Donald Trump

Voters Favor Recalling Persky as Polls Close in California Primary

California polls have closed, and results are upcoming in hundreds of contests across the state that could solidify Democratic dominance and reshape the fight for control of the U.S. Congress.

Early results show voters favoring the recall of a Northern California judge over a sexual assault sentence that garnered national attention and advancing incumbent U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein to the November election.

Santa Clara County's voter registrar reports the first returns Tuesday night show 59 percent of voters favoring removing Judge Aaron Persky from office, with 40 percent opposed.

Persky sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner in June 2016 to six months in jail instead of prison after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman outside a fraternity house. The recall campaign launched shortly afterward.

The recall campaign released a statement Tuesday night after polls closed:

"We are cautiously optimistic. Tonight's results mirror what we heard while we were out talking to voters. We are thankful for our supporters and every person who donated their time - it truly made a difference."

The campaign gained national prominence after the victim's powerful courtroom statement lamenting her treatment by the judicial system was circulated widely online.

Traffic at polling stations was light Tuesday because many people voted in advance in races setting the stage for the November election.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is the front-runner in the race for governor. President Donald Trump tweeted support for Republican businessman John Cox.

The Secretary of State's Office said more than 2.5 million people had voted by mail as of Monday night.

Other major gubernatorial candidates are state Treasurer John Chiang, former education Superintendent Delaine Eastin and Assemblyman Travis Allen.

Newsom, along side his wife and kids, casted his vote Wednesday morning in Larkskpur.

President Donald Trump tweeted support for Cox, who voted Tuesday night in San Diego.

Some California counties are reporting light traffic at polling stations but officials point out many voters are mailing in their ballots.
At Berkeley City Hall most of the voters showing up were dropping off ballots they had received by mail.
In Kern County, Clerk Auditor Susan Rooney says 49,000 out of the 233,000 mail ballots sent out have been turned in as of Tuesday morning.
She says a curbside drop-off for mail-in ballots near her office is seeing a slow but steady turnout.
In Fresno County, no lines are being reported but County Clerk Brandi Orth says voters usually come out at lunch time or after work.
Orth says she saw a "handful of voters" at the stations she visited Tuesday morning.
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10:27 a.m.
Voters are expressing a sense of duty as they cast ballots in California's primary election.
Thirty-seven-year-old Cecilia Arteaga held her 1½-year-old daughter on her hip as she voted Tuesday at a San Diego assisted living facility. Arteaga says she knows her child doesn't understand but she still wants to show her the importance of exercising the right to vote.
In San Diego's City Heights neighborhood, 42-year-old Sean Spicer, who works in marketing, says voting is a civic duty, though he doesn't like California's top two primary system, which he says means voting for people "who you think can win not who you believe in."
In Huntington Beach, preschool teacher Evelyn Corado says she also feels it's her responsibility to vote. As a naturalized U.S. citizen who came from El Salvador three decades ago, Corado says she votes to raise her voice for those immigrants who can't yet do so.

At Berkeley City Hall most of the voters showing up were dropping off ballots they had received by mail.

In Kern County, Clerk Auditor Susan Rooney says 49,000 out of the 233,000 mail ballots sent out have been turned in as of Tuesday morning.

She says a curbside drop-off for mail-in ballots near her office is seeing a slow but steady turnout.

In Fresno County, no lines are being reported but County Clerk Brandi Orth says voters usually come out at lunch time or after work.

Orth says she saw a "handful of voters" at the stations she visited Tuesday morning.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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