2022
Live Election
Coverage
It’s Midterm Election Day and Black Voice News Will Give You Live Updates
Flash Flood Warnings Across the Region as Election Day Draws to a Close
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for the several cities across San Bernardino County as heavy rains and winds pick up on Election Day. Many voters have opted to drop their ballots off at local ballot boxes across the county. Bethel AME Church in Fontana, CA is open for in-person voting and for voters to drop off their ballots. Read full story here
‘I Came Out to Vote for Democracy’
“The election was never stolen. They made a lie, and everybody kept going with it. It’s the fear factor,” Robert, a voter in Riverside County, said. He believes Republicans use fear-mongering when it comes to immigration, the crime wave, and the “stolen election” to rally conservative voters.
Riverside Voter: For me, Abortion and Dialysis are Very Important
There are a few measures that Gipson finds essential in this election. “Abortion, of course, is one … Being able to make that decision for myself and not [giving someone else] control over my body,” Gipson said. “Ensuring everyone that has to get dialysis is able to get dialysis. I have a son who is currently on dialysis. So it’s important for me, for him to be able to have access when needed.”
I Voted to Protect My Grandchildren from the Effects of Smoking
Proposition 31 was an important measure on the ballot for Mattie Nelson, she wants to protect her six grandchildren from smoking. “I used to smoke for years, and I stopped smoking. I want to make sure they aren’t smoking.” If Prop 31 passes, it will uphold the ban on some flavored tobacco products sold in California.
Races to Watch for State Assembly
In the 34th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Apple Valley, California City, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Twentynine Palms and parts of Hesperia, Highland, Lancaster, Palmdale, Victorville, and an uninhabited portion of Adelanto, Republican incumbent Tom Lackey is being challenged by fellow Republican Paul Andre Marsh.
In the 45th Assembly District, which includes parts Fontana, Highland, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino and an uninhabited portion of Rancho Cucamonga, incumbent Democrat James C. Ramos (the first indigenous American elected to the state Assembly) is being challenged by Republican Joseph “Joe” W. Martinez,
In the 47th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Yucaipa, Yucca Valley and parts of Highland, Redlands and San Jacinto, Democrat Christy Holstege and Republican Greg Wallis are vying for the seat.
In the 50th Assembly District, which represents the communities of Loma Linda, Colton and parts of Fontana, Ontario, Redlands, Rialto, Rancho Cucamonga and San Bernardino incumbent Democrat Eloise Gómez Reyes is defending against a challenge by Republican Sheela Stark.
In the 53rd Assembly District, which includes Montclair, Pomona, and parts of Chino, Ontario and Upland, incumbent Democrat Freddie Rodriguez is being challenged by Republican Toni Holle.In the 58th Assembly District, which includes Grand Terrace, Jurupa Valley and parts of Corona, Eastvale and Riverside, incumbent Sabrina Cervantes is defending against Republican Bernard William Murphy.
I Came Out to Lend My Voice on the Issue of Female Reproductive Choice
Acea Stapler, came out to vote at Riverside’s Main Library today because of a couple of things on the ballot that affect her personally. “Female reproductive choice” is one of the significant issues on the ballot and a major reason Stapler felt it was imperative to vote.
Polling Place Under Mandatory Evacuation
Due to weather-related mandatory evacuations, the polling place at FIRE STATION #98, 5766 Frontage Rd., Angelus Oaks was at noon due to weather-related mandatory evacuations. The polling location will be closed the remainder of Election Day.
In a press release, the San Bernardino ROV said voters assigned to this polling place may vote in person at any other San Bernardino County polling place. The nearest polling place to Fire Station #98 is Yucaipa Community Center at 34900 Oak Glen Rd, Yucaipa.
Alternatively, voters may return their vote by mail ballot at a mail ballot drop-off location or via the U.S. Postal Service, which must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, November 8.
No Electioneering Within 100 Feet of Polling Station
Noemi Silva cast her ballot at Frank Dominguez Elementary after finding her usual polling place closed. Silva previously voted at the Outreach Church. Silva was excited to vote for Helen Tran, a candidate for mayor in the city of San Bernardino.
A volunteer from the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) stopped by the school to stick a “Vote for Helen Tran” sign in the grass. A poll worker named Angel Torres later came out to remove the sign as he explained that electioneering/petitioning is prohibited within 100 feet from a polling place, according to state laws.
Colton Voter: ‘Funding for schools is a big yes for me’
“Well, I vote every time it comes time to vote,” said Rick, who declined to give his last name. Rick is a resident of Colton, CA and took time to drop off his election ballot at Frank Dominguez Elementary School. Rick said he votes because he wants his voice to be heard.
Update From H. Frank Dominguez Elementary School
H. Frank Dominguez Elementary School is one of the few sites in the city of San Bernardino that has in-person polling. Supervisor Kim Wishum explained that the day has been slow with few voters coming in to vote. Wishum has been a volunteer poll worker for six years now. She explained that she enjoys meeting people while she volunteers.
“I voted as soon as I got my ballot,” Wishum said. She will be working at the polls until 9 p.m., after polls close at 8 p.m. in case voters are still waiting in line. If voters are in line by 8 p.m., poll workers will give them a ticket that will allow them to cast their ballot.
Here is Why Prop 30 Has Attracted a Lot of Attention
Perhaps more than any other Proposition on the ballot today, Prop 30 has drawn a lot of attention leading up to the Midterm Elections.
If approved by California voters, Proposition 30 will increase taxes on the rich to add funding to wildfire prevention and response and help fund services supporting the statewide transition to zero-emission vehicles.
The measure calls for a 1.75% increase in state income tax for residents who make more than $2 million a year. The proposed tax will have a sunset date of Jan. 1, 2043.
But it has received support and opposition in equal measure, with Gov Newsom leading those opposing it.
Read the story here to understand more about Prop 30.
Midterm Election Day Races to Watch for U.S. Congress
In the 25th Congressional District which includes the communities of Banning, Beaumont, Blythe, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, part of Hemet, Indio, Needles and San Jacinto, Republican Brian Hawkins is challenging incumbent Democrat Raul Ruiz.
In the 33rd Congressional District which includes the communities of Grand Terrace, Rialto, and parts of Colton, Fontana, Highland, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands and San Bernardino, Republican John Mark Porter is challenging incumbent Democrat Pete Aguilar, Democrat (incumbent).In the 35th Congressional District which includes the communities of Chino, Montclair, Ontario, and parts of Chino Hills, Eastvale, Fontana, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga and Upland, Republican Mike Cargile is challenging incumbent Democrat Norma J. Torres.
Midterm Election Day Races to Watch: SBCUSD School Board
Eight candidates are vying for positions on the SBCUSD School Board, challenging incumbents Barbara Flores, Abigail Medina and Danny Tillman.
Four seats are up for election on the seven-member school board. One of them has been vacant following the death of longtime community leader Margaret Hill in January 2022.
Midterm Election Day Races to Watch Riverside County Board of Supervisors
In the Riverside County race to represent the 5th District on the Board of Supervisors, outgoing Moreno Valley Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez faces off against current county supervisor Jeff Hewitt, who previously ran for governor during the 2021 recall against Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Redlands City Council Race
Redlands District 1 City Councilmember Denise Davis, the city’s first openly LGBTQ+ council member is being challenged by Rodgir Cohen, who ran unsuccessfully for the California Assembly as a Libertarian in June.
Corona City Council race
Voters will choose two city council representatives among four candidates to fill the seats for Corona City Council. Incumbents including council members Jacque Casillas and Gary Greenwood are running for District 1. Current Mayor Wes Speake and Serge Tolstikov are competing for a seat in District 5.
Moreno Valley Mayoral Race
Voters in Moreno Valley will choose a new mayor among six candidates today. Mayoral candidates are Lindsay Robinson, Jaime C. Hurtado, James Early Sr., Ulises Cabrera, Debra D. Craig and Patsy D. Brown.
Elected as the youngest city council member in the city’s 4th District, Cabrera made his intentions to run for mayor known last year.
Hurtado entered the race for mayor early on as well. As the former manager of Riverside’s International Business Office and former Chief of Staff for Fifth District County Board of Supervisors, Marion Ashley, Hurtado is vying for the chance to lead the city.
Brown enters the mayoral race as a pastor of the PowerHouse Ministries International, former educator and former Program Director at Charles R. Drew University. Craig is an educator in the Moreno Valley School District. Robinson is a retired University of California, Riverside staff research associate. Early Sr. is a long-time resident of Moreno Valley and founder of Early’s Reptile and Small Critter Rescue.
Voters will also select from two candidates for District 4’s city council. Candidates are Cheylynda Barnard and Gregory Kuster.
Midterm Election Day Races to Watch
San Bernardino mayoral race
In the City of San Bernardino, voters will elect Helen Tran or James F. “Jim” Penman to replace current Mayor John Valdivia. Valdivia lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Prior to her bid for mayor, Tran made history as the youngest Director of Human Resources for the City of San Bernardino. If elected, Tran will make history again as the city’s first Asian American mayor.
Penman is no stranger to the mayoral race as this year’s race marks his third bid for mayor. In 1987, Penman was elected as the City Attorney in San Bernardino. He lost his position in 2013 when approximately 61% of voters recalled him.
Full story here
The Journey of An Election Ballot….Where Does Your Ballot Go Once It’s Cast?
While voters may spend minutes marking their ballots, the task of processing and verifying ballots takes a bit longer. The San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters invited members of the media to observe the journey of a ballot once residents cast it.
There are five essential steps that a ballot goes through after it is submitted to the Registrar of Voters: sorting, signature verification, ballot extraction, counting (and adjudication) and tabulation.
Each step has several security measures to maintain the integrity of election ballots, such as having only trained staff at each station, keycard access-only rooms, large windows for observer viewing and a two-person rule.
It’s Midterm Election Day and Black Voice News Will Give You Live Updates
Good morning everyone and happy Election Day.
We will be covering the midterm elections all day on this live blog, with our reporters out in the field from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
We’ll be keeping an eye on social media and monitoring other news websites to keep you informed on the happenings in Riverside and San Bernardino counties on protests, long lines, glitches or any hitches!
Stay tuned for updates.
–BVN Team