Ballot box to inbox 🗳️
Alysa Horton
NEWSWELL D.C. reporting fellow
Whether you call it an anti-Trump wave, a political earthquake or the Bluenami, one thing is clear: Democrats scored major victories, sending a powerful message across the country.
So, how did things play out in California? Let’s catch you up on all the results that poured in on Election Night:
- Dems sweep San Diego delegation
- Other races we’re watching
- And, congrats to last week’s quiz winner, Abigail Axelson.
Von Wilpert declares victory over Desmond in closely watched 48th congressional race
Democrat Marni von Wilpert won San Diego’s closely watched 48th Congressional District race, defeating Trump-endorsed Jim Desmond, as Democrats rode a major midterm wave to victories nationwide.
Democrats didn’t just make gains — they flipped both the House and Senate, shifting control of Congress and setting up a major shakeup in Washington.
Von Wilpert said her first priorities in Congress will be “defending workers rights,” healthcare and cost of living — but, that’s just from her first statement because I haven’t been able to speak with her about how she’ll navigate this big leap.
Fingers crossed I’ll get an office tour when she moves in.
Back in San Diego her city council seat in District 5 will be up for grabs, triggering a special election that’s anyone’s game.
Von Wilpert’s win adds another Democratic seat to the congressional delegation. For Republicans, the result marks a significant setback in an election that will reshape the balance of power in Washington.
Which will make my job far more interesting as Trump clashes with Congress.
How Democrats took over San Diego’s congressional delegation, one seat at a time
What was once one of the nation’s most competitive congressional regions is now entirely blue. San Diego Republicans, it seems, have officially lost their seat at the table.
Democrat Marni von Wilpert defeated Republican Jim Desmond in the redrawn 48th District, giving Democrats all five congressional seats in the region.
Von Wilpert’s 19-point victory was part of a broader blue wave fueled by widespread disapproval of President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Reps. Scott Peters, Mike Levin, Sara Jacobs and Juan Vargas also secured reelection.
Peters said while he would like to think his congressional campaigns attracted Democratic voters, “a lot of it is the way the Republican party has gone.”
Which could also be a diplomatic way of saying, Republicans fell apart this election: messaging was unclear, the Administration was divided and Trump was a scarlet letter.
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More election stories
📝 Election Day recall: An Election Day surprise shook up San Diego when the San Diego Daily Transcript published a notice from local leaders announcing their efforts to impeach San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. Publishing the notice of intent in a paper of general circulation is an initial step in the recall process. The effort is led by Genevieve Jones Wright, a criminal justice advocate, who first published a Notice of Intent on Nov. 3. (Times of San Diego)
🏡 California housing bonds: Voters approved two housing bond measures, Propositions 1 and 37, according to the AP. Prop 1 allows the state to borrow $11.25 billion — primarily to build affordable housing for low-income residents and homeless individuals. Prop 37 allows the state to borrow up to $25 billion from private investors to provide down-payment assistance to eligible home buyers, without directly costing state taxpayers. (CalMatters)
🗳️ New Governor: Voters elected Democrat Xavier Becerra to be the next governor of California. Becerra will take over the governorship from Gavin Newsom, which the AP called shortly after the polls closed. He will continue the 16-year streak of Democrat control of the state and will be the first Latino governor in over a century. (Santa Barbara Independent)
📚 Superintendent of Public Instruction: Richard Barrera, the San Diego Unified board president, will be the state Superintendent of Public Instruction. He defeated Sonja Shaw, the president of the Chino Valley School Board who was dragged down by her ties with MAGA. (EdSource)
💸 Measure B: The county’s half cent sales tax increase to fund healthcare, food security and other services, public safety and fixes to the Tijuana River sewage crisis is maintaining a small but steady lead. The measure will help fund infrastructure projects to stop sewage flows in the Tijuana River, while Congress lags on a federal solution for the binational issue. (KPBS)
🪪 Voter ID Measure: Californians rejected San Diego Assemblymember Carl DeMaio’s Prop. 39. The measure tried to amend the state constitution to require voters to provide government-issued IDs when voting in person and require mail-in voters to give the last four digits of their ID numbers. Ballots without those requirements would have been rejected. (CBS)
💰 Prop 40: No. As of Friday morning the statewide measure that would impose the nation’s first-ever tax on billionaires is failing. And all 255 of them in California I’m sure are doing a victory skip. (AP)
Times of San Diego thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.
Stay sharp, San Diego!
🧐 Where was President Donald Trump’s first appearance after Democrats swept the midterms?
A) Mar-a-Lago
B) Future White House East Wing ballroom
C) James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
D) Oval Office
Reply first with the correct answer to earn a shoutout in our next edition of the SD in D.C. newsletter.