2009 California elections

Last updated

2009 California elections
Flag of California.svg
  Nov 2008 May 19, 2009 Jun 2010  
Registered17,153,012 [1]
Turnout28.40% [1]

The California state special elections, 2009 were held on May 19, 2009, throughout the state of California. The elections were authorized by the State Legislature and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as a part of a budget signed into law on February 19, 2009. Voters voted on six ballot propositions, 1A through 1F, for the open 26th State Senate district seat, and in a primary for the open 32nd congressional district seat. All of the propositions except 1F were defeated.

Contents

Background

In February 2009 the State Legislature narrowly passed the 2008–2009 state budget during a special session, months after it was due. As part of the plan to lower the state's annual deficits, the State Legislature ordered a special election with various budget reform ballot propositions. [2]

Propositions

Proposition 1A

2009 California Proposition 1A results map by county.svg

Proposition 1A was a constitutional amendment that would have increased the annual contributions to the state's rainy day fund.

Proposition 1A [3]
ChoiceVotes %
Light brown x.svg No3,152,14165.39
Yes1,668,21634.61
Valid votes4,820,35798.94
Invalid or blank votes51,5881.06
Total votes4,871,945100.00
Registered voters/turnout17,153,01228.40

Proposition 1B

2009 California Proposition 1B results map by county.svg

Proposition 1B would have secured additional funding for primary education, but only if Proposition 1A passed as well.

Proposition 1B [3]
ChoiceVotes %
Light brown x.svg No2,975,56061.86
Yes1,834,24238.14
Valid votes4,809,80298.72
Invalid or blank votes62,1431.28
Total votes4,871,945100.00
Registered voters/turnout17,153,01228.40

Proposition 1C

2009 California Proposition 1C results map by county.svg

Proposition 1C was a constitutional amendment that would have made significant changes to the operation of the State Lottery.

Proposition 1C [3]
ChoiceVotes %
Light brown x.svg No3,085,13864.35
Yes1,708,80035.65
Valid votes4,793,93898.40
Invalid or blank votes78,0071.60
Total votes4,871,945100.00
Registered voters/turnout17,153,01228.40

Proposition 1D

2009 California Proposition 1D results map by county.svg

Proposition 1D would have authorized a one-time reallocation of tobacco tax revenue to help balance the state budget.

Proposition 1D [3]
ChoiceVotes %
Light brown x.svg No3,157,68065.91
Yes1,633,10734.09
Valid votes4,790,78798.33
Invalid or blank votes81,1581.67
Total votes4,871,945100.00
Registered voters/turnout17,153,01228.40

Proposition 1E

2009 California Proposition 1E results map by county.svg

Proposition 1E would have authorized a one-time reallocation of income tax revenue to help balance the state budget.

Proposition 1E [3]
ChoiceVotes %
Light brown x.svg No3,169,16366.48
Yes1,597,90733.52
Valid votes4,767,07097.85
Invalid or blank votes104,8752.15
Total votes4,871,945100.00
Registered voters/turnout17,153,01228.40

Proposition 1F

2009 California Proposition 1F results map by county.svg

Proposition 1F prohibited pay raises for members of the State Legislature, the Governor, and other state officials during deficit years.

Proposition 1F [3]
ChoiceVotes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes3,565,41974.23
No1,237,69425.77
Valid votes4,803,11398.59
Invalid or blank votes68,8321.41
Total votes4,871,945100.00
Registered voters/turnout17,153,01228.40

Opinion polling

Field Poll: March 3, 2009

Among likely voters:
PropositionYesNo
1A57%21%
1B53%30%
1C47%39%
1D54%24%
1E57%23%
1F77%13%

SurveyUSA Poll: March 11–12, 2009 (commissioned by KABC-TV, KFSN-TV, KGTV-TV, and KPIX-TV)

Among likely voters:
PropositionYesNo
1A27%29%
1B38%30%
1C28%29%
1D40%28%
1E36%30%
1F27%31%

PPIC Poll: March 25, 2009

Among likely voters:
PropositionYesNo
1A39%46%
1B44%41%
1C37%50%
1D48%36%
1E47%37%
1F81%13%

SurveyUSA Poll: April 20–21, 2009 (commissioned by KABC-TV, KFSN-TV, KGTV-TV, and KPIX-TV)

Among likely voters:
PropositionYesNo
1A29%42%
1B37%42%
1C23%41%
1D37%39%
1E32%41%
1F32%34%

Field Poll: April 29, 2009

Among likely voters:
PropositionYesNo
1A40%49%
1B40%49%
1C32%59%
1D40%49%
1E40%51%
1F71%24%

26th State Senate district special election

A special election to fill the 26th district of the State Senate was called by Governor Schwarzenegger on December 10, 2008, as a consequence of the resignation of former State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas following his election to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. A special primary election was held on March 24, 2009, and the special election was held on May 19, 2009. [4]

Candidates

A total of eight candidates registered for the special election, but only three qualified for the special election: [5]

Democratic

Peace and Freedom

  • Cindy Variela Henderson, a communications technician

Republican

  • Nachum Shifren, an educator

Primary election

An open primary election for the special election was held on March 24, 2009. Since no candidate won a majority, the candidates with the top votes for each party advanced to the special general election. Price won more votes than any other Democrat while Shifren and Henderson were the only candidates of their parties. [6]

California's 26th State Senate district special primary, 2009 [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Curren Price 10,86435.84
Democratic Mike Davis 6,47121.35
Democratic Robert Cole4,16013.72
Republican Nachum Shifren3,37111.12
Democratic Jonathan Friedman2,4978.24
Democratic Saundra Davis2,2627.46
Peace and Freedom Cindy Henderson5251.73
Democratic Mervin Evans1650.54
Valid ballots30,31598.19
Invalid or blank votes5581.81
Total votes30,873 100.00
Turnout  7.91

Special election

In the special runoff election, Democratic Curren Price won by a large margin, beating Republican Nachum Schifren and Peace and Freedom Party candidate Cindy Henderson. [7]

California's 26th State Senate district special election, 2009 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Curren Price 37,677 70.72
Republican Nachum Shifren11,09720.83
Peace and Freedom Cindy Henderson4,5018.45
Valid ballots53,27583.24
Invalid or blank votes10,72616.76
Total votes64,001 100.00
Turnout  18.59
Democratic hold

32nd congressional district special primary election

A special election to fill the 32nd congressional district was called by Governor Schwarzenegger on March 10, 2009, as a consequence of the resignation of former Congresswoman Hilda Solis following her appointment as United States Secretary of Labor. The special primary election was May 19, 2009 while the special election was held on July 14, 2009. [8] The election was won by Democrat Judy Chu, who became the first Chinese American woman elected to serve in Congress.

Primary election

In the May 19 primary, Democrat Judy Chu led all candidates, but failed to gain enough to prevent a runoff general election. Betty Chu qualified as the Republican candidate for the runoff and Christopher Agrella qualified as the Libertarian. [3]

California's 32nd congressional district special primary, 2009 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Judy Chu 17,66132.64
Democratic Gil Cedillo 12,57023.23
Democratic Emanuel Pleitez7,25213.40
Republican Betty Chu5,64810.44
Republican Teresa Hernandez4,5818.47
Republican David Truax3,3036.10
Democratic Francisco Alonso1,0972.03
Libertarian Christopher Agrella6541.21
Democratic Benita Duran6591.22
Democratic Stefan Lysenko2460.45
Democratic Nick Mostert2440.45
Democratic Rafael Nadal2000.37
Republican Larry Scarborough (write-in)10.00
Valid ballots54,11694.57
Invalid or blank votes3,1065.43
Total votes57,222 100.00
Turnout  26.21

Special election

In the special runoff election, Democratic Judy Chu won by a significant margin, beating Republican Betty Chu and Libertarian candidate Christopher Agrella. [9]

California's 32nd congressional district special election, 2009 [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Judy Chu 16,194 61.85
Republican Betty Chu8,63032.96
Libertarian Christopher Agrella1,3565.18
Independent Eleanor Garcia (write-in)20.01
Valid ballots26,18298.99
Invalid or blank votes2671.01
Total votes26,449 100.00
Turnout  10.79
Democratic hold

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Proposition 1A was a defeated California ballot proposition that appeared on the May 19, 2009 special election ballot. It was a constitutional amendment that would have increased the annual contributions to the state's rainy day fund. The proposition was legislatively referred to voters by the State Legislature.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Historical Voter Registration and Participation" (PDF). California Secretary of State.
  2. "Proposition 1A Analysis - Voter Information Guide 2009". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Statement of Vote: May 19, 2009, Statewide Special Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. June 26, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
  4. "Special election proclamation by the Governor of the State of California" (PDF). California Secretary of State. December 10, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  5. "Certified List of Candidates for the Special Primary Election, Twenty-Sixth Senate District, March 24, 2009" (PDF). California Secretary of State. February 17, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Special Election Results: Senate District 26 Special Primary Election, March 24, 2009 - FINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). California Secretary of State. April 3, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 25, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  7. 1 2 "Special Election Results: Senate District 26 Special Election, May 19, 2009 - FINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). California Secretary of State. June 1, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 25, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  8. "Congressional District 32 – Special Election - Elections & Voter Information". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  9. 1 2 "Special Election Results United States Congress, 32nd District Special General Election, July 14, 2009 FINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). California Secretary of State. July 27, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 30, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009.