Government
At The Cordial in San Francisco election night, dozens of people who had campaigned for the Regional Transit Measure celebrated when it became apparent their hard work had paid off. “RTM, RTM, RTM,” the crowd chanted. As the initial results came in, some in the crowd shrieked and embraced, while others toasted and cheered. “There’s a lot of people who’ve done a lot of work on this over the last few years and to see the results come in as…
While about a dozen of her supporters listened to live jazz music and took consolation in the Democrat sweep of Congress at Little Hill Lounge on election night, El Cerrito City Council candidate Mary Ann “MJ” Jawili chatted outside about the results that showed her losing the race. In her campaign, she sought to unite a city that politics has sharply divided. “Whether your candidate wins or loses, we still have to come together. … I’m kind of worried that…
The vote in favor of a Measure P sales tax in Hercules has an 8-point lead, with 54% saying yes, election results released Friday show, meaning consumers likely will be paying more on purchases in the city beginning in April. Measure P will add one cent on every dollar of taxable purchases, bringing as much as $4 million annually to city coffers. The tax will continue unless ended by voters. “The city needs the money,” Mayor Chris Kelley said, noting…
On Friday afternoon, the Contra Costa County Elections Office updated preliminary results, showing Richmond City Councilmember Claudia Jiménez leading Ahmad Anderson in the mayoral race with 54% of the vote over Anderson’s 46%. About 27,000 ballots have been counted — about 45% of the city’s 59,820 registered voters. Countywide, votes have been counted for about 47% of registered voters. In the presidential election in 2024, voter turnout was at 75%, while in 2022, the last municipal election, turnout was at…
The polls closed on a wet Election Day in West Contra Costa County at 8 p.m., after a busy day of voting that was expected to bring more in-person ballot casters than in 2024. Richmond voters are selecting a new mayor, after Mayor Eduardo Martinez failed to get enough voted in the June primary to qualify for the November election. The mayoral candidates — Councilmember Claudia Jiménez, and Ahmad Anderson — were upbeat when reached shortly before the polls closed….
Contra Costa County expects about 75% of registered voters to turn out for Tuesday’s election, if current trends hold. That is 19 points higher than the last gubernatorial election in 2022 but on par with two years ago, when the presidential contest brought more voters out. Kristin Connelly, Contra Costa County clerk-recorder-registrar, believes what’s on the ballot drives voter turnout. “Based on what we’re hearing and seeing, there’s a high degree of interest in this election,” Connelly said during a…
Kristin Connelly doesn’t have a minute to spare. Six days before the election — or “E-6” — Connelly power-walked past volunteers and staff members in the hallways of the Contra Costa Elections Office in Martinez, shouting encouragement while hustling to the next stop. Later, she stood outside the building, thanking approaching voters as they slipped their ballots into one of the county’s 43 drop boxes. If this election is anything like the others Connelly has run during her four-year tenure…
On her way to see a room for rent in Richmond late last year, Lilly Palma waited about 40 minutes for the 71 bus. She crossed the neighborhood off her list. It was “super unwalkable,” Palma said, “and lacked bus stops.” Service on some of Richmond’s bus lines could get thinner if voters reject The Regional Tax Measure on Tuesday, according to a contingency plan drawn up by AC Transit. The regional measure would add a half-cent sales tax in…
Mindful of security and safety for both workers and voters, Contra Costa County election officials have planned for a scenario in which an AI-generated fake video frightens voters away from the polls on Election Day. Kristin Connelly, the county’s clerk-recorder and registrar of voters, said her office has planned for that and other scenarios — just in case. With Election Day Tuesday, Connelly and local law enforcement are preparing for a range of potential disruptions, from fake bomb threats to…