Federal allegations face a state rebuttal as voters weigh competing tax measures and the governor’s race.
California’s November 3 election brings together a federal dispute over voter eligibility, a costly battle over taxing billionaires and a governor’s race in which Republican Steve Hilton trails Democrat Xavier Becerra.
The Justice Department sued California October 15, alleging that more than 20,000 likely noncitizens appeared on its voter rolls. Federal officials described their analysis as preliminary and ongoing.
Secretary of State Shirley Weber disputed the allegations, saying federal officials had not supplied adequate supporting data or methodology. She warned that their demands could disenfranchise eligible voters.
The allegations are not a court finding that 20,000 people voted illegally.
Meanwhile, Google cofounder Sergey Brin has contributed $102 million to a political effort opposing California’s billionaire tax.
Proposition 40 would impose a one-time 5% tax on qualifying billionaires’ assets. Supporters say the revenue would protect healthcare services. Opponents warn that wealthy residents could leave, taking investment and future tax revenue with them.
Gov. Gavin Newsom opposes the billionaire tax and supports Proposition 42, a competing measure restricting wealth taxes.
In the governor’s race, The Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling page dated October 19 puts Becerra at 56.7% and Hilton at 37.4%. Those figures measure estimated voter support—not either candidate’s probability of winning.
Other ballot debates concern voter identification, local tax requirements and environmental-review deadlines for development.
Voters can consult the state’s election information and review THRIVE!’s California coverage before making their choices.
Featured photo: California State Capitol in Sacramento, photographed September 18, 2018. Credit: Santosh7700 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
