[h=3]By JIM CARLTON And VAUHINI VARA[/h]California voters sent Democratic candidates to face each other in November in two high-profile congressional races, while a controversial measure to raise the state's cigarette tax was too close to call.
The closest-watched congressional race, in the 30th district in the San Fernando Valley, pitted former allies Rep. Howard Berman and Rep. Brad Sherman against one another. The two Democrats were forced to face off because the state's redistricting process left them on overlapping turfs. With 15% of the ballots counted, Messrs. Berman and Sherman were capturing more than 70% of the vote. Soon after polls closed, the Associated Press declared both Democrats winners, meaning they'll go on to November's general election.
In the 44th congressional district in Los Angeles County, with 44% of precincts reporting, Rep. Janice Hahn was leading fellow Democrat Rep. Laura Richardson. AP declared both of them winners soon after polls closed
Tuesday's poll marked the first time in more than a decade that Californians voted under an open-primary system rather than in party primaries. Instead of separate ballots for Republican and Democratic candidates, sending one of each to the November election, there's a single ballot listing all the candidates, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. Thanks to that change, voters Tuesday also appeared close to sending other same-party candidates on to the general election in several congressional and state-legislative districts.
Thanks to that change, voters Tuesday appeared close to sending other same-party candidates on to the general election in several congressional and state legislative districts.
On Proposition 29, calling for an increase in the state cigarette tax to $1.87 a pack from 87 cents, voters were closely divided. Four hours after polls closed, with 46% of precincts reporting, "Yes" votes led by less than half a percentage point.
"It's going to be a long night," said Beth Miller, spokesperson for No on 29, which opposes the tax.
The measure would raise more than $700 million annually, mostly to fund research into cancer and other tobacco-related diseases. A cigarette tax to fund health research isn't uncommon nationwide. But California's attempt was unusual—and attracted more than $59 million from opponents like tobacco concern Altria Inc. and supporters like the American Cancer Society—because it was on the ballot instead of being considered by a state legislature and governor.
Meanwhile, voters in San Jose—the nation's 10th most populous city—appeared headed toward a decision to force current city workers to either contribute more to keep their promised benefits or accept a more-modest pension. With 13% of the vote counted late Tuesday night, "Yes" ballots had a 71%-29% lead.
The ballot measure on the matter, which attracted national attention, would let the city temporarily suspend cost-of-living raises for retired workers. Unlike many other such measures, the San Jose measure targeted existing employees and retirees, rather than only those workers yet to be hired.
Mayor Chuck Reed, a Democrat elected who has blamed cuts in city services such as library hours and police staffing largely on the rising cost of pensions, said the margin of victory shows San Jose voters are tired of paying high retiree costs.
"It tells you people get it, that we are draining money from city services to pay for benefits," Mr. Reed said in an interview Tuesday night. "It's a big win for the taxpayers because we will be able to restore services, and it's a big win for our employees because we will be able to pay them what they earn when they retire."
The mayor added he expected a court challenge to the measure, but was confident the city would prevail.
San Jose is one of the few places in the U.S. where voters have had the unilateral power to restructure pensions. But other cities, particularly those in California that manage their own retirement systems, are likely to follow suit, experts say.
In the U.S. Senate race, with nearly half the precincts reporting, Sen. Diane Feinstein led all opponents with slightly more than 50% of the vote. The incumbent Democrat is expected to win easily.
—Joel Millman and Mark Corkery contributed to this article.Write to Jim Carlton at [email protected] and Vauhini Vara at [email protected]
The closest-watched congressional race, in the 30th district in the San Fernando Valley, pitted former allies Rep. Howard Berman and Rep. Brad Sherman against one another. The two Democrats were forced to face off because the state's redistricting process left them on overlapping turfs. With 15% of the ballots counted, Messrs. Berman and Sherman were capturing more than 70% of the vote. Soon after polls closed, the Associated Press declared both Democrats winners, meaning they'll go on to November's general election.
In the 44th congressional district in Los Angeles County, with 44% of precincts reporting, Rep. Janice Hahn was leading fellow Democrat Rep. Laura Richardson. AP declared both of them winners soon after polls closed
Tuesday's poll marked the first time in more than a decade that Californians voted under an open-primary system rather than in party primaries. Instead of separate ballots for Republican and Democratic candidates, sending one of each to the November election, there's a single ballot listing all the candidates, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. Thanks to that change, voters Tuesday also appeared close to sending other same-party candidates on to the general election in several congressional and state-legislative districts.
Thanks to that change, voters Tuesday appeared close to sending other same-party candidates on to the general election in several congressional and state legislative districts.
On Proposition 29, calling for an increase in the state cigarette tax to $1.87 a pack from 87 cents, voters were closely divided. Four hours after polls closed, with 46% of precincts reporting, "Yes" votes led by less than half a percentage point.
"It's going to be a long night," said Beth Miller, spokesperson for No on 29, which opposes the tax.
The measure would raise more than $700 million annually, mostly to fund research into cancer and other tobacco-related diseases. A cigarette tax to fund health research isn't uncommon nationwide. But California's attempt was unusual—and attracted more than $59 million from opponents like tobacco concern Altria Inc. and supporters like the American Cancer Society—because it was on the ballot instead of being considered by a state legislature and governor.
Meanwhile, voters in San Jose—the nation's 10th most populous city—appeared headed toward a decision to force current city workers to either contribute more to keep their promised benefits or accept a more-modest pension. With 13% of the vote counted late Tuesday night, "Yes" ballots had a 71%-29% lead.
The ballot measure on the matter, which attracted national attention, would let the city temporarily suspend cost-of-living raises for retired workers. Unlike many other such measures, the San Jose measure targeted existing employees and retirees, rather than only those workers yet to be hired.
Mayor Chuck Reed, a Democrat elected who has blamed cuts in city services such as library hours and police staffing largely on the rising cost of pensions, said the margin of victory shows San Jose voters are tired of paying high retiree costs.
"It tells you people get it, that we are draining money from city services to pay for benefits," Mr. Reed said in an interview Tuesday night. "It's a big win for the taxpayers because we will be able to restore services, and it's a big win for our employees because we will be able to pay them what they earn when they retire."
The mayor added he expected a court challenge to the measure, but was confident the city would prevail.
San Jose is one of the few places in the U.S. where voters have had the unilateral power to restructure pensions. But other cities, particularly those in California that manage their own retirement systems, are likely to follow suit, experts say.
In the U.S. Senate race, with nearly half the precincts reporting, Sen. Diane Feinstein led all opponents with slightly more than 50% of the vote. The incumbent Democrat is expected to win easily.
—Joel Millman and Mark Corkery contributed to this article.Write to Jim Carlton at [email protected] and Vauhini Vara at [email protected]