ARTICLE
Dysfunctional Politics Near an End March 4, 2020, seems like a century ago when California, along with 13 other states, voted in the March primary — specifically the Democratic Presidential nomination sweepstakes. After a blurring list of Super Tuesday elections in those fourteen states, American Samoa and ‘Democrats abroad’ left 1,357 pledged delegates at stake. We saw that as the pivotal shift in the race for the Presidency. On Tuesday, November 3 — we saw the beginning of a new era, or the continuation of another four years. At present time, we still do not know the final results. For the past 8 months (March 4 through November 3), the complexity of our election process and the unusual campaigns run by both parties has created major anxiety and stress. From the droves of people voting by mail and the widespread protests for racial justice to the pandemic and worries about the electoral process itself, the 2020 election cycle provides “a recipe for a lot of angst” on Election Day, according to Alvin Bernard Tillery Jr., a professor of political science at Northwestern University. “We’re seeing a huge increase in the need for mental health services,” said Eva Escobedo, a therapist specializing in relationship issues at Just Mind, a counseling center in Austin, Texas. With the pandemic keeping many families apart, the usual rallying points — like a shared love of a sports team — have frayed. “One of the very few things that remains, and not only remains but is heightened, is our political standing,” Ms. Escobedo said. “I think that people are way more polarized even within their families and essential groups than they ever have been before.” So how can you engage with friends and family members across the political divide on Election Day and afterward without succumbing to fights and finger-pointing? It starts with addressing your own big feelings,” Ms. Escobedo concluded. As I write this article, it is fascinating, yet scary, to underscore how our democracy is being played out. The race for President has set new lows for a campaign tone never imagined. Now, it has impacted local races with unnecessary vitriol and behaviors unsuited for public debate. Yet, that is where the 2020 election cycle has dropped on us. A world-wide Pandemic, driven through western state wildfires and a devastating hurricane season in the middle and southern parts of the United States. Yet, American voters are participating as never seen in recent history. Americans headed to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballot for either Trump or Biden in the 2020 Presidential Election. But before today, and throughout the United States where people have been given the opportunity to cast their ballot early, voters had taken to it with zeal. As of the start of Tuesday, just under 100 million Americans (99,657,079, according to the US Elections Project) have cast a ballot using early voting, far outstripping the 47 plus million that chose to in 2016. Earlier on Monday evening Santa Cruz County election officer, Gail Pellerin, noted that 61% of county registered voters had cast a ballot. The turnout at the polls was constant and smooth according to late evening reports. At the top of the ballot was the race for President — here is what we learned on Wednesday — we don’t know who our next President will be as several battleground states are too close to project a winner. The current electoral count has former Vice President Joe Biden with 264 electoral votes to President Donald Trump with 214 electoral votes. It takes 270 to win the Presidency. The projections, according to the Associated Press, for Nevada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia are still in play as of Wednesday morning. Here is the tally with a Other news organizations still have Arizona in play. Meanwhile the tight vote counts in Wisconsin and Michigan call into question whether a recount or legal challenges to the votes in these two states (and others) will be mounted by the Trump team and countered by the Biden team . The Live Link that is updated hourly: Associated Press Election Projections Live Link As of this writing, it appears that the U.S. Senate will remain in the Republican column with a 48-46 advantage with Alaska, Maine, Michigan, and North Carolina leaning Republican and Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico moving to the Democrats. The Georgia Senate race will be a run-off as no candidates received 50% + 1 of the votes. In the U.S. House of Representatives, the Democrats hold a 208 to 190 lead with several congressional races still in play. The Democrats must hit 218 to retain the majority which is predicted to happen. While the final tallies for local races will not be decided for weeks or until the Election Officer files the final votes in early December, let’s break it down on the local races as of today. 18th Congressional District (includes Santa Clara, San Mateo, and a portion of Santa Cruz County): incumbent Anna Eshoo (D) secured 64.7% and sailed to victory over her opponent Rishi Kumar (R). 20th Congressional District (includes Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and portion of Santa Clara County): incumbent Jimmy Panetta (D) has 83.2% of the tallied votes and also sailed to victory over Jeff Gorman (R). 17th Senate District (includes Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo Counties): an open seat where Senator Bill Monning was termed out. Long time public elected official and Santa Cruz resident John Laird (D) won a decisive race (78.51%) to return to the State Capital as our State Senator over Vicki Norhden (R). 29th Assembly District (includes Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties): incumbent Mark Stone (D) wins with a commanding lead (78.88%) against Shomer Banerjee (R). 30th Assembly District (includes parts of Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties): incumbent Robert Rivas (D) wins his second term with 80% in the Assembly race against Gregory Sweet (R). Santa Cruz County 1st District Supervisor (includes Live Oak, parts of Capitola, Soquel and up to Summit and parts of Scotts Valley southwest of Highway 17): This race has been a very vocal and combative race between incumbent John Leopold and his opponent, Manu Koenig, with the results on Wednesday morning, Koenig has captured 56.29% of the votes tallied to incumbent Leopold with 43.71% of the vote. While there are a few thousand ballots not counted yet, it appears that Koenig’s lead is unsurmountable. On Wednesday afternoon, Supervisor Leopold conceded. Santa Cruz County Superior Judge: In the Superior Court Judge race, Nancy de la Pena wins easily with 70% of the votes tallied as her opponent dropped out of the race in early summer. Cabrillo College Board of Trustee (Area 4): Rachel Spencer had a commanding lead of 62% over Diana Alfaro with 37%. Cabrillo College Board of Trustee (Area 5): Former Watsonville Council member, Felipe Hernandez has captured 61% of the votes compared to his opponent, Leticia Mendoza with 38% Cabrillo College Board of Trustee (Area 7): Steven Laird Trujillo has a lead of 59% to his opponent Edward Banks with 40% of the votes. Santa Cruz City Council (four seats at stake). As of Wednesday morning, the top four candidates are Sonja Brunner (14.85%), Martine Watkins (14.74%), Sandy Brown (14.21%) and Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson (13.29%) are the leading vote-getters. Capitola City Council (2 open seats): Current Mayor Kristen Petersen has 40.68% of the votes and Marguax Keiser has 26.25% Scotts Valley City Council (three seats) Incumbents Randy Johnson (28.22%), Donna Lind (28.08%), and Jack Dilles (27.48%) will be re-elected to the council. Watsonville City Council 1st District: Edward Montesino ran unopposed and won the 1st District race with 100% of the votes counted. Watsonville City Council 2nd District: Incumbent Aurelio Gonzalez (55.74%) returns for a second term over Vanessa Quiroz-Carter with (44.26%) of the vote. Watsonville City Council 6th District: Jimmy Dutra won handily with 64.07% of the votes against Tony Gomez with (35.93%). Dutra is returning to the council. Soquel Creek Water District (two seats): Incumbents Bruce Daniels (43.62%) and Tom Lahue (30.79%) were re-elected to another term. Finally, let’s take a look at how the 13 state-wide ballot measures fared. Proposition 14 Bonds to Continue Stem Cell Research: Yes: 51.1% No: 48.9% Proposition 15 Property Tax to Fund Schools and Government Services: No: 51.7% Yes: 48.3% Proposition 16 Affirmative Action in Government Decisions: No: 56.1% Yes: 43.9% Proposition 17 Restores Right to Vote After Prison Term: Yes 59% No: 41% Proposition 18 17-year-old Primary Voting Rights: No 55.1% Yes: 44.9% Proposition 19 Change Certain Property Tax Rules: Yes 51.5% No: 48.5% Proposition 20 Parole Restrictions for Certain Offenses: No: 62% Yes: 37% Proposition 21 Expands Government’s Authority to Rent Control: No: 59.8% Yes: 40.2% Proposition 22 App-Based Drivers and Employee Benefits: Yes: 58.4% No: 41.6% Proposition 23 State Requirements for Kidney Dialysis: No: 64% Yes: 36% Proposition 24 Amends Consumer Privacy Laws: Yes: 56.1% No: 43.9% Proposition 25 Eliminates Money Bail System: No: 55.4% Yes: 44.6%
Dysfunctional Politics Near an End
March 4, 2020, seems like a century ago when California, along with 13 other states, voted in the March primary — specifically the Democratic Presidential nomination sweepstakes. After a blurring list of Super Tuesday elections in those fourteen states, American Samoa and ‘Democrats abroad’ left 1,357 pledged delegates at stake. We saw that as the pivotal shift in the race for the Presidency. On Tuesday, November 3 — we saw the beginning of a new era, or the continuation of another four years. At present time, we still do not know the final results.
For the past 8 months (March 4 through November 3), the complexity of our election process and the unusual campaigns run by both parties has created major anxiety and stress.
From the droves of people voting by mail and the widespread protests for racial justice to the pandemic and worries about the electoral process itself, the 2020 election cycle provides “a recipe for a lot of angst” on Election Day, according to Alvin Bernard Tillery Jr., a professor of political science at Northwestern University. “We’re seeing a huge increase in the need for mental health services,” said Eva Escobedo, a therapist specializing in relationship issues at Just Mind, a counseling center in Austin, Texas. With the pandemic keeping many families apart, the usual rallying points — like a shared love of a sports team — have frayed. “One of the very few things that remains, and not only remains but is heightened, is our political standing,” Ms. Escobedo said. “I think that people are way more polarized even within their families and essential groups than they ever have been before.” So how can you engage with friends and family members across the political divide on Election Day and afterward without succumbing to fights and finger-pointing? It starts with addressing your own big feelings,” Ms. Escobedo concluded.
As I write this article, it is fascinating, yet scary, to underscore how our democracy is being played out. The race for President has set new lows for a campaign tone never imagined. Now, it has impacted local races with unnecessary vitriol and behaviors unsuited for public debate. Yet, that is where the 2020 election cycle has dropped on us. A world-wide Pandemic, driven through western state wildfires and a devastating hurricane season in the middle and southern parts of the United States.
Yet, American voters are participating as never seen in recent history. Americans headed to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballot for either Trump or Biden in the 2020 Presidential Election. But before today, and throughout the United States where people have been given the opportunity to cast their ballot early, voters had taken to it with zeal. As of the start of Tuesday, just under 100 million Americans (99,657,079, according to the US Elections Project) have cast a ballot using early voting, far outstripping the 47 plus million that chose to in 2016. Earlier on Monday evening Santa Cruz County election officer, Gail Pellerin, noted that 61% of county registered voters had cast a ballot. The turnout at the polls was constant and smooth according to late evening reports.
At the top of the ballot was the race for President — here is what we learned on Wednesday — we don’t know who our next President will be as several battleground states are too close to project a winner. The current electoral count has former Vice President Joe Biden with 264 electoral votes to President Donald Trump with 214 electoral votes. It takes 270 to win the Presidency.
The projections, according to the Associated Press, for Nevada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia are still in play as of Wednesday morning. Here is the tally with a Other news organizations still have Arizona in play. Meanwhile the tight vote counts in Wisconsin and Michigan call into question whether a recount or legal challenges to the votes in these two states (and others) will be mounted by the Trump team and countered by the Biden team . The Live Link that is updated hourly:
Associated Press Election Projections Live Link
As of this writing, it appears that the U.S. Senate will remain in the Republican column with a 48-46 advantage with Alaska, Maine, Michigan, and North Carolina leaning Republican and Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico moving to the Democrats. The Georgia Senate race will be a run-off as no candidates received 50% + 1 of the votes.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, the Democrats hold a 208 to 190 lead with several congressional races still in play. The Democrats must hit 218 to retain the majority which is predicted to happen.
While the final tallies for local races will not be decided for weeks or until the Election Officer files the final votes in early December, let’s break it down on the local races as of today.
18th Congressional District (includes Santa Clara, San Mateo, and a portion of Santa Cruz County): incumbent Anna Eshoo (D) secured 64.7% and sailed to victory over her opponent Rishi Kumar (R).
20th Congressional District (includes Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and portion of Santa Clara County): incumbent Jimmy Panetta (D) has 83.2% of the tallied votes and also sailed to victory over Jeff Gorman (R).
17th Senate District (includes Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo Counties): an open seat where Senator Bill Monning was termed out. Long time public elected official and Santa Cruz resident John Laird (D) won a decisive race (78.51%) to return to the State Capital as our State Senator over Vicki Norhden (R).
29th Assembly District (includes Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties): incumbent Mark Stone (D) wins with a commanding lead (78.88%) against Shomer Banerjee (R).
30th Assembly District (includes parts of Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties): incumbent Robert Rivas (D) wins his second term with 80% in the Assembly race against Gregory Sweet (R).
Santa Cruz County 1st District Supervisor (includes Live Oak, parts of Capitola, Soquel and up to Summit and parts of Scotts Valley southwest of Highway 17): This race has been a very vocal and combative race between incumbent John Leopold and his opponent, Manu Koenig, with the results on Wednesday morning, Koenig has captured 56.29% of the votes tallied to incumbent Leopold with 43.71% of the vote. While there are a few thousand ballots not counted yet, it appears that Koenig’s lead is unsurmountable. On Wednesday afternoon, Supervisor Leopold conceded.
Santa Cruz County Superior Judge: In the Superior Court Judge race, Nancy de la Pena wins easily with 70% of the votes tallied as her opponent dropped out of the race in early summer.
Cabrillo College Board of Trustee (Area 4): Rachel Spencer had a commanding lead of 62% over Diana Alfaro with 37%.
Cabrillo College Board of Trustee (Area 5): Former Watsonville Council member, Felipe Hernandez has captured 61% of the votes compared to his opponent, Leticia Mendoza with 38%
Cabrillo College Board of Trustee (Area 7): Steven Laird Trujillo has a lead of 59% to his opponent Edward Banks with 40% of the votes.
Santa Cruz City Council (four seats at stake). As of Wednesday morning, the top four candidates are Sonja Brunner (14.85%), Martine Watkins (14.74%), Sandy Brown (14.21%) and Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson (13.29%) are the leading vote-getters.
Capitola City Council (2 open seats): Current Mayor Kristen Petersen has 40.68% of the votes and Marguax Keiser has 26.25%
Scotts Valley City Council (three seats) Incumbents Randy Johnson (28.22%), Donna Lind (28.08%), and Jack Dilles (27.48%) will be re-elected to the council.
Watsonville City Council 1st District: Edward Montesino ran unopposed and won the 1st District race with 100% of the votes counted.
Watsonville City Council 2nd District: Incumbent Aurelio Gonzalez (55.74%) returns for a second term over Vanessa Quiroz-Carter with (44.26%) of the vote.
Watsonville City Council 6th District: Jimmy Dutra won handily with 64.07% of the votes against Tony Gomez with (35.93%). Dutra is returning to the council.
Soquel Creek Water District (two seats): Incumbents Bruce Daniels (43.62%) and Tom Lahue (30.79%) were re-elected to another term.
Finally, let’s take a look at how the 13 state-wide ballot measures fared.
Proposition 14 Bonds to Continue Stem Cell Research: Yes: 51.1% No: 48.9%
Proposition 15 Property Tax to Fund Schools and Government Services: No: 51.7% Yes: 48.3%
Proposition 16 Affirmative Action in Government Decisions: No: 56.1% Yes: 43.9%
Proposition 17 Restores Right to Vote After Prison Term: Yes 59% No: 41%
Proposition 18 17-year-old Primary Voting Rights: No 55.1% Yes: 44.9%
Proposition 19 Change Certain Property Tax Rules: Yes 51.5% No: 48.5%
Proposition 20 Parole Restrictions for Certain Offenses: No: 62% Yes: 37%
Proposition 21 Expands Government’s Authority to Rent Control: No: 59.8% Yes: 40.2%
Proposition 22 App-Based Drivers and Employee Benefits: Yes: 58.4% No: 41.6%
Proposition 23 State Requirements for Kidney Dialysis: No: 64% Yes: 36%
Proposition 24 Amends Consumer Privacy Laws: Yes: 56.1% No: 43.9%
Proposition 25 Eliminates Money Bail System: No: 55.4% Yes: 44.6%