With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Morning Briefing: Proposition Results And Undecided Local Races

Good morning, L.A.
Election results continue to come in for L.A. and California. So far, we know that of 12 statewide Propositions, five have failed and three have passed. The races for L.A.’s District Attorney, open City Council seats and one Board of Supervisors seat have not been called yet, nor has the race for President of the United States.
Based on the results so far, and how some key races are trending, Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs at Cal State Los Angeles, believes that L.A. – not San Francisco – is now at the heart of California’s most progressive politics.
"L.A. County is now to the left of the rest of the state,” Sonenshein told KPCC's AirTalk, “and that is such a sea change in the history of California, that it's hard not to notice it."
Keep reading for more details on local, state and national elections, as well as ongoing tallies – and stay safe out there.
And The Count Goes On …
Here are the election tallies and results so far, as of early Wednesday evening:
In L.A. (all UNDECIDED)
- L.A. District Attorney: George Gascón v. Jackie Lacey
- Measure J: To Shift 10% of the L.A. County budget to social services
- LA County Board Of Supervisors District 2: Holly Mitchell v. Herb Wesson
- LA City Council District 4: Nithya Raman v. David Ryu
- LA City Council District 10: Mark Ridley-Thomas v. Grace Yoo
- LAUSD District 7: Patricia Castellanos v. Tanya Ortiz Franklin
- LAUSD District 3: Marilyn Koziatek v. Scott Schmerelson
Statewide Propositions
- Prop 15 The property tax “Split Roll” initiative: UNDECIDED
- Prop 16 To bring back affirmative action: FAILED
- Prop 17 To allow parolees to vote: PASSED
- Prop 20 To toughen some criminal penalties: FAILED
- Prop 21 To give cities more power to enact rent control: FAILED
- Prop 22 To have app-based drivers treated as contractors: PASSED
- Prop 23 New requirements for dialysis clinics: FAILED
- Prop 24 To strengthen online privacy protections: PASSED
- Prop 25 To end cash bail: FAILED
U.S. Congress (all UNDECIDED)
- Congressional District 25: Mike Garcia v. Christy Smith
- Congressional District 39: Gil Cisneros v. Young Kim
- Congressional District 48: Harley Rouda v. Michelle Steel
President of the U.S.
- Joe Biden v. Donald Trump: UNDECIDED
Election Analysis And More
Election Analysis: L.A. County is now the heart of progressive politics. What role did Latina/o voters play in key local elections? Here’s why the LAUSD School Board elections are so important.
Election Experiences: These Santa Clarita teenagers volunteered as election workers, even though they’re not old enough to vote. Activists cried foul after an Orange County campaign invited Vietnamese voters to drop off their ballots and/or get help filling them in.
Coronavirus Updates: Since October, California’s COVID-19 test positivity rate has ticked up to 3.3%. Dr. Mark Ghaly, California's Health and Human Services Secretary, today called the increase slow and steady, compared with the huge case surge in the Midwest.
Photo of the Day
High school student Samea Derrick (left) says Gen Z is forward thinking and inclusive. "We want change."

Help Us Cover Your Community
- Got something you’ve always wanted to know about Southern California and the people who call it home? Is there an issue you want us to cover? Ask us anything.
- Have a tip about news on which we should dig deeper? Let us know.
The news cycle moves fast. Some stories don't pan out. Others get added. Consider this today's first draft, and check LAist.com for updates on these stories and more. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
-
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
-
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead.
-
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.
-
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend.