NEVADA CITY, Calif. November 9, 2016 – With less than 35,000 votes counted this analysis is meant as a contrast and compare exercise. Nevada County voters appear to have gone against the grain in many regional, state and federal contests.
Hillary Clinton beats Donald Trump
16,199 voters favored Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton over Republican Donald Trump who garnered 14,686 votes. The 5% margin is greater than the 1.5% margin between registered Democrats and Republicans in the county. 811 registered Libertarians reside in Nevada County, their candidate Gary Johnson over-performed with 1,338 voters (4% of ballots counted.) 803 Green party voters saw their candidate Jill Stein collect 992 votes (2.96%.)
Harris beats Sanchez
AG Kamala Harris found favor with 18,437 voters (69.42%), whilst her opponent Loretta Sanchez captured 8,123 nods (30.58%). Enthusiasm for the race was not very high, 8,135 voters did not express a preference for one candidate over the other. Statewide, Harris leads by 62.5% to 37.5%.
La Malfa barely squeaks by in Nevada County
Rep. Doug La Malfa eked out a less than 1% victory over challenger Jim Reed in Nevada County. District-wide his margin of victory stands at 58.9% to Reed’s 41.1%.
Derlet defeats McClintock big time, only in Nevada County
Bob Derlet won by a convincing 63.45% over Tom McClintock’s 36.55% – but only in Nevada County. Derlet conceded the race to the incumbent this morning. McClintock leads district-wide by 62.3% to Derlet’s 37.7%. Besides Nevada County, only tiny Alpine County went for the challenger by a 55.5 to 44.5 margin.
Dahle’s margin of victory over Coenen smaller in Nevada County
Assemblyman Brian Dahle won handily in Nevada County by 66.35% to 33.65% for Donn Coenen, his Libertarian opponent. The 9-county district results are even more impressive, with Dahle garnering 74.5% of the votes counted so far.
Propositions’ outcome tell an interesting tale
Proposition 51, dealing with K-12 and Community College Facilities did not find favor with Nevada County voters who rejected it by 59%, as opposed to the statewide 54% of Yes votes.
Proposition 52, the Medi-Cal Hospital Fee Program, shows 69.3% of Yes votes in Nevada County and statewide passes by 69.6%.
Proposition 53, requiring Voter Approval of Revenue Bonds, is passing in Nevada County by 53.3%. Statewide voters rejected it by 51.4%
Proposition 54, Legislative Procedure Requirements, brought Nevada County and the rest of the state together with a county approval of 64.9% and 64.3% statewide.
Proposition 55, a Tax Extension for Education and Healthcare, better known as the Billionaire’s tax, passed by 57.0% in Nevada County. Statewide, the margin is higher with 62.1%.
Proposition 56, the Cigarette Tax, was approved by 54.8% of Nevada County voters and statewide health-consciousness widened that lead to 62.9% overall.
Proposition 57, Criminal Sentences & Juvenile Crime Proceedings, was equally championed by county voters with 59.3% and statewide by 63.6% of the voters.
Proposition 58, English Proficiency and Multilingual Education, won by 65.4% in Nevada County. Statewide the proposition passes by 72.4%.
Proposition 59, the Corporate Political Spending Advisory Question better known as Repeal Citizens United, Passed in Nevada County by 53.3%. Statewide, 52.3% of voters agree. It is noteworthy that Nevada County joins the coastal counties in approving this proposition while it failed in surrounding Sierra Nevada, Northstate and Inland Empire counties, with the exception of Alpine and Mono.
Proposition 60, Adult Film Condom Requirements, is rejected in Nevada County by a two thirds majority, 66.3%. Statewide, 53.9% of voters voted No.
Proposition 61, instituting State Prescription Drug Purchase Standards, fails by 56.4% in Nevada County and 53.7% statewide.
Proposition 62, the Repeal of Death Penalty, was axed by 56.7% of Nevada County voters. Statewide, the result is a little closer with 53.9% of voters declining to repeal.
Proposition 63, dealing with Firearms and Ammunition Sales, was narrowly rejected by Nevada County voters with 51% voting No. Statewide, the proposition was approved by 62.6% of voters.
Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization, passed in Nevada County – despite the efforts of the local Cannabis Coalition. 52.1% of Nevada County voters approve of the recreational use of marijuana, joined by 56% of voters statewide. Placer, Yuba and El Dorado counties voted No, while Sierra, Plumas and Butte Counties voted Yes.
Proposition 65, Carryout Bag Charges, were a no go with 56.3% of Nevada County voters. 55.3% of CA voters agreed and also voted No.
Proposition 66, Death Penalty Procedure Time Limits, appears more ingrained in Nevada County voters’ DNA with 53.6% voting Yes. Statewide, the margin shrinks to 50.9% of Yes votes.
Proposition 67, the Ban on Single-use Plastic Bags, was approved by 52.7% of Nevada County voters. While the proposition also passes statewide with a 52.0% margin, Nevada County voters disagree with all their neighboring counties, Alpine and Mono excepted.
What does it mean, for now?
It would appear that Nevada County is aligning more with “San Francisco values” on environmental and progressive issues than the rest of the Sierra Nevada as far as statewide Propositions go.
Democratic candidates fare far better in Nevada County than in other counties in Federal, Congress or State races.
Based on the available election returns, Nevada County is more blue than red.