Midterm Elections: Democrats control the House but Republicans keep the Senate

Find out election results from Oregon, Washington and California

By Claire Desmarais | November 7, 2018 11:28am
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ASUP handed out shirts to encourage students to participate in the 2018 Midterm Elections.
Media Credit: Jennifer Ng / The Beacon

After the 2018 midterm elections, the Democrats now control the House of Representatives. The Republicans have maintained their control of the Senate with their majority. 

Nearly 65 percent of eligible voters casted their ballots for the 2018 midterm election in Oregon. And about 45 percent of eligible voters participated in the midterm elections in Washington. Information about California voter turnout could not be found at the time. 

The Beacon has gathered the election results from the three main states where the majority of UP students are from. All election results come from the official Oregon, Washington and California Secretary of State government office website. 

A YES or NO indicates the majority votes for each ballot measure, advisory or proposition. The name of the elected official and their preferred party indicates the majority votes for each position. 

Many news sites offered live coverage of the 2018 Election results to keep citizens informed as the votes were tallied.
by Jennifer Ng / The Beacon

Oregon

Ballot Measures

YES on Measure 102: Amends the Oregon constitution to allow non-governmental affordable housing projects to be funded by local bonds. Does not immediately raise taxes; voters will still have to pass proposed bonds.

NO on Measure 103: Would have amended the Oregon constitution to prohibit taxes or fees on the sale and distribution of groceries. (There is currently no grocery tax or proposed grocery tax.)

NO on Measure 104: Would have amended the Oregon constitution to expand the requirement of three-fifths majority in the legislature to approve bills raising revenue. 

NO on Measure 105: Would have repealed the sanctuary state law limiting the use of state/local law enforcement resources to enforce federal immigration laws. Under this current law, local and state police are not allowed to arrest a person if their only crime is being an undocumented immigrant. 

NO on Measure 106: Would have amended the Oregon constitution to prohibit public funds from being spent on abortions, directly or indirectly (health insurance plans that cover abortion), with few exceptions; also would have reduced access to abortion for low-income women and publicly employed women. 

Major Candidates Elected 

Governor of Oregon

KATE BROWN, Prefers Democratic Party 

U.S. House of Representatives: District 3 (Portland area, including North Portland)

EARL BLUMENAUER, Prefers Democratic party 

Portland City Commissioner, Position 3

JO ANN A HARDESTY

Two students watch the 2018 Election coverage in the Pilot House.
by Jennifer Ng / The Beacon

Washington 

Ballot Measures

YES on Initiative 940: Requires further training for law enforcement officers, including mental health and violence de-escalation training. Also changes the standards for police justifiably use of deadly force. 

NO on Initiative 1631: Would have created a carbon fee on certain large emitters of greenhouse pollutants. Uses the revenue from this fee to fund environmental programs like reducing pollution and promoting clean energy.

YES on Initiative 1634: Prohibits local governments from increasing or enacting new taxes on certain groceries.

YES on Initiative 1639: Changes requirements for purchasing guns, including increased background checks, firearm safety training, waiting periods and age limitations. Also changes requirements for storage of certain guns and enacts other gun-related requirements. 

REPEALED Advisory Vote 19: Asks whether the legislature should repeal or maintain a previous senate bill (Senate Bill 6269) that expanded the oil spill response tax to apply to pipelines. 

(Advisory Votes are a type of ballot measure in which citizens vote on a non-binding question. The outcome of this question does not result in a new, changed, or rejected law or constitutional amendment. It is a symbolic representation of what the voting population thinks about an issue)

Major Candidates Elected

U.S. Senate: Voters will be electing one member to the United States Senate to represent the state of Washington.

MARIA CANTWELL, Prefers Democratic Party

U.S. House of Representatives: District 3 (District includes Vancouver area and Southcentral Washington)

MARCUS RICCELLI, Prefers Democratic Party

TIMM ORMSBY, Prefers Democratic Party 

ASUP handed out "I Voted!" stickers to students.
by Jennifer Ng / The Beacon

California 

Ballot Measures

YES on Proposition 1: Authorizes $4 billion in bonds to fund certain affordable housing programs for low income residents, veterans, farm workers, etc.

YES on Proposition 2: Authorizes $2 billion in bonds to fund the No Place Like Home Act, a housing assistance program for people with mental health illnesses. Also amends the Mental Health Services Act so that it funds the No Place Like Home Act.

NO on Proposition 3: Would have authorized $8.9 billion in bonds to fund various environmental projects addressing water-related issues, including water supply and quality, fish and wildlife, habitat protection and groundwater sustainability and storage. 

YES on Proposition 4: Authorizes $1.5 billion in bonds to fund construction projects at children’s hospitals to expand and/or improve buildings and purchase new equipment. 

NO on Proposition 5: Would have amended the California constitution to increase the ability of certain homeowners, who are age 55 or older or are severely disabled, to obtain tax relief by transferring a certain tax base to a replacement property. 

NO on Proposition 6: Would have repealed the 2017 Road Repair and Accountability Act, which implemented fuel taxes and fees to generate funding for road repair. Also amends the California constitution to require voter approval of any transportation related taxes and fees. 

YES on Proposition 7: Allows California legislature to change Daylight Savings Time Period if it reaches a two-thirds vote and if federal law law authorizes it. 

NO on Proposition 8: Would have required private dialysis clinics to issue refunds if their revenue exceeds allowable costs by more than 15 percent. Dialysis treatment is a necessary treatment for people with kidney disease and is undergone multiple times a week.

NO on Proposition 10: Would have repealed a law that limits governmental rent control. Expands local governments authority to regulate rents on any type of housing property.

YES on Proposition 11: Amends the California Labor Code to allow private ambulance providers to require ambulance employees to remain on call during work breaks.

YES on Proposition 12: Establishes new standards for confinement of certain animals, including banning the sale of eggs and meat from animals in spaces below specific sizes.

Major Candidates Elected 

Governor of California

GAVIN NEWSOM, Prefers Democratic Party 

U.S. Senate

DIANNE FEINSTEIN, Prefers Democratic Party 

Lieutenant Governor

ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Prefers Democratic Party 

Secretary of State

ALEX PADILLA, Prefers Democratic Party 

Claire Desmarais is the news and managing editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at desmarai20@up.edu.

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