforts to approve mid-decade redistricting.

Backers of Prop 50 said it "draws fair maps that represent California's diverse communities and ensure our voices aren't silenced by Republican gerrymandering in other states."

"Californians made their voices heard -- we will not let Donald Trump and his allies rig our democracy or silence our votes," San Diego City Council member Marni von Wilpert, a Democrat, said in a statement issued Tuesday night. "Proposition 50 protects our voice at the ballot box and gives us a real chance to take our country back, starting right here in Southern California."

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Bonsall, called Prop 50 "the worst gerrymander in history."

Issa, who unsuccessfully sued earlier in an effort to block the measure, said in a statement, "I'm not going anywhere. I'll continue to represent the people of California -- regardless of their party or where they live."

The 48th Congressional District that Issa represents will lose parts of San Diego County and add more of Riverside County under the new maps.

Mike Columbo, a plaintiffs' attorney in the federal lawsuit filed Wednesday, said the proposition will be found unconstitutional, because the Legislature had no legal basis to move forward with a redistricting effort.

"The record we have establishes that ... before the maps were voted upon and after, analyses were conducted that concluded that there was no voting rights problem in California's prior maps for the Legislature to remedy," he said. "Further, there is no evidence whatsoever that the California Legislature in fact circulated any such analysis to the legislators for them to consider when they cast their votes to launch Proposition 50."

MORE ON PROP. 50:

Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday vowed to be a mayor for all New Yorkers even those who may be skeptical of his progressive agenda.

"Over 2 million New Yorkers cast their ballots. Whether they were the more than million who supported this campaign or the others who supported someone else or whether they felt too disappointed by the political process to participate at all, I will work every day to honor the trust that I will now hold," Mamdani said Wednesday.

The 34-year-old is preparing for his inauguration on Jan. 1 and is assembling a transition team led by women.

He also said he wants to retain NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, despite earlier statements suggesting he might go in a new direction. It would likely be welcomed by those who expressed concerns about Mamdani's vision for the police department, given his past comments about defunding the police.

RELATED STORY | Mamdani makes history in NYC mayors race: 'We have toppled a political dynasty'

Mamdani rode a wave of enthusiasm and economic populism to defeat New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who received a last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump.

The president has threatened to withhold federal funding from the city if Mamdani were elected.

"New Yorkers are facing twin crises in this moment an authoritarian administration and an affordability crisis. And it'll be my job to deliver on both," he said.

While the authoritarian remark was a clear reference to Trump, Mamdani said he would still be willing to meet with the president to discuss areas where they can agree.

"I continue to be interested in having a conversation with President Trump on the ways in which we can work together to serve New Yorkers, whether that be delivering on his campaign promises around cost of living or the many issues that New Yorkers have been sharing with me about the drastic impacts that the legislation that President Trump has ushered through Washington will mean for them and their lives," he said.

Mamdani will become the first Muslim mayor of New York City when he is sworn in. He promised there would be no tolerance for Islamophobia or antisemitism in the city.

On Wednesday, he condemned swastikas painted on a Jewish day school.

"This is a disgusting and heartbreaking act of antisemitism, and it has no place in our beautiful city," he said. "As Mayor, I will always stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors to root the scourge of antisemitism out of our city."

LOS ANGELES (AP) California voters approved new congressional district boundaries Tuesday, delivering a victory for Democrats in the state-by-state redistricting battle that will help determine which party wins control of the U.S. House in 2026 and, with it, the power to thwart or advance President Donald Trumps agenda.

The approval of Proposition 50 gives Democrats a shot at winning as many as five additional seats, just enough to blunt Texas Republicans move to redraw their own maps to pick up five GOP seats at Trumps urging. Texas move and Californias response have kicked off a flurry of redistricting efforts around the country, with Republican states appearing to have an edge. Deeply blue California is Democrats best opportunity to make up seats.

Midterm elections typically punish the party in the White House, and Trump is fighting to maintain his partys slim House majority. Republicans hold 219 seats to Democrats 213.

Tuesdays results mark a political victory for Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who cast the measure as an essential tool to fight back against Trump and protect American democracy.

Speaking to reporters in Sacramento, Newsom cast the California vote as part of a broader national rejection of Trump's policies that saw Democratic governors elevated in New Jersey and Virginia. But he warned the more consequential battle would come next year.

If Democrats win the House majority, they can "end Donald Trumps presidency as we know it, Newsom said. It is all on the line, a bright line, in 2026."

Californias Proposition 50 asked voters to suspend House maps drawn by an independent commission and replace them with rejiggered districts adopted by the Democratic-controlled Legislature. Those new districts would be in place for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.

The recast districts aim to dilute Republican voters' power, in one case by uniting rural, conservative-leaning parts of far northern California with Marin County, a famously liberal coastal stronghold across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.

The measure was spearheaded by Newsom, who threw the weight of his political operation behind it in a major test of his mettle ahead of a potential 2028 presidential campaign. Former President Barack Obama urged voters to pass it as well.

Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years, Obama said in one ad. You can stop Republicans in their tracks.

Critics said two wrongs dont make a right. They urged Californians to reject the measure, even if they have misgivings about Trump's moves elsewhere.

Among the most prominent critics was Arnold Schwarzenegger, the movie star and former Republican governor who pushed for the creation of the independent commission, which voters approved in 2008 and 2010. It makes no sense to fight Trump by becoming him, Schwarzenegger said in September, arguing that the proposal would take the power away from the people.

I dont want Newsom to have control, said Rebecca Fleshman, a 63-year-old retired medical assistant from Southern California, who voted against the measure. I dont want the state to be blue. I want it to be red.

After an early burst of TV advertising, opponents of the plan struggled to raise cash in a state with some of the nation's most expensive media markets.

The campaign followed an unusual trajectory. A handful of Republican congressmen who will see their districts dramatically reshaped and their jobs endangered mostly stayed away from the campaign spotlight. With opponents short on cash, Newsom and his supporters dominated TV screens in the critical closing weeks.

Total spending on broadcast and cable ads topped $100 million, with more than two-thirds of it coming from supporters. Newsom told people to stop donating in the race's final weeks.

The GOP congressmen Reps. Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, Kevin Kiley, David Valadao and Doug LaMalfa will see right-leaning voters reduced and left-leaning voters boosted in their respective districts in a shift that would make it likely a Democratic candidate would prevail in each race.

Issa issued a defiant statement, saying: I'm not going anywhere. I'll continue to represent the people of California regardless of their party or where they live."

Calvert said Newsom engineered a power grab while housing costs, gas prices and taxes continue to strain family budgets. "I am determined to keep fighting for the families I represent," he said in an email.

Proposition 50 won a swift and decisive victory, as the AP declared a winner when polls closed statewide. Early returns were strongly in favor of the measure, as were preliminary results from the AP Voter Poll, an expansive survey of more than 4,000 voters in California.

Roughly 7 in 10 California voters said party control of Congress was very important to them, and those voters overwhelmingly supported the measure, according to the AP Voter Poll.

About 8 in 10 California voters who supported the ballot measure said it was necessary to counter the changes made by Republicans in other states, while only about 2 in 10 said they supported it because it was the best way to draw maps, AP Voter Poll found.

Trump, who overwhelmingly lost California in his three presidential campaigns, largely stayed out of the fray. A week before the election, he urged voters in a social media post not to vote early or by mail messaging that conflicted with that of top Republicans in the state who urged people to get their ballots in as soon as possible.

In a post Tuesday on his social media platform, the president called the states voting process RIGGED and warned that it was under very serious legal and criminal review. STAY TUNED! Secretary of State Shirley Weber called that another baseless claim.

Congressional district boundaries are typically redrawn every 10 years to reflect population shifts documented in the census. Mid-decade redistricting is unusual, absent a court order finding fault with the maps in place.

Beyond Texas, Republicans expect to gain one seat each from new maps in Missouri and North Carolina, and potentially two more in Ohio. Five other GOP-led states are also considering new maps: Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana and Nebraska.

On the Democratic side, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York and Virginia have proposals to redraw maps, but major hurdles remain.

A court has ordered new boundaries be drawn in Utah, where all four House districts are represented by Republicans, but it remains to be seen if the state will approve a map that makes any of them winnable for Democrats.

Siddhartha Deb, 52, has lived in the U.S. since he was 7 years old but he just became a citizen Tuesday. Immediately afterward he registered to vote at San Francisco City Hall and cast his ballot in favor of Newsom's measure.

I dont like the way the Republican Party is basically trying to rig elections by gerrymandering," Deb said. "And this is the only way, to fight fire with fire.

MORE ON PROP. 50:

Democrats swept key races on Tuesday in New York City, New Jersey and Virginia.

Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to become the first female governor of Virginia. Her victory flips the governorship from Republican to Democrat.

In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli. The GOP was hoping to flip the office, but fell short.

Across the Hudson River, New York City voters elected a new mayor. Democrat Zohran Mamdani defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to become the city's citys first Muslim mayor. Cuomo received a last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump. The president has attacked Mamdani a Democratic socialist and threatened to pull federal funding if he wins.

All three Democratic victories are being widely viewed as a referendum on Trump. They are the first major contests since he took office earlier this year.

However, claimed the election was not about him.

TRUMP WASNT ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT, according to Pollsters," President Trump said on Truth Social.

Meanwhile, in California, voters supported a measure for a new congressional map, part of a nationwide redistricting battle. The proposed map would give Democrats an edge in several districts, following similar efforts in Texas, where Republicans recently redrew boundaries to strengthen their hold on key seats.

Republican-majority cities of Santee, Ramona, and Poway could end up in Democrat-leaning districts for the first time in years if California voters approve Proposition 50.

The ballot measure would temporarily change California's congressional districts by transferring redistricting power from an independent commission to state lawmakers, who want the districts to favor Democrats in the next three House elections.

"We don't have enough Republican districts as it is, and now they're going to take them all away," one voter said.

I spoke to voters in those areas who already sent in their ballots, hopeful to make a change.

"It's our duty as Americans, whether we agree or not with what's going on, it's important to have our voice heard," one voter said.

"It's our right, our freedom, we have the responsibility to do that," another voter said.

California currently has an independent commission to determine the borders of each district. Proposition 50 would give that power to lawmakers for the next redistricting cycle.

"If 50 passes, it'll just relegate me more to not being heard and not being seen," one voter said.

Data from Ballotpedia shows almost every district in San Diego County would become more Democratic if Proposition 50 passes, including District 48, which would potentially flip from Republican to Democrat majority based on last year's presidential election results.

"I feel fine about that. I'm not too happy with our representative right now. If that changes to somebody different, I'd be happy with that," one voter said.

Governor Newsom says Proposition 50 would level the playing field with Texas. The southern state recently made the same move but in the opposite direction, redrawing its district maps to heavily benefit Republicans.

"They're just trying to fix something Texas did; it has nothing to do with us," one voter said.

If this proposition passes, it could face challenges in court, delaying its implementation past the 2026 midterm elections.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.