HUNTINGTON CIVIC CENTER with voting drop box in foreground (OC Tribune photo).
By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune
Two of three proposed amendments to the city charter supported by the Huntington Beach City Council’s conservative majority were passing Wednesday morning in the 2024 Primary Election, according to the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
Measure A, which called for voter ID at polling places, in-person monitoring of ballot drop boxes and more in-person voting locations, was trailing Tuesday night but has pulled ahead 54.73 percent to 45.83 percent.
Measure B, which would specify which flags can be flown on city property, had a small lead last night which expanded to a 58.27 percent to 41.73 percent edge.
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, had trailed all night and was still losing on Wednesday morning by a margin of 52.27 percent “no” and 47.43 “yes.”
In Westminster, voters backed Measure E, which would authorize a half-cent sales and transaction tax increase by a margin of 62.48 percent to 37.52 percent.
The race for the 45th Congressional District showed a strong performance by Republican Rep. Michelle Steel. She is leading with almost 58 percent of the vote. Battling for second are Democrats Derek Tran (15.9 percent) and Kim Bernice Nguyen-Penaloza (14.12 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 44.61 percent. In second are Frances Marquez with 24.55 percent, with Van Tran in third at 18.30 percent. Kimberly Ho was fourth with 6.32 percent and Michael Vo in fifth with 6.21 percent.
In the 70th State Assembly District race, Republican incumbent Tri Ta – a former mayor of Westminster – was leading Democratic challenger Jimmy Pham 61 percent to 39 percent.
As of this writing, the Registrar of Voters reported it still had 201,552 votes to process countywide. For the latest tallies, go to http://www.vote.com