2014 California elections

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2014 California elections
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Registered17,803,823 [1]
Turnout42.20% (Decrease2.svg 30.16 pp) [1]

Elections were held in California on November 4, 2014. It was the first year in which the top statewide offices were elected under the nonpartisan blanket primary, pursuant to Proposition 14, which passed with 53% voter approval in June 2010. Under this system, which first went into effect during the 2012 election year, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the primary, voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. The top two finishers, regardless of party, then advance to face each other in the general election in November.

Contents

The elections for statewide offices also coincided with those for all of California's seats to the House of Representatives, all of the seats of the State Assembly, all even-numbered seats of the State Senate, and statewide ballot propositions.

The primary election was held on June 3, and the general election on November 4. Although the general election saw the California Republican Party lose every statewide election (including the gubernatorial race), the party did make gains in both houses of the California State Legislature, with a net gain of four seats in the Assembly and two seats in the Senate. In both cases, the Republican gains ended the supermajorities of the California Democratic Party in those chambers.

Congressional

All 53 U.S. Representatives from California were up for election in 2014, but neither of the state's two U.S. Senate seats.

Constitutional officers

Overview

California Constitutional officers elections, 2014
Primary election — June 3, 2014
PartyVotesPercentageCandidatesAdvancing to generalOffices contesting
Democratic 15,280,65346.97%1577
Republican 11,611,16335.69%1977
Nonpartisan 3,797,41711.67%321
Green 788,5682.42%500
No party preference 592,0031.82%900
Peace and Freedom 305,3730.94%300
Libertarian 99,0560.30%100
Americans Elect 56,0720.17%100
Valid votes32,530,305———
Invalid votes———
Totals100.00%5616—
Voter turnout
California Constitutional officers elections, 2014
General election — November 4, 2014
PartyVotesPercentageOfficers+/–
Democratic 28,423,04150.77%7Steady2.svg
Nonpartisan 6,074,20110.85%1Steady2.svg
Republican 21,483,59638.38%0Steady2.svg
Valid votes55,980,838——
Invalid votes——
Totals100.00%8—
Voter turnout

Governor

Incumbent Democratic governor Jerry Brown won re-election to a second consecutive and fourth overall term in office. Although governors are limited to lifetime service of two terms in office, Brown previously served as governor from 1975 to 1983, and the law only affects terms served after 1990. [2] [3] [4]

2014 California gubernatorial election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jerry Brown (incumbent)2,354,76954.3
Republican Neel Kashkari 839,76719.4
Republican Tim Donnelly 643,23614.8
Republican Andrew Blount89,7492.1
Republican Glenn Champ76,0661.8
Green Luis J. Rodriguez 66,8721.5
Peace and Freedom Cindy Sheehan 52,7071.2
Republican Alma Marie Winston46,0421.1
No party preference Robert Newman44,1201.0
Democratic Akinyemi Agbede37,0240.9
Republican Richard William Aguirre35,1250.8
No party preference "Bo" Bogdan Ambrozewicz14,9290.3
No party preference Janel Hyeshia Buycks12,1360.3
No party preference Rakesh Kumar Christian11,1420.3
No party preference Joe Leicht9,3070.2
Democratic Karen Jill Bernal (write-in)170.0
No party preference Nickolas Wildstar (write-in)170.0
No party preference Jimelle L. Walls (write-in)30.0
Total votes4,333,028 100.0
General election
Democratic Jerry Brown (incumbent) 4,388,368 60.0
Republican Neel Kashkari 2,929,21340.0
Total votes7,317,581 100.0
Democratic hold

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Gavin Newsom won re-election to a second term in office.

2014 California lieutenant gubernatorial election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Gavin Newsom (incumbent)2,082,90249.9
Republican Ron Nehring976,12823.4
Republican David Fennell357,2428.6
Republican George Yang333,8578.0
Democratic Eric Korevaar232,5965.6
Green Jena F. Goodman98,3382.4
Americans Elect Alan Reynolds56,0271.3
Peace and Freedom Amos Johnson39,6750.9
Total votes4,176,765 100.0
General election
Democratic Gavin Newsom (incumbent) 4,107,051 57.2
Republican Ron Nehring3,078,03942.8
Total votes7,185,090 100.0
Democratic hold

Attorney general

Incumbent Democratic attorney general Kamala Harris won re-election to a second term in office.

2014 California Attorney General election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Kamala Harris (incumbent)2,177,48053.2
Republican Ronald Gold504,09112.3
Republican Phil Wyman 479,49811.7
Republican David King368,1909.0
Republican John Haggerty336,4338.2
No party preference Orly Taitz 130,4513.2
Libertarian Jonathan Jaech99,0562.4
Total votes4,095,169 100.0
General election
Democratic Kamala Harris (incumbent) 4,102,649 57.5
Republican Ronald Gold3,033,47642.5
Total votes7,136,125 100.0
Democratic hold

Secretary of State

Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Debra Bowen was term-limited out of office.

2014 California Secretary of State election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Alex Padilla 1,217,37130.2
Republican Pete Peterson1,194,71529.7
Democratic Leland Yee (withdrawn)380,3619.4
No party preference Dan Schnur369,8989.2
Democratic Derek Cressman306,3757.6
Republican Roy Allmond256,6686.4
Democratic Jeffrey H. Drobman178,5214.4
Green David Curtis121,6183.0
Total votes4,025,527 100.0
General election
Democratic Alex Padilla 3,799,711 53.6
Republican Pete Peterson3,285,33446.4
Total votes7,085,045 100.0
Democratic hold

Treasurer

Incumbent Democratic state treasurer Bill Lockyer was term-limited out of office.

2014 California State Treasurer election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Chiang 2,250,09855.0
Republican Greg Conlon1,571,53238.4
Green Ellen H. Brown270,3886.6
Total votes4,092,018 100.0
General election
Democratic John Chiang 4,176,793 58.8
Republican Greg Conlon2,925,89541.2
Total votes7,102,688 100.0
Democratic hold

Controller

Incumbent Democratic State Controller John Chiang was term-limited out of office.

2014 California State Controller election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ashley Swearengin 1,001,47324.8
Democratic Betty T. Yee 878,19521.7
Democratic John Pérez 877,71421.7
Republican David Evans850,10921.0
Green Laura Wells 231,3525.7
Democratic Tammy D. Blair200,5325.0
Total votes4,039,375 100.0
General election
Democratic Betty T. Yee 3,810,304 54.0
Republican Ashley Swearengin 3,249,68846.0
Total votes7,059,992 100.0
Democratic hold

Insurance Commissioner

Incumbent Democratic Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones won re-election to a second term in office.

2014 California Insurance Commissioner election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dave Jones (incumbent)2,106,67153.1
Republican Ted Gaines 1,651,24241.6
Peace and Freedom Nathalie Hrizi212,9915.4
Total votes3,970,904 100.0
General election
Democratic Dave Jones (incumbent) 4,038,165 57.5
Republican Ted Gaines 2,981,95142.5
Total votes7,020,116 100.0
Democratic hold

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson won reelection to a second term in office. The office is nonpartisan.

2014 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election – primary
CandidateVotes%
Tom Torlakson (incumbent)1,765,25746.5
Marshall Tuck1,098,44128.9
Lydia A. Gutiérrez931,71924.5
Total votes3,797,417 100.0
2014 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election – general
CandidateVotes%
Tom Torlakson (incumbent)3,167,21252.1
Marshall Tuck2,906,98947.9
Total votes6,074,201 100.0

Board of Equalization

Incumbent Board of Equalization members Republican George Runner and Democrat Jerome Horton ran for re-election, while Republican Michelle Steel and Democrat Betty T. Yee were term-limited out of office.

California Board of Equalization elections, 2014
Primary election — June 3, 2014
PartyVotesPercentageCandidatesAdvancing to generalSeats contesting
Democratic 2,003,63155.2%444
Republican 1,624,24644.8%844
Libertarian 1980.0%100
Peace and Freedom 1700.0%200
Valid votes3,628,255———
Invalid votes———
Totals100%168—
Voter turnout
California Board of Equalization elections, 2014
General election — November 4, 2014
PartyVotesPercentageSeats+/–
Democratic 3,674,23753.50%2Steady2.svg
Republican 3,193,44446.50%2Steady2.svg
Valid votes6,867,681——
Invalid votes——
Totals100%4—
Voter turnout

District 1

California's 1st Board of Equalization district election, 2014
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George Runner (incumbent)608,63759.8
Democratic Chris Parker408,34340.2
Total votes1,016,980 100.0
General election
Republican George Runner (incumbent) 984,604 57.8
Democratic Chris Parker718,12942.2
Total votes1,702,733 100.0
Republican hold

District 2

California's 2nd Board of Equalization district election, 2014
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Fiona Ma 876,37868.9
Republican James E. Theis396,24131.1
Total votes1,272,619 100.0
General election
Democratic Fiona Ma 1,448,657 68.7
Republican James E. Theis660,97331.3
Total votes2,109,630 100.0
Democratic hold

District 3

California's 3rd Board of Equalization district election, 2014
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jerome Horton (incumbent)402,24499.5
Republican G. Rick Marshall (write-in)1,8490.5
Libertarian Jose E. Castaneda (write-in)1980.0
Peace and Freedom Eric S. Moren (write-in)1340.0
Peace and Freedom Jan B. Tucker (write-in)360.0
Total votes404,461 100.0
General election
Democratic Jerome Horton (incumbent) 858,471 62.4
Republican G. Rick Marshall517,28737.6
Total votes1,375,758 100.0
Democratic hold

District 4

California's 4th Board of Equalization district election, 2014
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Diane Harkey 324,64234.8
Democratic Nader Shahatit316,66633.9
Republican John F. Kelly101,83610.9
Republican Van Tran 84,1629.0
Republican Shirley Horton 74,7948.0
Republican Lewis Da Silva32,0943.4
Total votes934,194 100
General election
Republican Diane Harkey 1,030,580 61.4
Democratic Nader Shahatit648,98038.6
Total votes1,679,560 100.00
Republican hold

State legislature

State Senate

Voters in the 20 even-numbered districts of the California State Senate elected their representatives.

State Assembly

Voters in all 80 of California's state assembly districts elected their representatives.

Statewide ballot propositions

June primary election

The following propositions were on the June ballot:

Proposition 41 Results by county Yes: .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} 70-80% 60-70% 50-60% No: 50-60% 2014 California Proposition 41 results map by county.svg
Proposition 41 Results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   50–60%
  • Proposition 42 - Passed [8]
    This initiative constitutional amendment requires local governments to comply with laws that provide public access to their body meetings and records of government officials. It also eliminates the reimbursement for the costs of such compliance. [9] Supporters argued for the need for such open public access, while opponents disagreed with provisions that would impose the costs of compliance upon the local governments involved instead of the state. [7]
Proposition 42 Results by county Yes: 70-80% 60-70% 50-60% No: 60-70% 50-60% 2014 California Proposition 42 results map by county.svg
Proposition 42 Results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%

November general election

The following propositions have qualified for the November ballot:

Proposition 1 Results by county Yes: 70-80% 60-70% 50-60% No: 70-80% 60-70% 50-60% 2014 California Proposition 1 results map by county.svg
Proposition 1 Results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
  • Proposition 2 - Passed
    This legislative constitutional amendment makes several changes relating to state's reserve policy. It, among others, establishes a replacement version of the Budget Stabilization Account (first enacted per Proposition 58 in 2004), in which it will annually receive 1.5% of the estimated amount of General Fund revenues for each respective fiscal year. The Act also creates another reserve fund for public schools funding (as mandated per Proposition 98 in 1988) called the Public School System Stabilization Account. This measure was then originally numbered as Proposition 44, but was then re-numbered as Proposition 2. [10] Supporters argued that this provides a strong rainy day fund, while opponents disagreed (among others) with provisions setting a maximum amount of reserves that school districts could keep at the local level. [11]
Proposition 2 Results by county Yes: 70-80% 60-70% 50-60% No: 50-60% 2014 California Proposition 2 results map by county.svg
Proposition 2 Results by county
Yes:
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
No:
  •   50–60%
  • Proposition 45 - Failed [13]
    Under this initiative, any health insurance rate change will need to be approved by the state's Insurance Commissioner before it can take effect. Any health insurer requesting such approval will need to provide information to justify their rate changes. The measure also provides procedures for public notice, disclosure, hearing, and subsequent judicial review for this approval process; it was different from similar states in allowing members of the public to sue the commissioner over approved rate hikes. [10] [14] Supporters believed that this will stop price gouging. Opponents were concerned about giving that much power to the Insurance Commissioner, who as an elected politician could be easily influenced be special interest groups. [11]
  • Proposition 46 - Failed [13]
    This initiative will require the regular drug and alcohol testing of doctors. Administration of this will be given to the California Medical Board. Doctors will also be required to report any other doctor suspected of being under the influence while on duty. In addition, doctors will be required to check the state's CURES (Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System) prescription drug history database before prescribing certain controlled substances to patients. Furthermore, the $250,000 cap on pain and suffering damages in medical negligence lawsuits will be increased to account for inflation. [10] Supporters argued that this will reduce medical negligence, while opponents were concerned that the cap increase in medical negligence lawsuits will eventually lead to higher health care costs. [11]
  • Proposition 47 - Passed [13]
    This initiative downgrades the sentencing classification, from felonies to misdemeanors, for the crimes of petty theft, receiving stolen property, and forging/writing bad checks when the value or amount involved is $950 or less. However, a person who has a previous conviction for crimes such as rape, murder or child molestation or is a registered sex offender will still get a felony sentence. In addition, people currently serving felony sentences for these crimes will be re-sentenced unless a court determines that they are an unreasonable public safety risk. The resulting net savings in the state's criminal justice system will then be applied to a new "Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund" for mental health and drug treatment programs, K-12 schools, and crime victims. [10] Supporters argued that this will reduce spending and government waste in the state's overcrowded prisons; opponents argued that this could potentially release over 10,000 prisoners, reduce penalties for stealing guns and sex crimes, and overburden the state justice system. [11]
  • Proposition 48 - Failed [13]
    This was a referendum on Assembly Bill 277. Passed by the legislature and signed by the governor in July 2013, it ratified gaming compacts with the Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians and the Wiyot Tribe. [10] Under the compacts, the Northfork tribe were permitted to build a casino with 2000 slot machines in Madera County on land that was accepted into federal trust for gaming, instead of building one on their reservation near Yosemite. The Wiyot Tribe would have then received a percentage of the revenue from the Northfork's casino, in exchange for not building one of their own on their land near the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The tribes were also given exemptions to the California Environmental Quality Act "in deference to tribal sovereignty". [15] Supporters of the compacts argued that the proposed casino will bring jobs and tax money, as well as avoid potentially negative environmental impact in both Yosemite and Humboldt Bay; opponents said that this would have paved the way for massive off-reservation casinos. [11]
  • Proposition 49 - Removed from the ballot by order of the California Supreme Court [16]
    Originally put on the ballot by the state legislature, Proposition 49 would have been non-binding advisory question presented to voters, asking if the U.S. Congress should propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission . In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government is prohibited from restricting campaign contributions and other political independent expenditures by corporations, associations, or labor unions. [17] This proposition alone would have no binding legal effect, and it will only be submitted to Congress as a formal request; under Article Five of the U.S. Constitution, the process for amending the Constitution can only be initiated by either Congress or a national convention assembled at the request of the legislatures of at least two-thirds (at present 34) of the states. On August 11, the California Supreme Court ordered that the measure be pulled from the November ballot pending further state constitutional review: at issue is that the state legislature has no defined specific power to place such advisory measures on the ballot. [16]

Local races

Local races included:

References

  1. 1 2 "Historical Voter Registration and Participation" (PDF). California Secretary of State.
  2. ↑ Shelley, Kevin (October 2003). "Summary of Qualifications and Requirements for the Office of Governor" (PDF). California Secretary of State Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Campaign Finance: Brown For Governor 2014". California Secretary of State. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Brown Shows Early Lead for 2014 California Gubernatorial Race". IVN. Archived from the original on August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  5. ↑ "2018 California General Election Results". Election Results. Archived from the original on June 8, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  6. ↑ Analysis by the Legislative Analyst
  7. 1 2 Quick reference guide
  8. ↑ "2018 California General Election Results". Election Results. Archived from the original on June 8, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ Analysis by the legal analyst
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Quick-Reference Guide". 2014 General Election Official Voter Information Guide (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  12. ↑ 2014 Supplemental General Election Official Voter Information Guide (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Tracy Seipel and Jessica Calefati for the Mercury News. Nov. 4, 2014 California voters reject Propositions 45, 46, 48; pass 47
  14. ↑ Ian Lovett for the New York Times. Oct. 29, 2014. California's Proposition 45 Would Offer Public a Say on Health Insurance Rates
  15. ↑ "Bill Text - AB-277 Tribal gaming: compact ratification". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
  16. 1 2 "'Citizens United' Measure Removed From California's Fall Ballot". KQED. August 11, 2014. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  17. ↑ McGreevy, Patrick. "Gov. Brown allows advisory ballot measure on Citizens United decision - Los Angeles Times". latimes.com.
  18. ↑ "Special election to replace Filner set for November 19". KFMB-TV. August 28, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Council sets Feb. 11 for special mayoral election | LGBT Weekly". Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Cortese, Liccardo in runoff for San Jose mayor". KTVU. June 4, 2014. Archived from the original on June 8, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
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