Clear winners may have already been announced from November’s General Election, but only now has the shakedown of numbers from each of Moonshine Ink’s coverage counties become fully official, from the local level all the way up to the big house.
“Turnout was very high in this election, and probably the highest for Nevada County in recent memory,” wrote Natalie Adona, assistant clerk and recorder in the county’s registrar office, in an email to Moonshine Ink.
The county began mailing ballots to all registered voters in 2018 under the state’s Voter’s Choice Act, and thus receiving a ballot by mail was nothing new, Adona added.
“More voters used the drop boxes than in past elections, which was an important shift in voter behavior that we did not expect, but we adjusted for by increasing our schedule of drop box pick-ups,” she stated.
Placer County saw an increase in turnout compared to the 2016 General Election as well: This year, over 88% of the more than 271,000 voters cast ballots, while four years ago, 84.15% of about 226,000 voters did.
El Dorado and Washoe counties had similar stories when comparing the two General Election years — both registered an uptick of nearly 4% in voter turnout. Nationally, 66.7% of eligible voters participated in this election; in 2016, it was 58.1%.
Listed below are the results of each coverage country for contested races. Candidates who received the most votes are listed first and in a descending order from there. Overall winners are in bold.
* Incumbent
Voter Turnout
- El Dorado County
- Registered voters: 135,554
- Votes cast: 118,133 (87.15%)
- Nevada County
- Registered voters: 75,123
- Votes cast: 65,800 (87.59%)
- Placer County
- Registered voters: 271,112
- Votes cast: 239,315 (88.27%)
- Washoe County
- Registered voters: 304,224
- Votes cast: 252,563 (83.02%)
Federal Office
President and Vice President
Joseph R. Biden / Kamala D. Harris Democrat
Donald J. Trump / Michael R. Pence* Republican
| COUNTY | VOTES CAST | % OF VOTE |
El Dorado County
Trump / Pence 61,838 52.35%
Biden / Harris 51,621 43.70%
Nevada County
Biden / Harris 36,359 56.15%
Trump / Pence 26,779 41.36%
Placer County
Trump / Pence 122,488 52.10%
Biden / Harris 106,869 45.46%
Washoe County
Biden / Harris 128,128 50.82%
Trump / Pence 116,760 46.31%
United States Congress, 1st District
Doug Lamalfa* Republican
Audrey Denney Democrat
| COUNTY | VOTES CAST | % OF VOTE |
Nevada County
Denney 29,658 54.35%
Lamalfa 24,914 45.65%
Placer County
Lamalfa 16,830 60.28%
Denney 11,092 39.72%
United States Congress, 4th District
Tom McClintock* Republican
Brynne Kennedy Democrat
| COUNTY | VOTES CAST | % OF VOTE |
El Dorado County
McClintock 63,710 53.93%
Kennedy 51,597 43.68%
Nevada County
Kennedy 7,508 75.06%
McClintock 2,495 24.94%
Placer County
McClintock 109,379 54.13%
Kennedy 92,678 45.87%
State Legislature
State Senate District 1
Brian Dahle* Republican
Pamela Swartz Democrat
| COUNTY | VOTES CAST | % OF VOTE |
El Dorado County
Dahle 66,928 56.65%
Swartz 46,286 39.18%
Nevada County
Swartz 33,989 53.15%
Dahle 29,964 46.85%
Placer County
Dahle 84,209 59.80%
Swartz 56,614 40.20%
Assembly District 1
Megan Dahle* Republican
Elizabeth Betancourt Democrat
| COUNTY | VOTES CAST | % OF VOTE |
Nevada County
Betancourt 35,367 55.37%
Dahle 28,510 44.63%
Placer County
Dahle 18,344 54.13%
Betancourt 15,544 45.87%
Local Office (in alphabetical order)
| NAME | VOTES CAST | % OF VOTE |
Incline Village General Improvement District (pick three)
Sara Schmitz* 3,311 21.88%
Matthew Dent* 3,175 20.98%
Michaela Tonking 3,004 19.85%
Blane Johnson 2,280 15.06%
Yolanda Knaak 1,692 11.18%
Frank Wright 1,674 11.06%
Nevada County Board of Education
Trustee Area 1 (pick two)
Susan Clarabut (2-year)* 24,576 35.71%
Louise B. Johnson (2-year)* 23,018 33.45%
Peggy Delgado Fava (2-year) 21,225 30.84%
Trustee Area 2 (pick one)
Timothy May (4-year) 22,658 50.88%
Ashley V. Neumann (4-year) 21,870 49.12%
North Tahoe Public Utility District (pick three)
Sarah Coolidge* 1,615 29.42%
Danielle Hughes 1,329 24.21%
Phil Thompson* 1,284 23.39%
Tim Ferrell* 1,262 22.99%
Placer County Board of Education
Area 1 (pick one)
Susan Goto* 57,409 70.99%
Rene Aguilera 23,457 29.01%
Town of Truckee Town Council, full term (pick two)
Courtney Henderson 4,979 31.20%
Lindsay Romack 4,143 25.96%
Dow Costa 2,645 16.57%
Marcy Dolan 1,807 11.32%
Frank J. Bernhard 1,255 7.86%
John “Jack” Forbes 727 4.56%
Nicholas J. Sielchan 403 2.53%
Town of Truckee Town Council, short term (pick one)
Jan Zabriskie 4,544 56.46%
Carla Embertson 3,504 43.54%
Truckee Donner Public Utility District (pick three)
Nevada County
Jeff Bender* 5,107 25.75%
Kimberly Harris 5,150 25.96%
Joseph Aguera* 3,729 18.80%
Bob Ellis* 3,582 18.06%
Cathy Stewart 2,267 11.43%
Placer County
Jeff Bender* 310 25.85%
Kimberly Harris 303 25.27%
Bob Ellis* 215 17.93%
Cathy Stewart 206 17.18%
Joseph Aguera* 165 13.76%
Truckee Donner Recreation & Park District (pick two)
Nevada County
Jason Hansford* 5,319 36.88%
Mark Tanner* 4,765 33.04%
Lori Marquette 4,338 30.08%
Placer County
Mark Tanner* 457 40.02%
Jason Hansford* 356 31.17%
Lori Marquette 329 28.81%
Truckee Tahoe Airport District (pick three)
Nevada County
David Diamond 6,040 29.14%
Rick Stephens* 5,061 24.42%
Ken Aronson 3,352 16.17%
Leigh Golden 3,192 15.40%
Teresa O’Dette* 3,081 14.87%
Placer County
David Diamond 4,109 28.73%
Rick Stephens* 3,563 24.91%
Teresa O’Dette* 2,681 18.74%
Ken Aronson 2,094 14.64%
Leigh Golden 1,856 12.98%
State Propositions
Proposition 14: Authorizes bonds continuing stem cell research
El Dorado County
No 69,710 59.01%
Yes 43,131 36.51%
Nevada County
No 35,067 56.10%
Yes 27,437 43.90%
Placer County
No 136,338 59.87%
Yes 91,367 40.13%
Proposition 15: Increases funding sources for public schools, community colleges, and local government services by changing tax assessment of commercial and industrial property.
El Dorado County
No 78,650 66.58%
Yes 35,969 30.45%
Nevada County
No 37,223 58.49%
Yes 26,420 41.51%
Placer County
No 154,594 66.92%
Yes 76,426 33.08%
Proposition 16: Allows diversity as a factor in public employment, education, and contracting decisions
El Dorado County
No 86,517 73.24%
Yes 26,482 22.42%
Nevada County
No 40,861 65.24%
Yes 21,775 34.76%
Placer County
No 167,632 73.39%
Yes 60,772 26.61%
Proposition 17: Restores right to vote after completion of prison term
El Dorado County
No 67,536 57.17%
Yes 46,861 39.67%
Nevada County
Yes 33,660 52.85%
No 30,025 47.15%
Placer County
No 134,526 58.32%
Yes 96,134 41.68%
Proposition 18: Amends California constitution to permit 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections if they will turn 18 by the next general election and be otherwise eligible to vote.
El Dorado County
No 83,592 70.76%
Yes 31,377 26.56%
Nevada County
No 39,660 62.00%
Yes 24,304 38.00%
Placer County
No 165,191 71.27%
Yes 66,597 28.73%
Proposition 19: Changes certain property tax rules
El Dorado County
No 65,183 55.18%
Yes 46,665 39.50%
Nevada County
No 33,246 53.33%
Yes 29,093 46.67%
Placer County
No 122,937 54.36%
Yes 103,211 45.64%
Proposition 20: Restricts parole for certain offenses currently considered to be non-violent. Authorizes felony sentences for certain offenses currently treated only as misdemeanors.
El Dorado County
No 60,219 50.98%
Yes 50,788 42.99%
Nevada County
No 37,554 60.60%
Yes 24,419 39.40%
Placer County
No 121,661 54.12%
Yes 103,120 45.88%
Proposition 21: Expands local governments’ authority to enact rent control
El Dorado County
No 85,020 71.97%
Yes 27,222 23.04%
Nevada County
No 43,103 68.96%
Yes 19,399 31.04%
Placer County
No 168,911 74.35%
Yes 58,269 25.65%
Proposition 22: Exempts app-based transportation and delivery companies from providing employee benefits to certain drivers.
El Dorado County
Yes 76,060 64.39%
No 36,838 31.18%
Nevada County
Yes 37,767 60.25%
No 24,917 39.75%
Placer County
Yes 158,813 69.33%
No 70,256 30.67%
Proposition 23: Establishes state requirements for kidney dialysis clinics. Requires on-site medical professional.
El Dorado County
No 83,829 70.96%
Yes 28,619 24.23%
Nevada County
No 45,142 72.46%
Yes 17,155 27.54%
Placer County
No 170,430 74.99%
Yes 56,847 25.01%
Proposition 24: Amends consumer privacy laws
El Dorado County
No 61,371 51.95%
Yes 50,356 42.63%
Nevada County
No 33,670 54.05%
Yes 28,627 45.95%
Placer County
No 117,568 52.24%
Yes 107,471 47.76%
Proposition 25: Referendum on law that replaced money bail with system based on public safety and flight risk
El Dorado County
No 75,236 63.69%
Yes 35,841 30.34%
Nevada County
No 35,728 57.68%
Yes 26,218 42.32%
Placer County
No 149,185 66.60%
Yes 74,832 33.40%
Local Measures
El Dorado County
Measure N: Shall an amendment to the bylaws of the Hickok Road Community Services District to increase the maximum annual Special Tax by $200 per parcel per year, such that the total Special Tax could increase from $200 to $400 per parcel per year, be adopted? The maximum resulting gain could increase from $12,400 to $24,800 per year. The increase would be in effect until amended or the board deems additional funds are no longer required to maintain, upgrade, or improve district roads.
Yes 46 50.00%
No 41 44.57%
Measure P: Shall the measure increasing the Cameron Park Airport District annual special tax from $300 to $1,200 per parcel for an unlimited duration for airport maintenance, operations, and residential street maintenance, increasing current total annual revenue of $39,300 to $157,600 commencing fiscal year 2021/2022, be adopted?
Yes 134 61.47%
No 80 36.70%
Measure Q: Shall the measure providing for an annual special tax of $600.00 on each parcel of real property for an unlimited duration be levied within the Mortara Circle Community Services District, which would be an increase to the current special tax of $350.00 per year, to be used only for road improvement and maintenance services and generating an annual revenue of $18,600.00, commencing fiscal year 2021/2022, be adopted?
No 46 74.19%
Yes 14 22.58%
Measure R: Shall the office of City Treasurer be appointed with the first appointment to be made upon the (i) expiration of the term of office of the person elected to serve as City Treasurer at the November 3, 2020, General Municipal Election; or (ii) the office becoming vacant, whichever occurs first?
Yes 2,860 51.61%
No 1,757 31.70%
Measure S: Shall the measure to maintain fire protection, 9-1-1 emergency response, public safety, snow removal; reduce wildfire threats; prevent lake pollution; repair streets/potholes, keep public areas safe/clean; retain local jobs/businesses; protect long-term financial stability; provide other City services by establishing a 1¢ transactions/use (“sales”) tax providing approximately $5,400,000 annually until ended by voters, requiring audits, all funds only for South Lake Tahoe, be adopted?
Yes 5,804 60.04%
No 3,303 34.17%
Nevada County
Measure K: Whether or not to increase the current Transient Occupancy Tax from a rate of 10% to 12%, applying only to hotel and short-term rental overnight guests.
Yes 8,199 84.49%
No 1,505 15.51%
Placer County
Measure F: Shall Placer County Code Article 3.08 governing the civil service system for employees of the county be amended so that the civil service commission will serve as a hearing body for employee grievances, disciplinary appeals, and such other matters for which a hearing is provided, but that the county’s human resources department shall perform all other duties beyond those hearings?
Yes 137,320 68.31%
No 63,700 31.69%
Measure G: Shall Article V, Section 503 of the Placer County charter be amended to give the county executive officer final authority for the appointment, suspension and removal of appointive department heads other than county counsel?
No 109,787 54.64%
Yes 91,131 45.36%
Measure H: Shall Article VI, Section 608 of the Placer County charter be amended to remove bid threshold requirements in the charter that contradict with state law?
Yes 130,115 66.08%
No 66,794 33.92%
Measure I: Shall Article IV, Section 403 of the Placer County charter be amended to require that an elected official of the county must be a resident of the county for thirty (30) days prior to filing nomination papers, and must maintain residency within the county during their entire term?
Yes 189,252 90.25%
No 20,443 9.75%
