Around 76,600 Votes Still Need to Be Counted in Orange County
By Jeannette Andruss
Votes are still being counted from the March 3 Presidential Primary Election. As of Wednesday, March 11, the Orange County Registrar of Voters estimated 76,649 ballots still need to be tallied. Statewide there were more than two million “unprocessed ballots” left to be counted as of March 10. The number includes vote-by-mail ballots, provisional ballots, same day voter registration ballots as well as ballots that may have been damaged. Keeping in mind uncounted ballots, here are the election results so far.
HED- 72nd State Assembly District
For state and congressional seats, it is a top-two primary. That means the top two vote-getters will advance to compete in the November general election regardless of party. A Republican could face another Republican. That could happen in the race for California’s 72nd Assembly seat, which covers Seal Beach, Rossmoor and Los Alamitos. But the race is tightening for second place. Republican challenger and former Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen is in the lead with 34.4% of the vote. Incumbent Tyler Diep, a fellow Republican, is in second place with about 25.2% but is virtually tied with Democrat Diedre Nguyen. As of March 10, Diep was only 17 votes ahead of Diedre Nguyen, a Garden Grove City Councilwoman.
HED- Congressional Contests
The 48th Congressional District covers all of Seal Beach. Incumbent Democrat Harley Rouda leads the race with 45.9% of the vote. It looks like he will face Republican Michelle Steel in November. Steel, an Orange County Supervisor and Surfside resident, is in second place with 35.4% of the vote.
The 47th Congressional District covers parts of Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor and Cypress. Incumbent Democrat Alan Lowenthal is leading with 44.1% of the vote. Republican John Briscoe, an Ocean View School District board member, has 18.1% of the vote. The results suggest that Lowenthal and Briscoe will face off in November which would be a rematch of the 2018 race.
HED- Orange County Measure A
Orange County voters are approving of Measure A with the “yes” vote garnering 78.8% of the vote. Measure A would amend the Orange County Charter so that any proposal to increase or extend taxes would require a two-thirds supermajority vote of the Board of Supervisors before the tax proposal is considered by voters.
HED- Statewide Measure Proposition 13
Proposition 13, the $15 billion bond measure to fund repairs and upgrades at California schools, is failing. Right now, 54.1% of the ballots said “No” to the statewide measure. The “Yes” vote is 45.9%.
State law requires counties to report final election results by April 3, 2020.
For the latest tallies on Orange County contests, visit ocvote.com/results.
For statewide results visit, https://electionresults.sos.ca.gov/.