The 2022 midterms are here, and November 8th is the day to visit the polls, and last day to send in a mail-in ballot. Get to know what’s on the ballot before voting.

It is split into five sections: California State, Judicial, School, County, and other Voter Proposed Measures. 

California State

Also referred to as the Voter-Nominated Offices of the State of California, this section contains the executive and managerial positions up for grabs.

Governor Gavin Newsom is up for reelection. Further down the list, each classic position appears, like treasurer or secretary.  Each candidate is categorized as either Democrat or Republican. However, the State Board of Equalization’s (BOE) 4th district seat, covering Anaheim to San Diego, is an exception.

The BOE regulates and enforces specific taxes statewide, such as alcohol and property taxes. Whether it’s Mike Schaefer or David Dodson, they’ll be one of the 5 sitting members overseeing those state taxes after the election.

Aside from the positions that manage the state government, 53 seats that represent our state on a national level are on the ballot as well. All 52 of California’s seats in the House of Representatives are up for reelection. The 92675 zip code is split between 3 representative seats. The last seat is that of the California state senator. 

House District 45 is held by Republican Michelle Steel. Challenging her for the seat is Democrat Jay Chen.

House District 47 is held by Democrat Katie Porter. Challenging her for the seat is Republican Scott Baugh.

House District 49 is held by Democrat Mike Levin. Challenging him for the seat is Republican Brian Maryott.

The Senate seat for California appears twice on the ballot. Once, to complete the end of Vice President Kamala Harris’ term. After she vacated the seat, Democrat Alex Padilla filled in the position.The first box will decide whether or not he finishes the rest of Harris’ term. The next box for the decides whether Alex Padilla or Republican Mark Meuser will definitively take the seat. 

Judicial Offices

Judges interpret the law and set legal precedents in their courts.  15 court seat elections are up to be confirmed by vote, 4 of those seats are on the California Supreme Court, and the other 11 seats are to serve below them on the California Court of Appeals. These judges will rule over the whole judicial process of the State, not the Nation.

Two attorneys, Michele Bell and Peggy Huang are vying to fill seat 30 in the Orange County Superior Court Office.   

School Offices

Sitting California Superintendent Tony Thurmond is up against Lance Christensen; both are registered as nonpartisan. The State Superintendent impacts how public schools, like SJHHS, run and how programs are funded. 

South OC Community College District Governing Board Member for Area 4 is also up for reelection, where sitting trustee Terri Rydell is challenged by San Juan Capistrano Mayor Derek Reeve. The board regulates and oversees the programs in community colleges in their district. Prospective Saddleback students take note this person will influence the course of the school over the next few years.

County Offices

Though Lisa Bartlett had held the position since 2014, this year, she resigned from the Orange County Board of Supervisors to run for the House of Representatives in District 49 against Democrat Mike Levin. 

The Orange County Board of Supervisors supervise the management of OC government.

The 5th district supervisor is the only position to be voted on in this category. Incumbent Democratic Supervisor Katrina Foley and California Senate Republican Minority Leader Patricia Bates are running for the seat. In 2020, Foley was elected to the same position in District 2, but due to redistricting, she is now running for District 5.

Voter Proposed Measures

This category includes the propositions on the ballot.  Propositions 26 through 31 have been long in the works and, if shot down, are likely to remerge next election with some changes. Each proposition allows voters to decide whether or not they wish to support a specific change to how the California government functions. 

Propositions 26 and 27 reduce limitations on sports and online gambling. 

Proposition 28 regards increasing taxes for higher brackets to add funding to school arts programs across the state.

Proposition 29 is a new restriction proposed to require dialysis clinics that treat those with diabetes to have a doctor present alongside regular nurses and clinicians. Though this will decrease the risk of medical error, it also limits the amount of treatment clinics.

Proposition 30 is another tax increase for higher tax brackets to fund various climate initiatives such as the electric vehicle programs.

Proposition 31 would restrict the sale of many tobacco products and tobacco flavor enhancers state-wide. 

Proposition 1 was added recently to amend the state Constitution to retain the rights to an abortion. This comes in response to the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, which had set precedent for women nationwide to maintain the right to an abortion.

For more information, visit the individual candidate websites.