Newport Beach Voters Cast Ballots on Billionaire Tax and Council Seats
With 60% turnout expected, California decides control of Congress and local measures including a proposal to cut housing capacity by 65 percent.
By Beatriz Soto ·
Polls closed in Newport Beach on Tuesday as voters weighed a billionaire tax, city council races, and control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Early voting data suggests 60 percent of registered Californians cast ballots, a record for a gubernatorial race, according to Paul Mitchell of Political Data.
Voters in Orange County decided on the 5th District Board of Supervisors seat. Incumbent Democrat Katrina Foley faced Republican Assemblymember Diane Dixon. The winner will oversee the Dana Point Harbor revitalization and coastal protection efforts. The district includes Newport Beach, Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, and parts of Irvine, Coto de Caza, and Ladera Ranch.
Residents also voted on Measure H, a resident-sponsored initiative to limit state-required housing. A yes vote would reduce the city’s housing element by 65 percent. The measure caps planned housing capacity at 2,900 units in five areas: Dover/Westcliff, Newport Center, West Newport Mesa, the Airport Area, and Coyote Canyon.
Four seats on the Newport Beach City Council are open. Incumbents Erik Weigand, Robyn Grant, Lauren Kleiman, and Joe Stapleton sought re-election. Grant is the sole candidate for District 4. In District 1, Tina Babajanians runs against Stapleton. In District 3, author Walter Stahr faces Tim Stoaks and Weigand. In District 6, retired surgeon Andrew P. Gerken challenges Mayor Kleiman.
Statewide, Democrat Xavier Becerra leads Republican Steve Hilton in the governor’s race. A SurveyUSA poll showed Becerra with a 22-point lead in the final days of the election. Becerra entered the race with a wide advantage after the primary front-runner withdrew amid sexual assault allegations.
The Justice Department issued subpoenas to multiple California election officials to appear in court the day after the election. The department sued to block 20,000 ballots amid allegations of illegal voting. The subpoenas were issued during the final two weeks of the campaign season.
Democrats aim to flip up to five congressional seats in California to reclaim the House. As of October 29, Democratic voters accounted for 51 percent of returned ballots statewide, compared to 28 percent for Republicans. The California Secretary of State reported 23,164,977 registered voters as of September. In Orange County, 1,905,933 residents were registered, with 36.46 percent Democrats and 33.59 percent Republicans.
