2024 Election live updates: Results pouring in for key races in Bay Area, California

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Last updated: Wednesday, November 6, 2024 9:23AM GMT
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SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The polls are closed in California as millions of Bay Area residents cast their ballots for not only the highly-anticipated presidential election but several key races across the region.

2024 ELECTION: Key races to watch in California, Bay Area

Watch ABC7's live streaming coverage in the media player above or wherever you stream ABC7 and follow along below for live election updates. Get full Election coverage here.

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6:25 AM GMT

Early results show voters widely supporting recall of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was behind in the election to recall her from office based on early returns from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters on Tuesday night.

With a vote of 64.22% in favor of the recall versus 35.78% opposed -- with 35,367 votes counted out of the city's 252,382 register voters -- Thao appeared to have a steep climb to victory as of about 8:20 p.m. Tuesday.

"We're not surprised," said recall spokesman Seneca Scott. "We knew all along that Sheng Thao would likely be recalled by an overwhelming margin."

A Thao campaign spokesperson didn't respond to requests for comment.

The campaign to remove her from office was largely predicated on perceptions of Oakland's crime rates and the city's ongoing budget problems.

Recall proponents successfully tapped into Oakland voters' fears about crime, despite recent data showing a 33 percent drop in homicides in Oakland, zero homicides in October and an overall crime rate drop by 37 percent from a year ago, according to the Oakland Police Department.

In her effort to keep her job, Thao's committee, Oaklanders Defending Democracy, raised $120,381, while her opponents' committee, Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao, raised $602,483.

Much of Thao's monetary support came from labor unions, while her opponents were heavily funded by Foundational Oakland Unites, which in turn received all its money, $760,319, from wealthy hedge fund executive and Piedmont resident Philip Dreyfuss.

Based on early results, Thao wasn't able to overcome the spending gap despite painting the recall effort as an undemocratic power grab controlled by one rich out-of-towner meddling in Oakland's civic life.

She also touted her efforts to reduce crime, warned of the potentially chaotic transition to a new mayor if the recall was successful and compiled a list of supporters that included the city's firefighters' union, the influential SEIU 1021 and the Alameda County Democratic Party.

Her opponents, including the Oakland branch of the NAACP and former Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf, among others, said her perceived missteps led to her political demise.

Recall supporters said they were upset with her firing of former police chief LeRonne Armstrong, a missed deadline to receive millions in retail theft prevention grant money from the state and the use of one-time money from the sale of the city's ownership of half of the Oakland Coliseum to balance the city's budget.

They said people no longer feel safe in Oakland, that businesses have left over worries about crime and that Thao has failed to put a halt to the city's perceived lawlessness.

Thao was also likely hurt in the polls by an FBI raid of her home that is potentially related to the well-connected Duong family, owners of the city's recycling contractor, California Waste Solutions.

Neither she nor the Duongs have been charged with any crimes and it's unclear exactly what the FBI was looking for. Thao has said she's been told that she's not the center of the investigation.

If the results stand, the president of the Oakland City Council will step in as interim mayor until a special election could be held, likely in April.

The winner of that contest would serve out the remainder of Thao's term -- two more years -- and then would have to stand for re-election.

A possible wrinkle in that plan, however, is that the current president, Nikki Fortunato Bas, is running for a seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

If she wins, the council would have to appoint another president, who would then temporarily take over for Thao.

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31 minutes ago

Sam Liccardo leads Evan Low in contentious race for Congressional District 16 seat

Liccardo and Low are battling to take over Representative Anna Eshoo's congressional seat.

Early results Tuesday night showed Liccardo holding a 60% to 40% advantage, but the former mayor refused to declare victory Tuesday Night.

"They are still counting the votes... and as I've said before, we believe in counting all the votes," Liccardo told a room of his supporters.

Low became Liccardo's opponent in this race after an incredibly close primary, where Low came from behind to overtake Santa Clara county supervisor Joe Simitian by just 6 votes.

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6:12 AM GMT

Mark Farrell concedes from SF mayor's race

Mark Farrell delivered a concession speech at his campaign headquarters in the Marina Tuesday night urging San Franciscans to unite behind the new mayor - understanding that it is unlikely to be him.

He thanked supporters who backed his run.

Early returns showed him trailing in the race against incumbent Mayor London Breed, Aaron Peskin, Ahsha Safai and Daniel Lurie.

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5:32 AM GMT

CA Prop 36: Measure to increase penalties on shoplifting, certain drug crimes projected to pass

California's Proposition 36, which would increase penalties on certain crimes, was projected to pass at the polls Tuesday.

With more than 36% of the ballots tallied, the measure was ahead by a 70-30 margin, according to the California Secretary of State's office.

The measure would make shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders and increase penalties for some drug charges, including those involving the synthetic opioid fentanyl. It also would give judges the authority to order people with multiple drug charges to get treatment.