Four Orange County House Districts in Close Races |

2018 California Midterm Election Updates:

Four battleground House districts in the one-time Republican stronghold of Orange County, California, remain too close to call.

National Democrats targeted four GOP-held seats that fall partly or completely in Orange County, a tract of suburbs and small cities near Los Angeles that for years was conservative holy ground.

Votes tallied so far from Tuesday's election show Republican Young Kim holding a 3-point edge over Democrat Gil Cisneros in the 39th District.

In the 49th District, Republican Diane Harkey is trailing Democrat Mike Levin by about 5 points.

Republican Rep. Mimi Walters has a slim edge over Democrat Katie Porter in the 45th District, but 15-term Republican Dana Rohrabacher is behind Democrat Harley Rouda in the 48th District.

Counting continues Wednesday, with thousands of ballots waiting to be tallied.

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California voters say it's time to stop resetting clocks twice a year.

Voters approved Proposition 7 on Tuesday, the first step toward permanent year-round daylight saving time. The measure still requires a two-thirds vote from the Legislature and a change in federal law to take effect.

Democratic Rep. Kansen Chu of San Jose says he sponsored Proposition 7 because changing the clocks twice a year is a hassle.

He says it's also been shown to increase the risk of car accidents and heart attacks following the spring change when people lose an hour's sleep after moving clocks forward.

The issue was fresh on voters' minds when they headed to polls Tuesday. California and most of the rest of the nation fell back an hour to standard time last Sunday.

Governor's Race: Democrat Gavin Newsom has been elected governor of California, taking the helm of the state's strong resistance to Trump administration policies on health care, immigration and the environment.

Newsom's victory Tuesday over Republican businessman John Cox means one harsh critic of President Donald Trump - current Gov. Jerry Brown - will be replaced by another in the nation's most populous state.

Newsom, who served as lieutenant governor under Brown, has pledged to spur a rapid bump in housing construction, push for universal health care and help impoverished children.

As mayor of San Francisco, Newsom ordered the issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

During the campaign, Cox focused relentlessly on California's high cost of living. But he could not overcome the Democrats' significant advantage among registered voters and their dislike of Trump, who supported Cox.

Other Races:

Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter wins sixth term despite corruption charges.

Democrat Maxine Waters, elected U.S. House, District 43

Democrat Nanette Barragan, elected U.S. House, District 44

Democrat Mark DeSaulnier, elected U.S. House, District 11

Democrat Jared Huffman, elected U.S. House, District 2.

Democrat Mark DeSaulnier, elected U.S. House, District 11.

Democrat Mike Thompson has been elected to the U.S. House, District 5.

Republican Doug LaMalfa, elected U.S. House, District 1.

Democrat Karen Bass, elected U.S. House, District 37.

Democrat Barbara Lee, elected U.S. House, District 13.

Democrat Lucille Roybal-Allard, elected U.S. House, District 40.

Democrat Adam Schiff, elected U.S. House, District 28.

Republican Kevin McCarthy, GOP, elected U.S. House, District 23.

Democrat Nancy Pelosi, elected U.S. House, District 12.

Democrat Doris Matsui, elected U.S. House, District 6.

Democrat Tony Cardenas, elected U.S. House, District 29.

Democrat Jimmy Panetta, elected U.S. House, District 20.

Democrat Judy Chu, elected U.S. House, District 27.

Democrat Brad Sherman, elected U.S. House, District 30.

Democrat Jimmy Gomez, elected U.S. House, District 34.

Democrat Ted Lieu, elected U.S. House, District 33.

Democrat Juan Vargas, elected U.S. House, District 51.

Democrat Jackie Speier, elected U.S. House, District 14.

Democrat Grace Napolitano, elected U.S. House, District 32.

Democrat Eric Swalwell, elected U.S. House, District 15.

Democrat Norma Torres, elected U.S. House, District 35.

Democrat Linda Sanchez, elected U.S. House, District 38.

Democrat Ro Khanna, elected U.S. House, District 17.

Democrat Anna Eshoo, elected U.S. House, District 18.

Democrat Zoe Lofgren, elected U.S. House, District 19.

Here is a list of uncontested races in California.

State Senate - District 30

Holly Mitchell (i), Dem

State Assembly - District 43

Laura Friedman (i), Dem

State Assembly - District 47

Eloise Reyes (i), Dem

State Assembly - District 48

Blanca Rubio (i), Dem

State Assembly - District 50

Richard Bloom (i), Dem

Proposition Questions:

Proposition 10 - Remove Rent Control Limits, rejected, California.

A prominent political data expert expects turnout in California to near 60%, which is on the higher end for mid-term elections but not extraordinary.

Paul Mitchell says that's because some counties, including Orange, have exciting congressional races where turnout might near presidential levels.

But voters in other California counties are casting votes for a more routine slate of statewide office as well as 11 propositions.

He says statewide turnout could range from 56 percent to 60 percent. He called it the tale of "two Californias."

Mitchell is vice president of the non-partisan research firm Political Data, Inc.

Democrats' total dominance of the California state Legislature likely comes down to a single state Senate seat.

Republicans are trying to retain the seat being given up by termed-out Sen. Anthony Cannella in California's Central Valley.

Democrats are pinning their hopes in Tuesday's election on Assemblywoman Anna Caballero while Republicans fielded Madera County Supervisor Rob Poythress.

Democrats need 27 votes for a two-thirds majority in the 40-member Senate, and have 26. They need 54 votes in the 80-member Assembly, and have 55.

The biggest Assembly fight was for the seat held by Democratic Riverside County Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes.

A supermajority in both chambers would allow Democrats to raise taxes without Republican votes.

Republicans have rallied opposition to last year's gas tax hike, while Democrats fanned a backlash to President Donald Trump.

California voters have rejected a proposal to repeal a gasoline tax increase that was passed by the Legislature to fund road and transportation projects.

Proposition 6 failed Tuesday after Democrats campaigned to preserve $5 billion a year to fix roads and improve transit.

The Republican-backed initiative sought to repeal increases in fuel taxes and vehicle fees that are expected to fund $52 billion in transportation projects over a decade. It also would have required voter approval for future gas tax hikes.

GOP officials argued that California has grown too expensive and state lawmakers should spend money more wisely. They hoped the measure would drive Republican turnout in contested state and congressional races.

Democrats and construction industry and union leaders maintained the revenues are vital to upgrade California's crumbling roads and bridges.

It's time for Californians to decide whether they want to stop resetting their clocks twice a year.

Voters will cast ballots Tuesday on Proposition 7, the first step in an effort to create year-round daylight saving time.

Democratic Rep. Kansen Chu of San Jose says he sponsored the measure because changing the time is a hassle.

Chu also says the move has been shown to increase the risk of car accidents and heart attacks in the spring when people lose an hour's sleep.

Opponents say changing now would cause worse headaches.

If voters approve the measure, it would still need a two-thirds vote from the California Legislature and a change in federal law.

Voters will decide whether California borrows nearly $9 billion for water infrastructure projects in the state where its scarcity often pits city dwellers, farmers, anglers and environmentalists against one another.

Proposition 3 on Tuesday's ballot would direct the money to storage and dam repairs, watershed and fisheries improvements, and habitat protection and restoration.

Much of the $8.9 billion would be earmarked for conservancies and state parks to restore and protect watersheds, and to nonprofits and local agencies for river parkways. There also would be money to meet safe drinking water standards.

The measure is backed by agricultural and water associations and those devoted to conserving wetlands, fish and wildlife. Opponents say it benefits special interests while siphoning money from other programs.

It's the largest water bond proposed since analysts began keeping track in 1970.

A California ballot measure to expand a property tax break for older homeowners who move trails in early returns.

With about 2.6 million ballots counted Tuesday, Proposition 5 is behind 56 percent to 44 percent.

Under current law, seniors and near-seniors can transfer tax assessments if their new homes are worth the same or less than the ones they sell, and they can only do it only once. Current law also limits out-of-county transfers.

Proposition 5 would allow over-55 homeowners to transfer their assessments to any new home - no matter what it costs - anywhere in the state and as many times as they wish.

California's nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office says the measure could result in revenue losses of about $1 billion a year each for schools and local governments.

A California initiative that would cap dialysis clinics' profits is losing in early returns.

Early results Tuesday evening show just 40 percent of voters supporting the measure with more than 3 million ballots counted.

Proposition 8 would limit profits for dialysis clinics that provide vital treatment for people whose kidneys don't function properly.

It was the most expensive initiative on the 2018 ballot in California. A health care workers union funded the $18 million supporting campaign. Dialysis companies contributed more than $111 million to kill the measure.

Embattled Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter leads his opponent in early returns despite facing federal corruption charges.

Hunter has 54 percent of the vote Tuesday over Democratic candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar with more than 90,000 votes counted in the deeply red San Diego-area district.

Hunter is trying to be one of few incumbents in U.S. history to be re-elected while indicted and the race is considered a fresh test of partisanship during the era of President Donald Trump.

Hunter and his wife have pleaded not guilty to allegations of illegally spending more than $250,000 in campaign funds on personal expenses from tequila shots to family trips.

Campa-Najjar, a former Obama administration official, was largely unknown before the charges in the district where Hunter succeeded his father in office 10 years ago.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she'll do everything in her power to provide effective leadership on the Senate Judiciary Committee if re-elected to another term.

Feinstein's remarks to supporters Tuesday night came as she was leading in her re-election bid. She faces fellow Democrat Kevin de Leon.

Feinstein says the country has been "factionalized and trivialized with rhetoric" and that people must come together.

She also says there's more work to do to make sure women have strong representation. She was one of the first women elected to the U.S. Senate and placed on the judiciary committee.

She's now the ranking Democrat and led the party's efforts against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Feinstein has not declared victory. She says she is lucky to have such a supportive constituency.

Californians have rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed more rent control to ease the state's housing crisis.

Proposition 10 is losing by a wide margin Tuesday.

The measure was one of the highest-profile and most expensive issues on the ballot as California faces a massive housing shortage.

It would have overturned a state law limiting rent control on apartments built after 1995, single-family homes and condominiums. It also would have allowed local laws restricting what landlords can charge new tenants.

Opponents argue Proposition 10 would have decreased housing supply by reducing developers' incentive to build. Supporters say allowing more rent control would protect people from being priced out of their homes.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation funded the pro-Proposition 10 effort. The real estate industry funded the opposition campaign.

A measure requiring all eggs sold in California come from cage-free hens by 2022 is leading in early returns.

Proposition 12 had about 59 percent of the vote after polls closed Tuesday with more than 3.5 million ballots counted.

The measure also would set new minimum requirements on the size of cages or pens that house breeding pigs and calves raised for veal. It also would ban the sale of veal, pork and eggs in California from farms that don't comply.

Supporters say the measure is a step toward more humane farming practices.

Opponents say it doesn't go far enough.

Proposition 12 builds on Proposition 2, which passed in 2008.

That measure banned California farmers from keeping the same animals in tiny cages but lacked specific size requirements.

Californians are leaning against borrowing nearly $9 billion for California water projects in a state where water scarcity often pits city dwellers, farmers, anglers and environmentalists against one another.

About 53 percent of voters are opposing Proposition 3 Tuesday, with about 3.6 million votes counted.

The bond measure would set aside money for storage and dam repairs, watershed and fisheries improvements, and habitat protection and restoration.

Much of the $8.9 billion is earmarked for conservancies and state parks to restore and protect watersheds, and to nonprofits and local agencies for river parkways.

There also is money for providing safe drinking water.

The measure is backed by agricultural and water associations and groups devoted to conserving wetlands, fish and wildlife.

Opponents say it benefits special interests while siphoning money from other programs.