Live Blog | 2026 California midterm: Prop. 40 is headed for defeat

California celebrated its midterm election on Nov. 3, in which over 23 million registered voters had a chance to elect the state leader to follow in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s footsteps.

Voters in Los Angeles also decided between two Democratic mayoral candidates, elected a sheriff for the county and determined the outcome of key propositions that will dictate the future of funding for healthcare services.

Voting centers across the state closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday and early results began coming in as soon as they closed and will continue to through Wednesday and the rest of the week.

Follow along here as the CALÓ News team brings you live updates on election results, voter processes and race analyses.

See something happening in your neighborhood related to this election? Send us an email at info@calonews.com.

9:34 a.m.: Prop. 40 is headed for defeat

As of 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Proposition 40, the billionaire tax, seems headed for defeat, with 60% of votes counted.

The majority of early returns, 55%, were a “no” vote on the one-time, five percent tax on the roughly 200 billionaires in California. Prop. 40’s main backer, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, held a press conference Tuesday night shortly before polls closed, seemingly conceding in advance.

The two countermeasures placed on the ballot by California billionaires to nullify Prop. 40, in case the wealth tax passed, had different paths to success as of Wednesday morning.

Prop. 41, a requirement to audit programs funded by special taxes, was trailing with a 52% “no” vote.

Proposition 42, framed as a way to prohibit new state taxes on personal property, was pulling ahead with 54% of the early returns in favor.

- Andrea Valadez

9:32 a.m.: Los Angeles Measure E is leading by a large margin

On Tuesday, Los Angeles voters had the opportunity to vote on Measure E: Ethics Commission Measure, which as of this morning was leading with a 72.86% “yes” vote, according to L.A. County Registrar election results.

The measure will increase the independence of the commission to investigate county officials and enforce county ethics, campaign finance, lobbying and conflict-of-interest laws. It will also investigate complaints, conduct audits, issue subpoenas and impose penalties on violators.

– Amairani Hernandez

8:50 a.m.: LA mayoral race remains too close to call

The City of Los Angeles woke up Wednesday morning to the latest election results — mayoral candidate Nythia Raman showed a slight lead over incumbent Karen Bass.

As of 8 a.m., the Los Angeles County Registrar reported Raman with 51.12% (377,458) and Bass at 48.88% (360,864).

On Tuesday night, when Bass held a slight lead over Raman, both candidates said to be very positive about the results and while Bass spoke for about nine minutes, Raman’s speech was almost 30 minutes long.

– Jacqueline Garcia

8:18 a.m.: Sheinbaum congratulates California, Texas governors-elect

Following her approval of Xavier Becerra's candidacy on Election Day, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum doubled down and congratulated both Becerra, the governor-elect of California, and Gina Hinojosa, Texas' soon-to-be governor — both of whom are Mexican American.

"They're obviously connected with their state, their proposal, but they're also linked to Mexicans. And it gives us great pleasure that Mexicans in [the U.S.] have this [civic] participation and recognition," she said during her mañanera presser.

She added that she would continue to work with the U.S., respecting Mexico's sovereignty and engaging in binational "collaboration without subordination."

– Joanna Jacobo Rivera

Nov. 3, 10:50 p.m.: LA mayoral, CD9 races remain too close to call

Late Tuesday night, major races in Los Angeles remained too close to call.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass was leading at 50% against Councilwoman Nithya Raman's 49%. Meanwhile, Jose Ugarte was ahead by 57% over Estuardo Mazariegos in the race to represent Council District 9 on the council.

As of 11:50 p.m., 50% of votes had been counted in Los Angeles.

Follow along live results as the count continues.

Nov. 3, 10:05 p.m.: Bass addresses supporters on election night

With the count still too close too call — with L.A. Mayor Karen Bass barely leading at 50% against Councilwoman Nithya Raman's 49% — Bass took the opportunity to address her supporters on Tuesday night.

"Let me just say from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Angelenos," she said, surrounded by her campaign members.

She specifically thanked those "who gave their time and their energy and their hearts to the future of this city... I have never been more proud of our city or grateful for its people."

– Jacqueline Garcia

Nov. 3, 9:45 p.m.: AP calls LA Sheriff race in favor of Luna

With just over 50% of votes counted in L.A. County, the Associated Press called the L.A. Sheriff race for incumbent Robert Luna.

Sheriff Luna won his bid for a second term to lead the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD), the largest department in the nation. 

Luna said he will honor his campaign promises to continue working on his five top priorities: reduce violent crime, increase public trust, modernize the department, address homelessness, and improve deputy and employee wellness.

– Jacqueline Garcia

Nov. 3, 9:25 p.m.: Becerra says he's ready 'to get to work'

Becerra addressed the crowd of supporters at his Sacramento election night party to chants of “Becerra! Becerra!”

He thanked those present and the voters who cast their ballots with him in mind.

“If our hearts can believe it and our minds can conceive it, then we can achieve it,” he said.

“Are you ready to lead?” he asked the crowd. “The brothers and sisters here in California, we’re going to get to work.”

– Andrea Valadez

Nov. 3, 8:30 p.m.: The official count begins across California

Ballot counting was officially underway Tuesday night in California following the 8 p.m. poll close. Roughly 7.8 million, or 33%, of ballots were received statewide as of time of publication.

Most counties will release vote counts in waves shortly after 8 p.m., starting first with ballots that were mailed in and already processed, followed by ballots cast in person.

Follow along live results as the count continues.

Nov. 3, 8:20 p.m.: Becerra makes historic gubernatorial win

Xavier Becerra is making history as the first Latino to be elected governor of California.

Shortly after polls closed on election night, the Associated Press called the gubernatorial race for Becerra. With roughly 16% of the votes counted when AP called the race, the Democrat beat out his challenger, Republican Steve Hilton.

His win marks a historic feat for the state, making him the first Latino to lead the state since 1875, when Romualdo Pacheco became California’s first Mexican-American governor, though he was appointed, not elected. Becerra is the first Latino elected to the office.

– Andrea Valadez

Nov. 3, 7:45 p.m.: Politicians arrive at Becerra watch party

U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff arrived at Becerra’s campaign party shortly before 8 p.m. 

Becerra’s campaign told CALÓ News the gubernatorial candidate is not expected to make an appearance at the Sacramento watch party until after the polls close or the race is called.

– Andrea Valadez

Nov. 3, 7:36 p.m.: 7.8 million ballots returned statewide

As of 7:30 p.m., close to 7.8 million ballots, or 33%, had been returned statewide, according to the Political Data Inc. ballot tracker. Over 23.2 million ballots were mailed out to registered voters.

In the city of Los Angeles, 35% of voters had returned their ballots as of 7:30 p.m.

In LA County, 35% of ballots had been returned, the majority from Democrats. The 65+ age group had returned the most ballots (37%) while the 18-34 age group had returned the least (18%).

At the same time, Sacramento County had returned 41% of its ballots.

– Andrea Valadez

Nov. 3, 7 p.m.: South Gate votes with migrant loved ones in mind

Early Tuesday, more than a hundred people shuffled into the Leland R. Weaver Library in South Gate to cast their vote before hurrying off to work. Despite a long day ahead, many felt it was important to make their voices heard, especially in a city where 95% of the population identifies as Latino.

Many echoed the same sentiment: it is important to vote at a time of rampant attacks on immigrant communities and when many aren’t eligible to cast ballots.

Among them was Rebecca Shouldice, who voted at the South Gate Sports Center.

“Our people have been under a lot of persecution and silencing, and I want to be able to speak for our ancestors who didn’t get a chance to voice their opinions or be able to stand up for themselves because of colonization,” she said. “It is because of them that I am here today.”

– Victoria Valenzuela

Nov. 3, 6 p.m.: Becerra campaign to host election watch party in Sacramento

The Becerra campaign is hosting its election night watch party in Sacramento, where Becerra, 68, was born, raised and currently lives. 

During a press gaggle after he cast his ballot this morning, Becerra said the decision of whether he will move into the Governor’s Mansion or remain in his Sacramento home is a “Nov. 4 decision.”

Becerra’s campaign told CALÓ News the gubernatorial candidate is not expected to make an appearance at the Sacramento watch party until after the polls close or the race is called.

– Andrea Valadez

Nov. 3, 5:02 p.m.: Mexican president supports Xavier Becerra’s bid for governor

During a Tuesday conference, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated the candidacy of Xavier Becerra, a son of Mexican immigrants, who could become California’s first elected Latino governor.

When a reporter asked her to weigh in on Becerra’s potential win during her mañanera in Mexico City, she said it was very good for the roughly “40 million Mexicans that live in the United States” to have that kind of representation in politics.

California has had one Latino governor, Romualdo Pacheco, appointed in 1875. Becerra would be the first elected in the state’s history.

– Joanna Jacobo Rivera

Nov. 3, 4:06 p.m.: Roughly 7.5 million California ballots returned so far

Los Angeles County has so far returned 32% of the ballots sent out to registered voters, according to the data firm Political Data Inc.’s ballot tracker.

Nearly 1.9 million L.A. County ballots had been returned as of 3:14 p.m. on Election Day. Of those ballots, 58% came from registered Democrats with roughly 21% and 22% from Republicans and No Party voters, respectively.

Those numbers add up to a roughly 8% increase in voter returns compared to the 2022 midterm election.

The L.A. County returns mirror statewide trends.

As of around 3:30 p.m., 33% of all statewide ballots (roughly 7.5 million) had been returned. The state sent out over 23.2 million ballots this year.

– Andrea Valadez

Nov. 3, 3:45 p.m.: Newsom stays on top of Election Day — via X

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been posting consistently on his X account today, warning the Trump administration that California will prosecute federal officials who attempt to interfere in the state’s election process.

Newsom has posted four times in the last four hours, all with the same message: California will seek criminal prosecution for any federal agents who attempt to intimidate or tamper with ballots.

“A WARNING TO DONALD TRUMP’S THUGS: If you violate California’s laws, if you interfere with the vote, you will be persecuted,” Newsom posted on X at 12 p.m. today.

The Trump administration sent election monitors throughout the country today to several Democratic-leaning regions, including Sacramento and Los Angeles Counties.

– Andrea Valadez

Nov. 3, 3:35 p.m.: When can Angelenos expect election results?

The L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk will release its first results of vote-by-mail ballots between 8:30-8:45 p.m., followed by ballots cast at a vote center between 8:45 p.m.-9 p.m.

Election officials must follow a detailed protocol once vote centers close. At 8 p.m., election workers seal all ballots and account for all required materials.

Next, ballots will go to check-in centers across the county and from there, sheriff’s deputies move the ballots to the Ballot Processing Center (BPC) in the City of Industry by car, helicopter and boat, if necessary. On election night, there will be eight helicopters transporting ballots from further regions, including Palmdale and Catalina.

Ballots should arrive at the BPC between 10:30 and 11 p.m., where they will be checked in, inspected and prepared before being put in the scanners that count each vote.

– Andrea Valadez

Nov. 3, 3 p.m.: Lalo on CALÓ chimes in on Election Day

Can't have a midterm election without our resident cartoonist, Lalo Alcaraz, chiming in.

His latest touches on increased immigration enforcement operations targeting Latinos, a strong supporting bloc in previous elections.

And one other on the importance of casting your ballot.

– CALÓ News Staff

Nov. 3, 1:07 p.m.: CHIRLA recommends what to do for a safe voting day

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) issued a statement to promote a safe voting day on Nov. 3. 

“In the midst of unprecedented attacks on California values by this Administration, and while we face ongoing efforts to intimidate and dissuade our communities from exercising their right to vote, we have spearheaded a robust phone banking, door-to-door, and digital effort across the state to educate, listen, and urge our community to vote early," said Angelica Salas, CHIRLA executive director. "We must remember that our vote makes us powerful, and our power frightens them. That’s why they are working so hard to take it away."

The statement added that California law protects polling places from federal immigration presence and interference.

If you are in line at 8 p.m. when polls close, you can still cast your vote.

You have the right not to be harassed or intimidated at a voting location.

To report an incident, please contact the State Voter Hotlines:

*(800) 345-8683 - English

*(800) 232-8682 - español / Spanish

*(800) 339-2857 - 中文 / Chinese

*(888) 345-2692 - हिन्दी / Hindi

*(800) 339-2865 - 日本語 / Japanese

*(888) 345-4917 - ខ្មែរ / Khmer

*(866) 575-1558 - 한국어 / Korean

*(800) 339-2957 - Tagalog

*(855) 345-3933 - ภาษาไทย / Thai

*(800) 339-8163 - Việt ngữ / Vietnamese

Nov. 3, 11:50 a.m.: SELA 'caravan to the polls' promotes voting

Tuesday morning, Southeast Los Angeles residents were visited by the "Caravan to the Polls," organized by the SELA Collaborative, the Council of Mexican Federations (COFEM), AltaMed Health Services, the Pat Brown Institute, CalMatters and more. 

Kicking off the civic engagement campaign in Huntington Park, the "SELA Decides" campaign started at 10 a.m. and intended to go through through various communities in Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Lynwood, Maywood, South Gate and Vernon, to remind residents of the importance of participating in the election.

– Victoria Valenzuela

Nov. 3, 11:25 a.m.: Karen Bass rallies with union workers on Election Day 

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Karen Bass arrived in Westlake to rally with union workers the morning of Election Day.  

She arrived at the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor headquarters to speak to canvassers who will knock on doors in the final stretch of her reelection campaign.  

For months, the mayoral race has made national headlines as both candidates have been at a dead heat. 

The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and the Los Angeles Times revealed in their latest poll that both Bass and City Councilmember Raman were in a statistical tie, with each having 40% of voter support. 

Bass cast her vote on Nov. 2. 

In the past, she told CALÓ News that if she wins a second term, she will continue to prioritize affordable housing.

Just this year, the number of people experiencing homelessness in L.A. increased by 3.3%, according to the 2026 Homeless Count.  

“I can't deal with the gas prices. I can't deal with the food prices. That [rests with] the White House and the instability that the president has created,” she said. “But what I can do is housing, and so we have built more housing, more affordable housing in my four years than was built [in] the 10 years previous.”

– Amairani Hernández and Brenda Verano. Photos: Brenda Verano

Nov. 3, 10:30 a.m.: Karen Bass speaks during Election Day

CALÓ News asked Karen Bass: If reelected, you are going to represent more than 45% of the Latino population that lives in LA. Any message for Latino voters? Here’s what she had to say.

– Amairani Hernandez

Nov. 3, 10:10 a.m.: Xavier Becerra casts his ballot

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra and his wife Dr. Carolina Reyes cast their ballots at the Belle Cooledge Community Center in Sacramento on Nov. 3.

– Andrea Valadez

Nov. 3, 7:53 a.m.: L.A. mayoral candidate Nithya Raman casts her vote 

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman arrives at the Silver Lake Community Church to cast her vote on Nov. 3. 

If elected, Raman would represent about four million L.A. residents, the majority (47%) of whom are Latino.

This morning Raman arrived at the same community church in Silver Lake where she cast her vote in June. She was inside for about 20 minutes, accompanied by her family, including her husband and kids. 

The mayoral race has made national headlines, with both candidates in a dead heat. The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and the Los Angeles Times revealed in their latest poll that both Bass and Raman were in a statistical tie, with each having  40% of voter support. The poll released less than a week ago also showed that at that time 19% of voters were still undecided. 

Raman told CALÓ News that as mayor she wants to address housing and homelessness as it is one of the top issues for Latino families.

“For many Latino families here in L.A., they are actually facing a higher rent burden, evictions at higher rates and economic and housing insecurity at higher rates than other residents. These are things that are at the core of my [mayoral] platform,” she said. “I want to make this city work for them, and I will do everything in my power to do so.”

– Amairani Hernandez and Brenda Verano

Nov. 3, 7 a.m.: It’s Election Day in L.A. How to find your polling place

Polling places in California are open Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

If you received your ballot in the mail, you have until 8 p.m. to drop off your ballot at a polling location or at your nearest drop-off box.

If you are mailing your mail-in ballot, it must be postmarked Nov. 3 by a U.S. postal worker in order to be counted.

To find your polling location, head over to the Secretary of State website https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place and write in your address. If you live in Los Angeles County, visit the Registrar of Voters website https://locator.lavote.gov/locations/vc?culture=en and look up your address for your nearest polling place.

– Joanna Jacobo Rivera

On Tuesday, Los Angeles voters had the opportunity to vote on Measure E: Ethics Commission Measure, which as of this morning is officially leading with a 72.86 % “yes” vote, according to BallotPedia.