SONOMA VALLEY, CA — Voters awoke this morning to a blue wave sweeping through cities and states across the United States, creating uncertainty for the final two years of President Donald Trump's presidency.
Across the country, Democrats captured both chambers of Congress and flipped several Republican-held governorships. Voters also delivered historic firsts: Georgia elected Keisha Lance Bottoms as the nation's first Black woman governor, while Texas elected Gina Hinojosa as its first Latina governor.
Against a contentious political backdrop, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra entered the election with a wide polling lead over Republican Steve Hilton.
As of 8:08 a.m. this morning, Becerra was leading statewide with 64 percent, followed by Steve Hilton with 36 percent.
Scroll down for real-time Sonoma County election results.
Sonoma Valley voters' choices began to come into focus Tuesday night, with early leads in local races and support for measures affecting parks, schools and fire services. By 10 p.m., the returns offered a glimpse of the valley's direction, with more ballots still to be counted.
U.S. House, District 4 — In one of the biggest surprises for local constituents, Democratic incumbent Mike Thompson is currently trailing challenger Eric Jones. This could have a major impact on the district as Thompson serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means and is Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Tax Policy.
California Assembly, District 4 — Democratic incumbent Cecilia Aguiar-Curry ran unopposed.
Sonoma City Council, District 1
Sonoma Valley Unified School District, Trustee Area 1
Measure AB — The measure requires 55 percent approval and proposed authorizing $830 million in Sonoma County Junior College District bonds for Santa Rosa Junior College facilities, repairs and career-training spaces.
Measure N — Schell-Vista Fire Protection District — The measure proposed retaining increased spending limits for fire, rescue and emergency medical services in the district's unincorporated Sonoma Valley service area.
Measure H — The measure proposed continuing the countywide parks sales tax and required two-thirds voter approval to pass.
California voters headed to the polls Tuesday, facing high gas and grocery prices, the effects of climate change on wildfires and rising seas amid a shortage in insurance coverage and the ever-present housing affordability crisis.
The governor's race was somewhat anticlimactic following a chaotic primary with a crowded field of candidates roiled when the frontrunner was forced to step down amid sexual assault allegations. Since then, Becerra maintained a steady lead over Hilton in the polls.
In the final days of the election, a new SurveyUSA poll showed Becerra with a 22-point lead.
Click here for real-time results in the California Governor's races.
All 52 of California's Congressional seats were on the ballot.
Congressional races across California were under intense scrutiny following voter approval of Proposition 50, a partisan redistricting measure expected to reshape the state's political map. Thanks to the redistricting, only a handful of districts were truly competitive. Democrats hoped to flip as many as five Republican House seats in a bid to overturn the GOP's slim House majority.
Democrats think they can flip as many as five seats, with four seeming very much in reach, according to the polls. Both parties are spending like control of the House is on the line.
Click here for real-time results in California's Congressional races.
There were 14 statewide propositions on the ballot this week. Arguably, the most hot-button ballot initiatives involve taxation. Proposition 40 is the highly discussed billionaire tax, while Propositions 41 and 42 aim to counter the measure. Proposition 3 also addresses taxes on the state's highest earners.
Click here for real-time results for all of California's ballot measures.
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