2014 California elections

In California state elections, 2014 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 will 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.

Elections in California

The 2014 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
Party Votes Percentage Candidates Advancing to general Offices contesting
Democratic 15,280,653 46.97% 15 7 7
Republican 11,611,163 35.69% 19 7 7
Nonpartisan 3,797,417 11.67% 3 2 1
Green 788,568 2.42% 5 0 0
No party preference 592,003 1.82% 9 0 0
Peace and Freedom 305,373 0.94% 3 0 0
Libertarian 99,056 0.30% 1 0 0
Americans Elect 56,072 0.17% 1 0 0
Valid votes 32,530,305 — — —
Invalid votes — — —
Totals 100.00% 56 16 —
Voter turnout
California Constitutional officers elections, 2014
General election — November 4, 2014
Party Votes Percentage Officers +/–
Democratic 28,423,041 50.77% 7
Nonpartisan 6,074,201 10.85% 1
Republican 21,483,596 38.38% 0
Valid votes 55,980,838 — —
Invalid votes — —
Totals 100.00% 8 —
Voter turnout

Governor
Main article: 2014 California gubernatorial election

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.[1][2][3]

2014 California gubernatorial election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jerry Brown (incumbent) 2,354,769 54.3
Republican Neel Kashkari 839,767 19.4
Republican Tim Donnelly 643,236 14.8
Republican Andrew Blount 89,749 2.1
Republican Glenn Champ 76,066 1.8
Green Luis J. Rodriguez 66,872 1.5
Peace and Freedom Cindy Sheehan 52,707 1.2
Republican Alma Marie Winston 46,042 1.1
No party preference Robert Newman 44,120 1.0
Democratic Akinyemi Agbede 37,024 0.9
Republican Richard William Aguirre 35,125 0.8
No party preference "Bo" Bogdan Ambrozewicz 14,929 0.3
No party preference Janel Hyeshia Buycks 12,136 0.3
No party preference Rakesh Kumar Christian 11,142 0.3
No party preference Joe Leicht 9,307 0.2
Democratic Karen Jill Bernal (write-in) 17 0.0
No party preference Nickolas Wildstar (write-in) 17 0.0
No party preference Jimelle L. Walls (write-in) 3 0.0
Total votes 4,333,028 100.0
General election
Democratic Jerry Brown (incumbent) 4,388,368 60.0
Republican Neel Kashkari 2,929,213 40.0
Total votes 7,317,581 100.0
Democratic hold

Lieutenant Governor
Main article: 2014 California lieutenant gubernatorial election

Incumbent Democratic Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom won re-election to a second term in office.

2014 California lieutenant gubernatorial election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gavin Newsom (incumbent) 2,082,902 49.9
Republican Ron Nehring 976,128 23.4
Republican David Fennell 357,242 8.6
Republican George Yang 333,857 8.0
Democratic Eric Korevaar 232,596 5.6
Green Jena F. Goodman 98,338 2.4
Americans Elect Alan Reynolds 56,027 1.3
Peace and Freedom Amos Johnson 39,675 0.9
Total votes 4,176,765 100.0
General election
Democratic Gavin Newsom (incumbent) 4,107,051 57.2
Republican Ron Nehring 3,078,039 42.8
Total votes 7,185,090 100.0
Democratic hold

Attorney General
Main article: 2014 California Attorney General election

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Kamala Harris won re-election to a second term in office.

2014 California Attorney General election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kamala Harris (incumbent) 2,177,480 53.2
Republican Ronald Gold 504,091 12.3
Republican Phil Wyman 479,498 11.7
Republican David King 368,190 9.0
Republican John Haggerty 336,433 8.2
No party preference Orly Taitz 130,451 3.2
Libertarian Jonathan Jaech 99,056 2.4
Total votes 4,095,169 100.0
General election
Democratic Kamala Harris (incumbent) 4,102,649 57.5
Republican Ronald Gold 3,033,476 42.5
Total votes 7,136,125 100.0
Democratic hold

Secretary of State
Main article: 2014 California Secretary of State election

Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Debra Bowen was term-limited out of office.

2014 California Secretary of State election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alex Padilla 1,217,371 30.2
Republican Pete Peterson 1,194,715 29.7
Democratic Leland Yee (withdrawn) 380,361 9.4
No party preference Dan Schnur 369,898 9.2
Democratic Derek Cressman 306,375 7.6
Republican Roy Allmond 256,668 6.4
Democratic Jeffrey H. Drobman 178,521 4.4
Green David Curtis 121,618 3.0
Total votes 4,025,527 100.0
General election
Democratic Alex Padilla 3,799,711 53.6
Republican Pete Peterson 3,285,334 46.4
Total votes 7,085,045 100.0
Democratic hold

Treasurer
Main article: 2014 California State Treasurer election

Incumbent Democratic State Treasurer Bill Lockyer was term-limited out of office.

2014 California State Treasurer election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Chiang 2,250,098 55.0
Republican Greg Conlon 1,571,532 38.4
Green Ellen H. Brown 270,388 6.6
Total votes 4,092,018 100.0
General election
Democratic John Chiang 4,176,793 58.8
Republican Greg Conlon 2,925,895 41.2
Total votes 7,102,688 100.0
Democratic hold

Controller
Main article: 2014 California State Controller election

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

2014 California State Controller election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ashley Swearengin 1,001,473 24.8
Democratic Betty T. Yee 878,195 21.7
Democratic John Pérez 877,714 21.7
Republican David Evans 850,109 21.0
Green Laura Wells 231,352 5.7
Democratic Tammy D. Blair 200,532 5.0
Total votes 4,039,375 100.0
General election
Democratic Betty T. Yee 3,810,304 54.0
Republican Ashley Swearengin 3,249,688 46.0
Total votes 7,059,992 100.0
Democratic hold

Insurance Commissioner
Main article: 2014 California Insurance Commissioner election

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

2014 California Insurance Commissioner election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Jones (incumbent) 2,106,671 53.1
Republican Ted Gaines 1,651,242 41.6
Peace and Freedom Nathalie Hrizi 212,991 5.4
Total votes 3,970,904 100.0
General election
Democratic Dave Jones (incumbent) 4,038,165 57.5
Republican Ted Gaines 2,981,951 42.5
Total votes 7,020,116 100.0
Democratic hold

Superintendent of Public Instruction
Main article: 2014 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election

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
Candidate Votes %
Tom Torlakson (incumbent) 1,765,257 46.5
Marshall Tuck 1,098,441 28.9
Lydia A. Gutiérrez 931,719 24.5
Total votes 3,797,417 100.0
2014 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election – general
Candidate Votes %
Tom Torlakson (incumbent) 3,167,212 52.1
Marshall Tuck 2,906,989 47.9
Total votes 6,074,201 100.0

Board of Equalization

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

California Board of Equalization elections, 2014
Primary election — June 3, 2014
Party Votes Percentage Candidates Advancing to general Seats contesting
Democratic 2,003,631 55.2% 4 4 4
Republican 1,624,246 44.8% 8 4 4
Libertarian 198 0.0% 1 0 0
Peace and Freedom 170 0.0% 2 0 0
Valid votes 3,628,255 — — —
Invalid votes — — —
Totals 100% 16 8 —
Voter turnout
California Board of Equalization elections, 2014
General election — November 4, 2014
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Democratic 3,674,237 53.50% 2
Republican 3,193,444 46.50% 2
Valid votes 6,867,681 — —
Invalid votes — —
Totals 100% 4 —
Voter turnout

District 1
California's 1st Board of Equalization district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Runner (incumbent) 608,637 59.8
Democratic Chris Parker 408,343 40.2
Total votes 1,016,980 100.0
General election
Republican George Runner (incumbent) 984,604 57.8
Democratic Chris Parker 718,129 42.2
Total votes 1,702,733 100.0
Republican hold

District 2
California's 2nd Board of Equalization district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fiona Ma 876,378 68.9
Republican James E. Theis 396,241 31.1
Total votes 1,272,619 100.0
General election
Democratic Fiona Ma 1,448,657 68.7
Republican James E. Theis 660,973 31.3
Total votes 2,109,630 100.0
Democratic hold

District 3
California's 3rd Board of Equalization district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jerome Horton (incumbent) 402,244 99.5
Republican G. Rick Marshall (write-in) 1,849 0.5
Libertarian Jose E. Castaneda (write-in) 198 0.0
Peace and Freedom Eric S. Moren (write-in) 134 0.0
Peace and Freedom Jan B. Tucker (write-in) 36 0.0
Total votes 404,461 100.0
General election
Democratic Jerome Horton (incumbent) 858,471 62.4
Republican G. Rick Marshall 517,287 37.6
Total votes 1,375,758 100.0
Democratic hold

District 4
California's 4th Board of Equalization district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Diane Harkey 324,642 34.8
Democratic Nader Shahatit 316,666 33.9
Republican John F. Kelly 101,836 10.9
Republican Van Tran 84,162 9.0
Republican Shirley Horton 74,794 8.0
Republican Lewis Da Silva 32,094 3.4
Total votes 934,194 100
General election
Republican Diane Harkey 1,030,580 61.4
Democratic Nader Shahatit 648,980 38.6
Total votes 1,679,560 100.00
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 - Passed[4]
    The Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Bond Act Of 2014 is a legislatively referred statute that authorizes $600 million in bonds for affordable multifamily housing for veterans and their families.[5] Supporters argued that this would fund such housing for low income and homeless veterans, while opponents were concerned that it would divert funds from the bonds previously approved under Proposition 12 on 2008 to assist veterans in general who are purchasing properties.[6]
  • Proposition 42 - Passed[7]
    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.[8] 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.[6]

November general election

The following propositions have qualified for the November ballot:

  • Proposition 1 - Passed
    The Safe, Clean, and Reliable Water Supply Act is a legislatively referred statute that authorizes bonds to upgrade California's water system. The original bill was going to be appear on the November 2010 ballot, but the California Legislature postponed the vote until now. This measure was then originally numbered as Proposition 43, but on August 13, the legislature passed a revised version of the proposal for the 2014 ballot to address issues of the ongoing statewide drought, and numbered this new one as Proposition 1.[9][10] This updated proposal authorizes $7.12 billion in general obligation bonds, and reallocates $425 million of unused bond authority from prior water bond acts, for various state water supply infrastructure projects. Supporters believed that this will help provide safe and reliable supplies of water to farms, businesses and communities, especially during the current drought. Opponents argued that the proposed specific projects in the initiative are misplaced, saying that there is too much emphasis on building new dams, which does not really help to relieve the drought.[11]
  • 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.[9] 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.[10]
  • Proposition 45 - Failed[12]
    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 than similar states in allowing members of the public to sue the commissioner over approved rate hikes.[9][13] 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.[10]
  • Proposition 46 - Failed[12]
    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.[9] 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.[10]
  • Proposition 47 - Passed[12]
    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.[9] 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.[10]
  • Proposition 48 - Failed[12]
    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.[9] 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 receive 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".[14] 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.[10]
  • Proposition 49 - Removed from the ballot by order of the California Supreme Court[15]
    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.[16] 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.[15]

Local races

Local races included:

  • A runoff in the San Diego mayoral special election was held on February 11. The special election was necessary following the resignation of Bob Filner on August 30, 2013.[17] A primary election was held on November 19, 2013. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote in the first round, a runoff election was held between the top two vote-getters on February 11.[18] In the runoff, Republican Kevin Faulconer defeated Democratic candidate David Alvarez.
  • The San Jose mayoral election will determine the successor to incumbent Democratic Mayor Chuck Reed, who is term-limited out of office. A primary election was held on June 3. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election will be held between the top two vote-getters, Dave Cortese and Sam Liccardo, on November 4.[19]
gollark: How did this "cermanic wobble" cult spring up so fast?
gollark: It looks like some sort of abstract art piece.
gollark: Are those LED filament lights, then, or some sort of magical multicolored incandescents?
gollark: Cool idea, since you could also run networking over that and control lighting over something less unreliable than wireless whatever, though I imagine needing a network switch would increase the costs.
gollark: Though it's always hard to get new standards to actually be adopted anywhere.

References
  1. 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.
  2. "Campaign Finance: Brown For Governor 2014". California Secretary of State. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  3. "Brown Shows Early Lead for 2014 California Gubernatorial Race". IVN. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  4. "2018 California General Election Results". Election Results. Archived from the original on 2014-06-08. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
  5. http://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2014/primary/pdf/42-title-summ-analysis.pdf
  6. http://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2014/primary/pdf/quick-reference-guide.pdf
  7. "2018 California General Election Results". Election Results. Archived from the original on 2014-06-08. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
  8. http://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2014/primary/pdf/41-title-summ-analysis.pdf
  9. "Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  10. "Quick-Reference Guide". 2014 General Election Official Voter Information Guide (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  11. 2014 Supplemental General Election Official Voter Information Guide (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  12. Tracy Seipel and Jessica Calefati for the Mercury News. Nov. 4, 2014 California voters reject Propositions 45, 46, 48; pass 47
  13. Ian Lovett for the New York Times. Oct. 29, 2014. California’s Proposition 45 Would Offer Public a Say on Health Insurance Rates
  14. "Bill Text - AB-277 Tribal gaming: compact ratification". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
  15. "'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.
  16. McGreevy, Patrick. "Gov. Brown allows advisory ballot measure on Citizens United decision - Los Angeles Times". latimes.com.
  17. "Special election to replace Filner set for November 19". KFMB-TV. August 28, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-06. Retrieved 2014-07-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. "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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