California voters decide 14 propositions as Congress control hangs in balance

Election Day has arrived in California, with voters deciding 14 statewide propositions and helping determine which party controls Congress during President Donald Trump's final two years in office. Democrats are also seeking to extend their streak of winning every statewide office dating back to 2010.

As of Monday, 26.44 percent of all ballots had been returned, according to voter data firm Political Data Inc. That figure is three percentage points higher than the 23.34 percent returned a day before the November 2022 midterm election.

“We're not screwing around, nor is (Trump).”

The Trump administration sought to set aside about 20,000 California ballots, alleging some were sent to noncitizens. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied the request to sequester those ballots, a victory for California officials who challenged the administration's data and cited state authority over elections.

Governor Gavin Newsom is deploying 134 election attorneys to five congressional districts, including the Sacramento area, Central Valley, Orange County, and San Diego. The attorneys will remain as long as necessary to counter what the governor described as potential election interference by federal monitors.

Eighteen House races in states such as Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania are considered tossups. Republicans currently hold a narrow lead that could flip, while Democrats would need 218 seats for a slim majority.

CalMatters reporters are stationed across the state and will post updates throughout the day and night as results come in.