Californias blue wave election wash-out leaves a pleasant surprise for Republicans

The polls are closed in California.Some winners are already celebrating, some losers are licking their wounds, and in dozens of races we’re going to be waiting days — possibly weeks — to find out who actually won.Although Democrats outnumber Republicans here in the Golden State by millions of voters, some of the early called races are no surprise at all.We do know that Democrat Xavier Becerra beat Republican Steve Hilton for governor by a wide margin, as did all the Democrats running for statewide office, except in the Insurance Commissioner’s race.

That one features two Democrats in a close race.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story Of course, I hoped Hilton could end Republicans’ long losing streak in statewide elections.Becerra made sure that streak continues. There are some decisive verdicts on ballot measures, too.

Some good news: Election night returns show Proposition 40, the “billionaire tax,” losing by double digits.But Proposition 3, the extension of the higher income tax rates for millions, passing by even more.Proposition 39, the Voter ID measure, was getting trounced by nearly twenty points.

Also Proposition 43, to make it harder to raise local taxes, was going down.With the “Blue Tsunami” sweeping the nation, Republicans are losing at the Congressional, State Senate, and Assembly levels up and down California.It’s ugly.Meanwhile, the candidates in the closer races are going to be staring at their phones for days, waiting for the next batch of votes.

Some are ahead right now.Others are trailing.

And if history is any guide, a fair number of those early leads won’t survive the counting.I’ve watched this happen to Republicans for decades.I call it California’s red undertow.Remember 2018? Republicans Jeff Denham, David Vala...