Live Updates: How Fresno, Merced counties voted so far, as Gavin Newsom prevails over recall
The recall won in many central San Joaquin Valley counties, bucking the statewide support of Gov. Gavin Newsom. The race was called for Newsom by 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to Associated Press.
Statewide, nearly 66% of voters opposed the recall, with 34% in support.
According to preliminary results, Merced County at 50.5% narrowly showed support for “no” on the recall. Early ballot returns in Fresno County showed “yes” leading at 50.19%
In Tulare County, the “yes” vote leads with 58.63% of the electorate. Kings County and Madera have also voted for the recall with 60.27% and 58.89%, respectively.
As polls closed across California early returns showed the Democratic governor beating the recall statewide by double digits. Just minutes after polls closed, the recall trailed with 30.6% voting “yes,” and 69.4% voting “no.”
Elections expert and U.S. House editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report Dave Wasserman called the election less than 15 minutes after the polls closed. “I’ve seen enough: the vote to recall CA Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) fails,” he tweeted.
Election watchers
Less than an hour before voting centers closed Tuesday, at least two election watchers in Fresno County were signed in at the warehouse where elections workers process ballots. They confirmed they were with the Election Integrity Project, which they also had written on a sign-in sheet.
The two women sat in chairs, holding binders as they waited for the counting to begin. Both declined to speak with The Fresno Bee, saying they were not authorized to speak by the organization’s founder.
A handful of people from the Election Integrity Project have been observing elections workers at the warehouse on daily basis, according to Fresno County registrar of voters.
The organization says it is nonpartisan, although the Los Angeles Times reported the group rose from the conservative tea party movement. The organization says it has trained 4,000 observers to watch the recall.
Other watchers were reported at voting centers, according to elections staffers, but they are not required to sign in like they are at the warehouse.
The group’s members have routinely attended Fresno County Board of Supervisors meetings to express distrust in the elections process, and specifically in the Dominion Voting Systems.
Watchers have also been seen in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and San Luis Obispo counties.
This story was originally published September 14, 2021 at 8:47 PM.
