• All but one of six statewide propositions met defeat in California's May 19, 2009 special election.

  The first and central proposition, 1A—intended to provide long-term budget stability for the state—was down 65.9% to 34.1%. Only Prop 1F, which bars lawmakers and the governor from getting raises when there is a budget deficit, won—by a resounding margin of 73.9% to 26.1%.New York Times: California Voters Consider Limiting Raises for Lawmakers (May 18, 2009) California Secretary of State: Election Results: All Ballot Measures

• 1. Special election was held on May 19, 2009
  2. Statewide Measures were Proposition 1A through 1F
  3. Only Proposition 1F was approved by voters
  4. Polls opened between 7: 00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  5. Turnout was low, with less than four million of over 17 million registered voters participatingCalifornia Secretary of State: Election Results: All Ballot Measures

• 2008 Presidential Election

  Democrat Barack Obama has won the state of California in the 2008 presidential race. Obama had consistently led McCain by approximately 25 points since they became the nominees of their respective parties.RealClearPolitics: California: McCain vs. Obama

  California carries 55 electoral votes in 2008, the greatest number in the United States and 10% of all available electoral votes. California has gained electoral votes from every census since its founding, except in 1920.270toWin.com: California

  Although the state is considered strongly blue, Republicans won every presidential election from 1952 through 1988, aside from the landslide loss in 1964 by Barry Goldwater.270toWin.com: California

• 2008 Election Fast Facts

  1. Polls opened: 7 am to 8 pm
  2. Barack Obama led John McCain 56.1% to 37.1% entering the racePollster.com: 2008 California Presidential General Election: McCain vs Obama
  3. Registered voters: 17.3 million (16.5 million in 2004)CA Secretary of State: Record Number of Registered Voters (October 31, 2008)
  4. Los Angeles County: 14% voter turnout in early ballots alone, breaking a recordLA Times: L.A. County Has Already Broken a Voting Record (November 3, 2008)
  5. LA Registar’s Norwalk office received more than 625,000 ballots between mail-in ballots and early in-person votingLA Times: L.A. County Has Already Broken a Voting Record (November 3, 2008)
  6. Orange County experienced a record-breaking 29% voter turnout before election dayLA Times: L.A. County Has Already Broken a Voting Record (November 3, 2008)
  7. Over 13 million people are expected to cast their votesSF Gate: Record 13.6 Million Expected to Vote in State (November 3, 2008)
  8. Some Los Angeles voting lines were over 300 people longLA Times: Southern California Turns Out to Vote: Undeterred by Rain and Long Lines (November 4, 2008)
  9. Democratic primary winner: Hillary Rodham Clinton
  10. Republican primary winner: John McCain
  11. Party registration not required to vote

• Other California Races

  • 39 U.S. House RacesCalVoter.org: 2008 General Elections US House Races
  • 20 State Senate RacesCalVoter.org: November 2008 General Election State Senate Races
  • 80 State Assembly RacesCalVoter.org: November 2008 General Election State Assembly Races

• Previous California Winners

  • 2004: John Kerry
  • 2000: Al Gore
  • 1996: Bill Clinton
  • 1992: Bill Clinton
  • 1988: George H. W. Bush
  • 1984: Ronald Reagan
  • 1980: Ronald Reagan
  • 1976: Gerald Ford
  • 1972: Richard Nixon
  • 1968: Richard Nixon

• California Government

  • Governor: Arnold Schwarzenegger (R)
  • Lieutenant Governor: John Garamendi
  • Attorney General: Jerry Brown
  • Senators: Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer

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