MARCH 5, 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS (Shutterstock).

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

Three proposed charter amendments backed by the Huntington Beach City Council’s conservative majority were struggling as the votes were counted on Tuesday night in the 2024 Primary Election.

As of our deadline, Measure A, which called for voter ID at polling places, in-person monitoring of ballot drop boxes and more in-person voting locations, was losing 54 percent to 46 percent.

Measure B, which would specify which flags can be flown on city property, was slightly ahead, 51 percent to 49 percent.

Measure C, which would require that the city adopt a two-year budget, change the process for cancelling a city council meeting and for filling a council vacancy, was losing 59 percent to 41 percent.

In Westminster, voters were backing Measure E, which would authorize a half-cent sales and transaction tax increase by a margin of 66 percent to 34 percent.

The race for the 45th Congressional District was showing a strong performance by Republican Rep. Michelle Steel. She is leading with almost 53 percent of the vote. Battling for second are Democrats Derek Tran (18.43 percent) and Kim Bernice Nguyen-Penaloza (15.85 percent).

Under California’s new primary system, the top two finishers – regardless of party – advance to the November runoff.

Democrats were hopeful they could “flip” the district and help their party regain control of the House of Representatives.

In the race for the First District seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, State Sen. Janet Nguyen has a big lead over four rivals, polling 42.37 percent. In second is Frances Marquez with 27.59 percent, with Van Tran ay 17.05 percent. Kimberly Ho was fourth with 6.81 percent and Michael Vo in fifth with 6.18 percent.

In the 70th State Assembly District race, Republican incumbent Tri Ta – a former mayor of Westminster – was leading Democratic challenger Jimmy Pham 56 percent to 44 percent.