OK, so all the polls are now closed. All the voters have voted. So what can we do now? Why, throw a party of course!
I think you all know the drill by now. The Secretary of State election returns page is here for you to check. The Register is also here for you to see the returns come in. Oh yes, and we can’t forget our own wonderful OC Registrar of Voters with their live results. And in case you don’t want to follow any of these linkys, I’ll try to update you as often as possible in the comments.
So anyways, what are you expecting tonight? Who do you expect to win in all the hot primaries going on here? And do you suspect your expectations will be blown away within the next few hours?
Are you ready to see how the voters voted? I am. Let’s start checking those results… And let’s get this party started! 😉
You are invited to celebrate this historic moment by raising a toast to the next President of The United States Barack Obama at BJ’s in Huntington Beach at 9pm. Come hang with other Dems. BJ’s is on Beach Blvd just south of the 405. Be there or be square
my posts would go up instantly. have you changed your posting policy?
I am at Table Ten in Fullerton 124 W. Commonwealth
demmother-
Sounds like fun! I’m actually with OCYD’s Mitch Star at the Ed Chau party in Yorba Linda. And so far, they’re having a good time. And while I’m at it, let me give you & everyone else a recap of what’s happening:
CA-42: Chau’s leading Williamson 47%-35%. Shepston is down at 17%.
CA-46: Cook’s blowing out Kalmick 80-20.
CA-40: Avalos is barely edging 52-47.
SD 33: Pritchard’s a shoo-in for the Dems. And so far for the Reeps, Walters is safely ahead of Sidhu.
Statewide, Prop 98 is losing 44-56 while 99 is winning 65-35.
In the past:
Pick a name and stick to it and your posts will go up more quickly. Or better yet, register on the site and there will be no problem at all.
Otherwise, you’re going to need to wait for us to approve your comments.
Sorry, but that’s the way it works.
-Chris
Measure H is a huge winner in Irvine 85-15
I am still here – Chris just left. As usual, county returns are slow.
Statewide – Prop 98 is going down and 99 is ahead. The OC numbers for 90 are pretty close. Mark Leno is pulling ahead in his senate race. John Perez leads the 46th AD.
Also of interest, Judge Ngo Trong Nguyen has an easy win. Congrats to my favorite red head.
It looks like a good blend of familiar and new for the OC Central Committee.
Interesting that SAUSD’s bond – Measure G is holding at 68% with 81 of 99 precincts counted on the 11 pm update.
And Janet Nguyen holds at 57% with 203 of 285 in.
I’m just glad Sup1 is nearly over and we don’t have to go through this madness in November.
The best part of national coverage has to be Clinton supporter Lannie Davis on CNN with Larry King.
Every time he starts to speak, he is nearly drowned out by the workers breaking down the stage and risers in the background.
Cleaning up the room LOUDLY while he tells us why she’s right to continue her quixotic windmill tilting.
Symbolic, perhaps. But certainly hilarious.
I was really surprised in the 42nd. I expected Chau to win but I guess I wasn’t the only one who thought Shepston ran a bad campaign. He didn’t even beat a candidate that didn’t do any active campaigning or spend over $5000.
Actually, Ron DID beat Williamson, barely. His lack of absentee voter strategy did him in, but it looks like his GOTV efforts DID have an effect in the final numbers.
Too little too late, but Ron’s a great guy who made a serious rookie mistake by not hiring an incompetent campaign manager, who was hired by an out-of-town consultant who apparently knows nothing about CA, much less OC politics…and bilked the campaign giving next to nothing in return.
It’s a valuable lesson for all our first time candidates, don’t hire somebody based on their slick presentation. Hire them based on their PROVEN abilities in OC. It’s really simple: if you don’t knock on doors, make the phone calls, AND get to the voters (including mailers and signs) BEFORE the absentee ballots go out, then you won’t get the votes.
EDWIN “ED” CHAU 4250 44.6%
RON SHEPSTON 2722 28.6%
MICHAEL WILLIAMSON 2549 26.8%
self correction–I didn’t look at the LA numbers…damn. When you have an incompetent campaign manager, I guess you get what you pay for. What an expensive lesson this has been for Ron.
I believe we’re over-thinking Ron’s loss a little. In an election like this, people generally decide to vote based on petty things: ethnicity, gender, and ballot designation.
Ed had a good ballot designation (attorney/school trustee) and an advantageous ethnicity. A lot of Asians will vote for another Asian simply out of nothing but their shared ethnicity. A lot of Anglos will vote for an Asian because of the ethnic stereotype that Asians are serious and smart. His ethnicity is going to help Ed in the general as well.
Michael Williamson had a good ballot designation (police sergeant/lawyer), and probably got the votes of many folks who DON’T want an Asian representing them.
I know Ron is proud of being an engineer, as well he should be. But “avionics engineer” is not a good ballot designation, and IMO he and Williamson split the anti-Asian vote.
I believe Ed would have won even if none of the three candidates had campaigned at all, but Ed certainly ran the most effective campaign of the three. He’s now got 7,390 votes in the can for November, but he’s got to get many, many more if he’s going to win it.
Does anyone know who Williamson is?
I do have a comeback for the poster (earlier thread) who said I did not know what I was talking about when I talked about knocking on doors. There are obviously a few doors to knock on.
At the risk of being insulting – South County folk do not know the north and OC folks forget about any part of a district not in county lines. For more accurate totals on Districts that cross county lines, go to sos.ca.gov
That said, The numbers to overcome Miller are extremely daunting. Here is to getting an indictment! The 46ths numbers are not so promising either.
One other observation: OC Democratic Turnout: 17% – OC Republican turnout 22%. It will be a busy summer.
42nd Watcher- the final tally for all three counties, not just LA and Orange, made it Chau 46.9, Williamson 28.5 and Shepston 24.6%. That is almost 4%. Not bad for a guy who spent less than $5000 against one who claimed he raised over $90,000.
Demmother-What you said about north versus South is correct. The south always thinks they understand but don’t. I remember you mentioning the door knocking. I agreed and now we see how important it was. This also shows just how useless robocalls can be when a campaign does nothing else.
Something else to mention is that Miller received over 32,000 votes. The dems combined received less than 16,000. That is less than half. I have a better chance of getting struck by lightening than Chau does at winning this seat.
Chou had a bad ballot designation! Attorney and School Board! Great that is all we need one more elected that is an attorney! And School Board member PLEASE! Take a look at that school district! He can’t even run a school district! Go back to your Congressional District Ed!
Look at the numbers people! We are not going to win in November!!!!
I am sure glad I voted for Williamson!
Shepston just ran a bad campaign. Live and Learn Ron!
Williamson and Shepston should run again in November as Independents!!!
Lets Take a Hard Look at This! – You are Correct! Look at what are 3 Dems received and what Miller received! Come on people this is basic math!
You guys make me smile. 42nd Undecided, you certainly like them exclamation marks.
Gila- I do see your point about voting on basis of just what voters find reflective in themselves, whether it is race, socio-economic status or job status, because whether we believe it or not, those things do factor in with a majority of people- but to be honest, I think Shepston just made it worse for himself by trying to make other candidates look bad. I believe had he kept his cool, focused on getting the message about what he WOULD change as a candidate, he would have garnered a lot more votes.
I’m just saying this as a person only casually interested in politics (really, most of this is quite messy and I don’t love it). When I read Shepston’s mailers, all I got drummed into my head was that Chau didn’t live in the district (which to my knowledge, is not a requirement to be able to run) and that Shepston was an engineer who HAD lived in the OC for 25 years, as well as being an avionics engineer. That mailer about fire fighting made me wonder what sane fire department would allow a civilian to beat back brushfire alongside them. Is Shepston a volunteer or retired fire fighter? Because that would change that issue for me. Also, sure, Shepston’s mailers told me that he was hardworking guy who believed that hard work pays off and people deserve better than Gary Miller. But how? As a representative for me, what will he do and change?
Chau’s mailers at least told me briefly about what kind of hard change he would be aiming for. There were a lot of other things, like endorsements and educational background I didn’t much look at (because quite frankly, as an average person, I don’t really know who these people endorsing him are) but it was THERE.
But the results have come in, and Chau’s got a really long, tough road ahead to November. More power to him in uprooting Miller.
LTAHLAT,
Thank You. You are right about the final numbers. Miller is better than 2 -1 against combined Dem totals – Dems face the same numbers in the 46th.
But just because we appear to be licked doesn’t mean we should not engage. Senator Clinton is our most recent example. It is tIme to put on our walking shoes and open our wallets for Debbie Cook and Ed Chau.
I thank those who voted for me. My second place finish, as an unknown should wake up the party. Especially, when you consider that I spent almost nothing on the campaign. There are issues out there that are being missed by the party faithful. Unfortunately, Mr. Chau cannot be elected in this district (it is conserative) and Gary Miller will return to office. I will be running again.
Regards
Michael Williamson