Jill Buck is the Republican candidate running for the 18th Assembly district which is currently held by Assemblyman Johan Klehs. The common wisdom in this area is that the general election for this district is just a formality after the Democratic primary is over, given the area’s heavy Democratic registration (54% Democrat vs. 21% Republican). But Buck doesn’t buy that common wisdom.

Buck doesn’t believe that the district is a guaranteed Democratic win.

"The fact is when you look at voter turnout, we’re neck and neck," she said. When Buck talked about wanting to run for the State Assembly, she said lots of people encouraged her to run…in another, more Republican district. But she decided to throw her hat in the ring for the 18th distric at this past CRP convention in San… Read More

The decision by Governor Schwarzenegger to oppose Proposition 82 shouldn’t surprise anyone. The fact that he distanced himself from the announcement by leaving it to a campaign spokeswoman to deliver the news shouldn’t be that surprising either. The only surprise is that it took so long.

Way back in 2005, Rob Reiner’s ballot initiative to raise taxes to pay for pre-school programs looked like a pretty sure bet to pass. Taxing the wealthy is a proven vote-getter (for ballot initiatives, not candidates, Mr. Angelides,) Everybody loves pre-school. And Reiner seemed to be on track to putting together a stem cell-ish coalition to fund and pass it. California’s business community leaders announced their opposition, a number of existing preschool providers warned of its harm to their existing programs, and policy analysts began to point out that the initiative would… Read More

Today, via his campaign spokesperson, Governor Schwarzenegger issued a simple but clear statement relative to Proposition 82 that will appear on the November ballot, and raises taxes in order to create a state-controlled pre-school program:

This is a great position to take, and hopefully the Governor will spend quite a bit of time publicly speaking out against this measure and raising funds to defeat it. The Governor’s opposition to tax increases is substantially more meaningful if he vigorously fights for this important position. The first step… Read More

While normal people are doing normal things, you are reading this political website, and two of our site contributors, Duana Dichiara and Adam Probolsky, are in the midst of the only real political drama going on in California right now (other than the ‘will Roach run in June’ situation in San Diego).

Yesterday’s race in the 35th State Senate District special election didn’t end in the early evening, or the late evening — for that matter it didn’t end this morning! Actually, as of right now, niether candidate has declared victory nor admitted defeat. Conservative Diane Harkey is less than 300 votes behind moderate GOP Assemblyman Tom Harman.

All of the action today was down at the Orange County Registrar of voters where the ‘defense’ (aka…Team Harman) was headed up by Dichiara and his business partner… Read More

For those who want to follow election returns tonight, you can follow the links below: SAN DIEGO COUNTY REGISTRAR – 50TH CD LIVE RETURNS ORANGE COUNTY REGISTRAR – 35TH SD LIVE RETURNS Look for early returns on absentee ballot results, and a longer wait for the rest.… Read More

Conventional wisdom for the Special Election taking place today to replace John Campbell is that a low election-day turnout favor’s his choice to replace him — businesswoman Diane Harkey.

Well, if that’s the case, the fact that at my polling place in Irvine mid-day (it’s actually three large precincts consolidated into this one voting spot) – only two dozen or so voters have turned out today.

If this is the case district-wide, absentee ballot returns will account for an overwhelming majority of votes cast. And Harkey ran the best drill to those early voters…… Read More

It”s Election Day in OC but pretty quiet.

Here is a first hand account from a Huntington Beach voter and his wife. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

SUBMITTED BY AN ACTUAL VOTER:

TAMY and I went into our polling place at 8:15–should be the heart of big-line times–at a polling station that included 5 consolidated precincts.

Democracy and OC were well served today, as it became pretty clear my wife and I were allowed to personally choose our next senator.

No line. Workers absolutely thrilled to see us. Only ones there, only one other signature on the voting lists was visible.

So while there’s still time to vote, early indications where I live (in the heart of Harman country–HB) it’s Harkey in a landslide 2-1 maybe even 3-0.… Read More

UPDATE: Harman leads by 439 votes now…TRENDING HARKEY.

UPDATE: Harman leads by 612 votes now…

Harman leads by less than 1% or 672 votes.

There are about 5000 absentee ballots, that were MAILED IN yesterday and today, still to be counted and probably won’t be counted until tomorrow.

More results at about 10:30pm. Click here to see them come in live.… Read More