2024 Election: Voter's guide to key races to watch across Bay Area, California

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- While California may be solidly Democratic in presidential contests, a handful of competitive races in the state could determine whether Republicans keep control of the U.S. House. Voters also will cast ballots in a U.S. Senate contest and 10 statewide propositions, in addition to the presidency and the state Legislature.

It will likely take days and possibly weeks to know who won in some districts, due to how slowly California counts votes. The extended process begins with a large, initial reporting of votes, which reflects ballots that were cast in advance of Election Day.

LOCAL 2024 ELECTION RACES - SEE FULL LIST

CALIFORNIA SENATE

The candidates to fill the Senate seat long held by the late Democrat Dianne Feinstein are Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican former baseball player Steve Garvey. They are running in two separate elections: one for the full six-year term and the other for the remaining weeks of Feinstein's unexpired term. The Democrat appointed to fill Feinstein's vacancy, Laphonza Butler, did not seek to replace her.

PROPS GUIDE: Everything to know about measures on minimum wage, marriage equality and more

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS

Prop 2: School Bond

Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for repair, upgrade, and construction of facilities at K-12 public schools (including charter schools), community colleges, and career technical education programs, including for improvement of health and safety conditions and classroom upgrades. Requires annual audits.

Prop 3: Constitutional right to marriage

Amends California Constitution to recognize fundamental right to marry, regardless of sex or race. Removes language in California Constitution stating that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

Prop 4: Climate Bond

Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for water, wildfire prevention, and protection of communities and lands. Requires annual audits.

Prop 5: Affordable Housing Bond

Allows approval of local infrastructure and housing bonds for low- and middle-income Californians with 55% vote. Accountability requirements.

Prop 6: Involuntary Servitude

Amends the California Constitution to remove current provision that allows jails and prisons to impose involuntary servitude to punish crime (i.e., forcing incarcerated persons to work).

Prop 32: Minimum Wage

Raises minimum wage as follows: For employers with 26 or more employees, to $17 immediately, $18 on January 1, 2025. For employers with 25 or fewer employees, to $17 on January 1, 2025, $18 on January 1, 2026.

Prop 33: Rent Control

Repeals Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, which currently prohibits local ordinances limiting initial residential rental rates for new tenants or rent increases for existing tenants in certain residential properties.

Prop 34: Prescription Drugs

Requires certain providers to spend 98% of revenues from federal discount prescription drug program on direct patient care. Authorizes statewide negotiation of Medi-Cal drug prices.

Prop 35: Medi-Cal Funding

Makes permanent the existing tax on managed health care insurance plans, which, if approved by the federal government, provides revenues to pay for Medi-Cal health care services.

Prop 36: Crime Penalties

Allows felony charges for possessing certain drugs and for thefts under $950, if defendant has two prior drug or theft convictions.

CALIFORNIA HOUSE RACES

Congressional Dist. 12 Race

The District 12 seat has been held by Rep. Barbara Lee for more than two decades and is now up for grabs.

Those running for the seat include Democrat Lateefah Simon who's currently a BART board director against Democrat Jennifer Tran, a Cal State East Bay professor.

Congressional Dist. 16 Race

In November 2023, Rep. Anna Eshoo announced she would retiring in 2024 after three decades in Congress. With her seat up for grabs, several notable public figures joined the race including former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and State Assemblymember Evan Low who are facing off on the November ballot.

SF MAYOR

San Francisco Mayor London Breed is in a battle for her second term and is facing four main challengers on the Nov. 5 ballot, all fellow Democrats.

Her closest competitors appear to be Mark Farrell, a former interim mayor and venture capitalist who is the most conservative of the group, and Daniel Lurie, an anti-poverty nonprofit founder and an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune who has pumped at least $6 million of his own money into his first bid for mayor.

The other two are Aaron Peskin, president of the Board of Supervisors, the most liberal of the candidates, and Ahsha Safaí, a city supervisor and former labor organizer.

WATCH: Top candidates share vision for city, crime, homelessness with ABC7

The race for San Francisco mayor is on and the top four candidates are making their case ahead of Election Day. ABC7 News, The San Francisco Standard and Kara Swisher went 1-on-1 with them to ask the tough questions.

THAO RECALL

Residents of Oakland will decide whether to recall Mayor Sheng Thao after enough signatures were gathered to place it on the November ballot.

PRICE RECALL

Alameda County voters will decide on whether to recall District Attorney Pamela Price after the county's registrar of voters certified enough signatures for it to be placed on the November ballot.

It's the first time in Alameda County history that a district attorney has faced a recall election.

Voter Information, Results by County

Alameda County
Contra Costa County
Marin County
Napa County
San Francisco
Santa Clara County
San Mateo County
Solano County
Sonoma County

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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