Democratic Secretary of State Shirley Weber won reelection Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Republican Don Wagner, according to The Associated Press.
Weber had 4,973,998 votes, or 64.7%, compared with Wagner’s 2,711,507 votes, or 35.3%, in AP’s latest available update Wednesday morning, Nov. 4. AP estimated that 59% of votes had been counted.
AP has declared Weber the winner. Counting continues, and vote totals remain unofficial until canvassing and certification are complete.
California secretary of state results
The following figures appeared in AP’s Nov. 4 update:
Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
Shirley N. Weber, incumbent — AP winner | Democratic | 4,973,998 | 64.7% |
Don Wagner | Republican | 2,711,507 | 35.3% |
Weber led Wagner by 2,262,491 votes in that update. AP’s estimated share of votes counted is separate from the percentage of precincts reporting.
What the office does
The secretary of state oversees California’s statewide elections, certifies candidates and ballot measures, and publishes voter information guides.
The office also handles business filings, maintains state archives and administers campaign finance disclosure systems, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
Those responsibilities affect voters, businesses and people seeking public records across California.
The candidates
Weber was appointed secretary of state by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, becoming the first Black person to hold the office in California. She won election to a full term in 2022, according to her official biography.
Before becoming secretary of state, Weber served four terms in the state Assembly representing parts of San Diego.
Wagner serves on the Orange County Board of Supervisors and previously served in the state Assembly and as mayor of Irvine, according to his county biography.
Campaign issues
Ballot-counting speed was a central disagreement between the candidates. Wagner criticized California’s lengthy counting process and supported moving up the certification deadline. Weber emphasized accuracy over speed, according to CalMatters’ campaign coverage.
Wagner also supported Proposition 39, which proposed requiring government-issued identification for in-person voting and identifying information for mail ballots, according to CBS News Bay Area.
Where to follow results
Readers can follow additional returns through AP’s California secretary of state results page and the California Secretary of State’s results website.
Mail ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by county election officials by Nov. 10 can still be counted if otherwise valid, according to state ballot-return guidance.
Counties must complete their canvass by Dec. 3. Official certified statewide results will be posted by Dec. 11, according to the state election calendar and voter information guide.
AP’s race call is separate from the official canvassing and certification process.
