Voters Reject Prop. 43 as Sequoia High Board and Valley Leaders Win

Statewide tax rules, high school district governance, and incoming legislative priorities converged across California this week as voters turned back a proposed supermajority requirement for local tax initiatives, reelected Sequoia Union High School District board President Amy Koo, and positioned a bipartisan Kern County delegation for the next session in Sacramento.

California Voters Reject Proposition 43 by 55.4% to Keep Simple-Majority Tax Rules

According to San José Spotlight, statewide voters rejected Proposition 43 with 55.4% voting no and 44.1% voting yes. Supported by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Taxpayers Association, Family Business Association of California, and California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce—and opposed by California Professional Firefighters, the California Federation of Teachers, and the Nurse Alliance of SEIU CA—Proposition 43 would have required a 66.7% (two-thirds) supermajority rather than a simple majority for citizen initiatives enacting sales, real estate, utility, or transit taxes.

San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Leah Toeniskoetter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, VTA Board Chair and Campbell Councilmember Sergio Lopez, and Santa Clara County Executive James Williams welcomed the outcome, while Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association President Mark Hinkle noted that anti-incumbent sentiment affected Propositions 1, 2, 3, 37, 38, 43, 44, and 45 while only Proposition 40 was defeated after hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign spending. Had Proposition 43 passed, it would have threatened Senate Bill 63 (the Regional Transit Measure), a five-county 0.5% sales tax polling at 54.1% on the November 3 ballot that raises $1 billion annually for 14 years, including $264 million for VTA. Officials also pointed to San Jose's June primary approval of a 2% hotel tax generating $10 million annually to address a $50 million deficit, as well as November 2025's Measure A five-eighth-cent countywide sales tax generating $330 million annually for hospitals.

Amy Koo Wins Second Term on Sequoia Union High School District Board with 64%

In Peninsula education returns reported by The Almanac, Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD) board President Amy Koo won a second four-year term representing Area A—covering Redwood Shores, Belmont, and San Carlos—with 6,164 votes (64%) to 3,464 votes (36%) for challenger Alon Shiran as of Thursday afternoon, November 5. First elected in 2022, Koo stated that her immediate priorities include smoothly onboarding incoming Area D trustee Michael Dekshenieks, who ran unopposed in central Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks, and Atherton after incumbent Sathvik Nori withdrew and endorsed him.

Koo also outlined plans to review the district's campus cell-phone policy, establish guidance for artificial intelligence in classrooms, advance student and staff wellness, and analyze graduation requirements and academic pathways to support the 8% of students who currently do not graduate from high school.

Three Bakersfield Candidates Prepare for Sacramento Under Governor-Elect Becerra

In Central Valley legislative results reported by The Press, three Bakersfield candidates built commanding leads on Wednesday as they prepared to work with Governor-elect Xavier Becerra in Sacramento. Democratic State Senator Melissa Hurtado led Republican businessman Guillermo Gonzalez by more than 20 percentage points—a sharp contrast to her 2022 reelection victory by 22 votes—and emphasized tackling California's structural budget deficit, debt, and affordability during her final Senate term.

In Assembly races, Democrat and Bakersfield City Councilman Andrae Gonzales led Republican McFarland Mayor Saul Ayon by more than 36 points, declaring victory in a 2:45 p.m. release and pledging to focus on healthcare access and economic development in Kern County, where roughly 32% of young residents live in poverty. Meanwhile, Republican Kern County Supervisor David Couch led in Assembly District 32 and pledged to work across the aisle on agriculture and "all-of-the-above" energy policy, noting that Senate Bill 237 granted Kern County local oil-permitting authority but is capped at 10 years.