Tonight, FR Publisher Jon Fleischman will "host" a live chat on the FR blog page, as election results come in. Using new technology, FR blog readers will be able to tune in to the live chat, and weigh in themselves in real time!

Be sure to check out the action later this afternoon, when the polls start to close on the East Coast. The live blog feed will appear atop FR’s blog page tonight.… Read More

They are spreading the eats and drinks around. Donuts, Coffee, Donuts, Pizza, Donuts, Ice Cream, Donutsand yes..Tequila are all free to voters at various locations throughout Los Angeles County.

No word on what ACORN is offering folks. But there are free donuts.… Read More

As we wait these last few hours for the polls to close, I thought I’d share some interesting numbers sent out by the guys at Political Data.

Total Voters in California– 17,247,190 New Voters Registered After 9/15/2008 –1,225,894 Total Early Voters –6,954,009 Permanent Absentee Voters –5,785,495 Voters in Mail Ballot Precincts –603,009 Voters Applying to Vote Early– 1,285,330 Returned Ballots (Voted) as of 11/3/2008– 3,941,247… Read More

On this election day, much will be decided across this country. The next President and Vice President will be elected. Republicans will certainly lose seats in the United States Senate, but will we be able to retain enough seats to filibuster against egregious, left-wing legislation? Pundits estimate House GOP loses in the neighborhood of 20-30 seats (some say that Tom McClintock’s bid for Congress is in peril, and that once-thought-safe incumbent Members of Congress like Dan Lungren are no longer assured reelection).

As the State Legislative level, it is unclear whether the sizable lead of Barack Obama in California will sweep Democrats into an even greater lock-hold on the Senate and Assembly, or whether, like in 2006, the Democrat wave will crash at the border (no state legislative seats changed parties that year).

In the State Senate, only one seat – the 19th District – is really in… Read More

On this election day, much will be decided across this country. The next President and Vice President will be elected. Republicans will certainly lose seats in the United States Senate, but will we be able to retain enough seats to filibuster against egregious, left-wing legislation? Pundits estimate House GOP loses in the neighborhood of 20-30 seats (some say that Tom McClintock’s bid for Congress is in peril, and that once-thought-safe incumbent Members of Congress like Dan Lungren are no longer assured reelection).

As the State Legislative level, it is unclear whether the sizable lead of Barack Obama in California will sweep Democrats into an even greater lock-hold on the Senate and Assembly, or whether, like in 2006, the Democrat wave will crash at the border (no state legislative seats changed parties that year).

In the State Senate, only one seat – the 19th District – is really in… Read More

This just in from Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association… HJTA has released itsannual Legislative report card based on the votes and/or abstentions on 29 bills introduced in the California Legislature. These bills include proposals which either directly diminish the protections of Propositions 13 or 218, or are “tax like fees” that should require voter approval per Proposition 13. 2008 saw an overall lowering of grades as several bills (including what is now Proposition 1A (High Speed Rail) were passed with bipartisan support despite our strenuous objections. The number of A grades received (28) is the lowest ever. The number of B grades received is our highest ever (14).We’d also like to commend the four legislators who received perfect scores in 2008: Joel Anderson, Ted Gaines, Audra Strickland, & Mimi Walters.Especially on Election Day, it is important… Read More

The entire Congressional delegation will be re-elected. There was some media reports that caused concern over Rohrabacher and Calvert.

No surprises in the legislative races.

Supervisor Janet Nguyen’s chief of staff, Andrew Do is on top for election to the Garden Grove city council, but late mail could have an impact.

Assemblyman Bob Huff’s district director, Tim Shaw is the top vote getter among absentees for the La Habra city council.

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is set to win another term, it will be his seventh term. Terms are two years.

It does not look like Orange County will have a 35th city. Rossmoor cityhood is failing 73% to 28%.

See OC Registrar results updated here.… Read More

Proposition 6 has strong support from California law enforcement, including every sheriff in the state, the California Police Chiefs’ Association, the California District Attorneys Association, the Chief Probation Officers of California and rank and file police officers.

Here’s a sample of what California law enforcement has said about Proposition 6 in the past year.

“Proposition 6 wisely invests in probation. Young people who make mistakes but are not hardened criminals desperately need adequate resources to ensure they stop negative behavior and succeed in living by the rules. A strong effort at the probation level is a wise investment.”

– Modesto Police Chief Roy Wasden Modesto Bee: “Modesto police chief endorses Proposition 6” Oct. 31, 2008

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"They’ll say it’s a ‘lock em up, throw away the key’ ballot measure, and it’s not, frankly. In fact, the independent analysis says it will save money. It’ll reduce incarceration needs long-term. The analysis says if the prevention programs work and fewer people are arrested and… Read More