Most East Bay Cities Rejected Bridge Toll Hike, But Their Politicians Supported It

Bridge tolls on seven Bay Area bridges will increase by one dollar on January 1, 2019.  Voters in the vast majority of East Bay cities and every Solano County city opposed the bridge toll hikes in the Regional Measure 3 (RM3) election in June 2018.  RM3 diverts much of the revenue that East Bay and Solano drivers will pay to places like Santa Clara County, where few drivers use toll bridges.  The working class in the East Bay and Solano County will pay for projects in the wealthy Silicon Valley.  Nevertheless, many East Bay and Solano County politicians voted against their constituents' interests and supported RM3.

Alameda County: Although Alameda County voted in favor of RM3, voters in just six of the county's fourteen cities supported RM3.   Voters in seven Alameda County cities opposed RM3.  The six cities supporting RM3 are all clustered in the northern portion of the county: Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont and Alameda.  RM3 lost in all five southern Alameda County cities: San Leandro, Hayward, Union City, Newark and Fremont.  RM3 also lost in all three eastern Alameda County cities (Livermore/Amador Valley): Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore.  A majority of the county's five supervisorial districts voted no on RM3.

Contra Costa County: RM3 lost resoundingly in Contra Costa County.  It lost in all four of the county's subregions: West County, Central County, San Ramon Valley and East County.  Voters rejected RM3 in fourteen of the county's nineteen cities, including Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Clayton, Danville, San Ramon, Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood.  Just five Contra Costa County cities supported RM3: El Cerrito, Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette and Walnut Creek.

Solano County: Voters throughout Solano County thoroughly and wholeheartedly rejected RM3.  Countywide, RM3 won just 30 percent Yes, with a resounding 70 percent voting No.  RM3 lost in every city and in every supervisorial district.  RM3 won less than one-third of the vote in every jurisdiction.  In Vallejo, RM3's strongest city, it won just 32.5 percent Yes votes.  Yet, as discussed before, many Solano County politicians disavowed their voters' wishes and supported the bridge toll increase.

East Bay and Solano County Politicians Who Endorsed RM3 Bridge Toll Increase Whose Constituents Voted No:

The following East Bay and Solano County politicians endorsed RM3, but their constituents voted NO:

Congressman Mike Thompson: YES on higher bridge tolls; all cities in Solano County and Contra Costa County in his district voted NO.  Benicia: 75% NO. Hercules: 63% NO. Martinez (citywide): 59% NO.  Pinole: 61% NO. Vallejo: 68% NO.

Congressman Eric Swalwell: YES on higher bridge tolls; his Alameda County constituents voted 57% NO.  Voters in Dublin, his hometown, voted 55% NO.  Every city in his congressional district rejected higher bridge tolls.

Congressman Ro Khanna: YES on higher bridge tolls; his Alameda County constituents voted 57% NO.

State Senator Bill Dodd: YES on higher bridge tolls; the voters of his district rejected RM3 with a more than 60% NO vote. His Solano County constituents voted 70% NO.  RM3 lost in every city in Solano County and every city in Contra Costa that is in his district.  RM3 lost in Rohnert Park in Sonoma County with 55% NO.  RM3 lost in American Canyon in Napa County with 63% NO.

State Senator Bob Wieckowski: YES on higher bridge tolls; the voters of his district rejected RM 3 with a 51% NO vote.  His Alameda County constituents voted 57% NO.  RM3 lost in all Alameda County cities in his district.  Voters in his hometown of Fremont voted 56% NO.

Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry: YES on higher bridge tolls; the voters of her district rejected RM3 with a 52% NO vote. Her Solano County constituents voted 70% NO and her Sonoma County constituents voted 50.2% NO.

Assemblymember Tony Thurmond: YES on higher bridge tolls; voters in his hometown (Richmond) voted 52% NO.  RM3 also lost in the communities of San Pablo, Pinole, El Sobrante and Hercules in his district.

Assemblyman Bill Quirk: YES on higher bridge tolls; his constituents voted 57% NO.  RM3 lost in all cities in his district.  Voters in Hayward, his hometown, voted 57% NO.

Assemblyman Kansen Chu: YES on higher bridge tolls; his Alameda County constituents voted 57% NO.

Alameda County Local Elected Officials Who Endorsed RM3 Whose Constituents Voted NO:

Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty: YES on higher bridge tolls; his constituents voted 57% NO.  RM3 lost in every city in Supervisor Haggerty's district.

Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle: YES on higher bridge tolls; his constituents voted 58% NO.

Dublin Councilmember Arun Goel: YES on higher bridge tolls; Dublin voted 55% NO.

Fremont Vice Mayor Rick Jones: YES on higher bridge tolls; Fremont voted 56% NO.
Fremont Councilmember Vinnie Bacon: Fremont voted 56% NO.
Fremont Councilmember David Bonaccorsi: Fremont voted 56% NO.

Hayward Councilmember Elisa Marquez: YES on higher bridge tolls; Hayward voted 57% NO.
Hayward Councilmember Marvin Peixoto: Hayward voted 57% NO.

Hayward Councilmember Mark Salinas: Hayward voted 57% NO.

Hayward Councilmember Francisco Zermeno: Hayward voted 57% NO.

Union City Councilmember Emily Duncan: YES on higher bridge tolls; Union City voted 57% NO.

Contra Costa County Local Elected Officials Who Endorsed RM3 Whose Constituents Voted NO:

Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis: YES on higher bridge tolls; every city in her district voted NO. Oakley, her hometown, voted 70% NO (the strongest NO vote among East Bay cities).

Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia: YES on higher bridge tolls; three of the four cities in his district voted NO.  Richmond voted 52% NO.

Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover: YES on higher bridge tolls; every city in his district voted NO.  Pittsburg, his hometown, voted 61% NO.

Antioch Councilmember Tony Tiscareno: YES on higher bridge tolls; Antioch voted 64% NO.

Antioch Councilmember Monica Wilson: YES on higher bridge tolls; Antioch voted 64% NO.

 
Brentwood Mayor Robert Taylor: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Brentwood voted 62% NO.
 
Clayton Councilmember Julie Pierce: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Clayton voted 61% NO.

Concord Councilmember Carlyn Obringer: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Concord voted 60% NO.

Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Danville voted 56% NO.

Hercules Mayor Chris Kelley: YES on higher bridge tolls; Hercules voted 63% NO.
Hercules Councilmember Gerard Boulanger; Hercules voted 63% NO.
Hercules Councilmember Roland Esquivas; Hercules voted 63% NO.
Hercules Councilmember Myrna De Vera; Hercules voted 63% NO.

Martinez Mayor Rob Schroeder: YES on higher bridge tolls; Martinez voted 59% NO.
Martinez Councilmember Noralea Gipner: YES on higher bridge tolls; Martinez voted 59% NO.
Martinez Councilmember Mark Ross: YES on higher bridge tolls; Martinez voted 59% NO.

Pittsburg Mayor "Pete" Longmire: YES on higher bridge tolls; Pittsburg voted 61% NO.
Pittsburg Vice Mayor Salvatore Evola: YES on higher bridge tolls; Pittsburg voted 61% NO.

Pinole Councilmember Tim Banuelos: YES on higher bridge tolls; Pinole voted 61% NO.

Pleasant Hill Councilmember Michael Harris: YES on higher bridge tolls; Pleasant Hill voted 56% NO.
Pleasant Hill Councilmember Matt Rinn: YES on higher bridge tolls; Pleasant Hill voted 56% NO.

Richmond Mayor Tom Butt: YES on higher bridge tolls; Richmond voted 52% NO.
Richmond Councilmember Jael Myrick: YES on higher bridge tolls; Richmond voted 52% NO.
Richmond Council Candidate Cesar Zepeda, President West County Democratic Club; Richmond voted 52% NO.

San Pablo Mayor Genoveva Calloway: YES on higher bridge tolls; San Pablo voted 58% NO.

San Ramon Councilmember David Hudson: YES on higher bridge tolls; San Ramon voted 57% NO.
San Ramon Councilmember Philip O’Loane: YES on higher bridge tolls; San Ramon voted 57% NO.

Napa County Local Elected Officials Who Endorsed RM3 Whose Constituents Voted NO:

Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza: YES on higher bridge tolls; his constituents voted 51% NO.

Napa County Supervisor Belia Ramos: YES on higher bridge tolls; her constituents voted 54% NO.

Napa County Supervisor, Ryan Gregory: YES on higher bridge tolls; his constituents voted 51% NO.

American Canyon Mayor Leon Garcia: YES on higher bridge tolls; his constituents voted 63% NO.

American Canyon Councilmember Mark Joseph: YES on higher bridge tolls; his constituents voted 63% NO.

American Canyon Councilmember David Oro: YES on higher bridge tolls; his constituents voted 63% NO.

Solano County Local Elected Officials Who Endorsed RM3 Whose Constituents Voted NO:

Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan: YES on higher bridge tolls; her district voted 66% NO.

Solano County Supervisor Jim Spering: YES on higher bridge tolls; his district voted 69% NO.

Solano County Supervisor John Vasquez: YES on higher bridge tolls; his district voted 69% NO.

Fairfield Councilmember Rick Vaccaro: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Fairfield voted 69% NO.

Suisun City Mayor Pete Sanchez: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Suisun City voted 71% NO.

Vallejo Councilmember Pippin Dew-Costa: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Vallejo voted 68% NO.

Sonoma County Local Elected Officials Who Endorsed RM3 Whose Constituents Voted NO:

Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore: YES on higher bridge tolls; his district voted 51% NO.

Cloverdale Council Vice Chair Carol Russell: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Cloverdale voted 51% NO.

Rohnert Park Councilmember Gina Belforte: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Rohnert Park voted 55% NO.

Rohnert Park Councilmember Jake Mackenzie: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Rohnert Park voted 55% NO.

Windsor Mayor Bruce Okrepkie: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Windsor voted 54% NO.

Windsor Councilmember Debora Fudge, SMART Chair: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Windsor voted 54% NO.

Windsor Councilmember Sam Salmon: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Windsor voted 54% NO.

Windsor Councilmember Mark Milan: YES on higher bridge tolls; the people of Windsor voted 54% NO.

2018 Election: California Coast is Cleared ... of Congressional Republicans: First Time Since 1885

Montara Beach on San Mateo County coast, 2018 (CalPolitiCal photo)

For the first time in 134 years, the California coast will be cleared of Republican congress members.  When the 116^th Congress convenes in January 2019, none of the fifteen California congressional districts that border the Pacific Ocean will be occupied by a Republican.  This will be due to the defeat Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Orange County) by Democrat Harley Rouda and the replacement of Darrell Issa (R-San Diego County) with Democrat Mike Levin.  Congressmen Rohrabacher and Issa represented districts on the Orange and San Diego county coastlines.

The California coast extends 840 miles (1,350 km) from Oregon to Mexico.  The last time that Democrats occupied all California congressional districts on the Pacific Coast was during the 48^th Congress, 1883 to 1885.  There were then six congressional districts in California, five of which touched the Pacific Ocean.  All California members of the U.S. House of Representatives were Democrats.  Other than the 116^th Congress to be seated in 2019, that was the only Congress since the outbreak of the American Civil War (1861-65) in which Democrats occupied every district over the entire length of the California coast.

Democrats came close to representing the entire California coastline during the 75^th Congress (1937-39), the high-water mark of Democratic dominance of Congress during Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal era.  California then had ten congressional districts (out of twenty statewide) that bordered the Pacific Ocean.  Democrats occupied eight of those seats, covering the entire California coast north and south of San Francisco.  However, San Francisco itself was represented by Franck Havenner, then a Progressive party member, and Richard Welch, a Republican.  Both San Francisco districts then apparently bordered the Pacific Ocean.

California congressional district map, 2013-23 (source: U.S. Geological Survey)

As the 116^th Congress begins in 2019, the fewest Republicans will be sitting in the California House delegation since the end of World War II, more than 70 years ago.  There will be just seven California House Republicans in January 2019.  The last time that so few Republicans sat in the California U.S. House delegation was during the 79^th Congress (1945-47), which had also had seven California Republicans (out of the state's then-23 seats). 

The 116^th Congress will have a mere three southern California Republicans (districts that are entirely or predominately south of the northern border of Los Angeles County).  The last Congress that had as many or fewer southern California Republican members was the 79^th Congress (1945-47), which also had three southern California Republican members.  In the 106th Congress (1999-2001), southern California sent 17 Republicans to Congress; the region has lost fourteen Republican congressional seats, a staggering 82 percent decline, over the past twenty years.

The 45 California Democratic members of the 116^th Congress also will set a new record for the largest number of members of one party from a single state.  No other state can possibly topple this record for the foreseeable future because the next largest U.S. House delegation is from Texas (36 members).  When the 116^th Congress convenes in 2019, Texas will have 23 Republicans and 13 Democrats.  Even if Texas were to elect 100 percent Republicans or 100 percent Democrats in 2020, it would still fall short of California’s “46 members from one party” benchmark set in the 2018 congressional election.

The 116^th Congress also will be a 134-year low-water mark for California House Republicans by another measure.  Republicans will occupy just 13 percent of California’s 53 congressional seats.  This is lower than the 20 percent (four seats out of twenty total) that California Republicans filled during the 75^th Congress (1937-39) at the height of FDR’s New Deal.  The only other Congress since the outbreak of the American Civil War (1861) in which California Republicans occupied a lower percentage of congressional seats was during the 48^th Congress (1883-85), when California Republicans filled zero of the state’s six seats.

[Article revised on November 17, 2018 to reflect latest election returns.]