« Grokster shuts down (p2p file-sharing); Neil Diamond streams new CD free online; R.I. sighting in comics | Main | Times' Miller is to Libby as Times' Keller is to Wolfowitz? Say it ain't so... »

November 9, 2005

Calif. rejecting all propositions; Maine upholds gay rights, Texas bans gay marriage; Democrats win gov. races in N.J., Va.

AP
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks to the crowd at his election night party in Los Angeles last night.

The California Secretary of State's Web site is tallying the vote live on eight propositions before the voters.

L.A. Times explains each proposition. GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had campaigned vigorously for four of them, and their defeat would be viewed as a rejection of his policies.

2:15 a.m.
With 55 percent of the vote counted, all eight propositions on the California ballot are now being rejected. The first results, from absentee ballots and traditionally Republican counties, set the tone: Five propositions rejected and three winning by slim margins -- including Prop 75, which would require public employee unions to obtain each member's permission every year to use dues for political campaigns. The three lost ground as counting continued and Prop 75 just went into the No column.

Barring major errors, the $300 million spent on the election seems to have been for naught: Voters rejected the change each proposition represents.

I think it's safe to get some sleep. If you're still up and curious, the tallying continues at the Secretary of State's Web site.

Around the blogosphere there are a lot of "Hasta la vista" and "Terminator" jokes tonight.

The L.A. Times even gets a movie reference in: NEWS ANALYSIS
Why His 'Sequel' Failed to Captivate

Latest writethroughs from AP on election night:

Democrats Win Gov. Races in Va., N.J.

Texas Voters Approve Ban on Gay Marriage

Mayor Bloomberg Romps to Win in New York

Voters Choose Black Mayor for Cincinnati

Newsview: Bush Gambles, Loses Campaigning

1:01 a.m.
At 31.3 percent: Parental notification, Proposition 73, is now in the No column.

12:40 a.m.
With 22.7% of precincts reporting, Proposition 74, which would extend the probation period for teachers and permit firing after two bad evaluations, is now being rejected.

Midnight:
12.1 percent of precincts, no big population centers reporting yet. The first three initiatives -- parental notification for a minor's abortion, extending the time it takes for teachers to get tenure, and requiring members' permission to use union dues for political campaigns -- are in the Yes column so far, everything else is being rejected.

In Maine, with 72 percent of precincts reporting, voters are rejecting by 56.1 to 43.9 percent the "People's Veto" of a law prohibiting discrimination against gays.

Not unexpectedly, GOP Mayor Michael Bloomberg has trounced Fernando Ferrer in NYC.

9:49 p.m.
Democrats Win Gov. Races in N.J., Va. AP:

Democrats won both governors' races Tuesday, with Sen. Jon Corzine easily beating Doug Forrester in New Jersey and Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine soundly defeating Jerry Kilgore in Virginia despite a last-minute campaign push from President Bush.

In Texas, voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional ban on gay marriage, while Republican Mayor Mike Bloomberg surged ahead in his bid for a second term in heavily Democratic New York. Voters also picked mayors in Detroit, Houston, San Diego and Boston.

Kaine had 860,719 votes, or 51 percent, to Kilgore's 789,273 votes, or 46.8 percent, with 88 percent of precincts reporting.

In New Jersey, Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine trounced Doug Forrester, pulling in 54 percent of the vote to the Republican's 42.8 percent, with 55 percent of precincts counted. Corzine had 605,915 votes, and Forrester had 480,477.

In California, several government-overhaul measures on the ballot were seen as a referendum on GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who campaigned hard for four of them.

More election news later from California, if we're all still awake.

Posted by Sheila Lennon  at 3:02 AM | Permalink