In Pictures | Voter turnout, close races and high anxiety on election night in SoCal

By Times Staff

Nov. 7, 2018 1:10 PM PT

Few can argue with California Democrats that their sweeping victories on Tuesday are a clear mandate to set in place an agenda for the state that will last well into the next decade. Less clear, though, is what those marching orders should be — and whether voters will embrace the full panoply of demands that have lurched the state’s dominant party leftward since the election of President Trump.

No one will face that task more directly than Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. The 51-year old Democrat, who won a resounding victory over Republican challenger John Cox, will preside not only over the nation’s largest economy, but as leader of America’s most fierce resistance to Trump and the nationalist shift of mainstream GOP politics.

New man in Sacramento

Gavin Newsom won a decisive victory for governor Tuesday night, placing the risk-taking liberal at the center of the resistance to President Trump at a critical moment for California.

Newsom is expected to shift state politics and policy even further to the left after eight years of Gov. Jerry Brown, a pragmatic Democrat known for his fiscal restraint and distaste for expensive new social programs.

Left, the crowd at the Gavin Newsom election night party cheers as results come in for democratic races. Right, GOP candidate John Cox held a short press conference in downtown San Diego on election night before returns started coming in. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times; Howard Lipin / San Diego-Union-Tribune)

California's 48th congressional district

Clockwise from top left; Harley Rouda takes a selfie with supporters at an election party at the Marriott Hotel in Newport Beach; Dana Rohrbacher speaks to members of the media at Skosh Monahan's Bar in Costa Mesa; Harley Rouda supporters wait for early returns at an election party in Newport Beach; People wait in line as they check to see if they're on the guest list at the election night watch party for Dana Rohrbacher. (Wally Skalij / Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

In coastal Orange County’s 48th Congressional District, Rep. DanaRohrabacher was more than 6,000 votes behind his Democratic challenger Harley Rouda. The tally Wednesday morning had Rouda leading, 50.7% to 49.3%.

Rohrabacher is facing his toughest reelection battle of his 30 years in Congress.

California's 45th congressional district

Left, Rep. Mimi Walters talks with reporters at her Irvine campaign headquarters as early election returns were coming in. Right, Katie Porter poses for pictures with supporters at the Irvine Hilton on election night. (Lee Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The lone Republican incumbent who showed strong signs of survival was Rep. Mimi Walters, who was leading her Democratic opponent Katie Porter, 51.7% to 48.3% in the 45th Congressional District that includes the Irvine area.

“You guys, we’re looking good,” she told supporters at a late-night gathering in Irvine. “I really think it’s going to be tough for her to beat me at this point.”

California's 39th congressional district

Top, Young Kim, the GOP candidate for California's 39th congressional district, greets supporters alongside Rep. Ed Royce, right, on election night at the STC Center in Rowland Heights.Left, Young Kim finishes her speech to supporters on election night. Right, Gil Cisneros speaks to his supporters as results come in during his watch party at the Casa Bonita Event Center in Fullerton. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times; Nicholas Agro / For the Times)

Young Kim, the Republican vying for the seat of retiring Rep. Ed Royce of Fullerton in the 39th Congressional District. She held a lead over Democrat Gil Cisneros, 51.3% to 48.7%.

California's 25th congressional district

Top, Katie Hill speaks to supporters at campaign night party at The Canyon in Santa Clarita. Left, Supporters cheers congressional candidate Katie Hill at campaign night party at The Canyon in Santa Clarita. Right, Benjamin Welborn holds a flag while waiting for Hill to speak on election night. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Katie Hill held the lead over Republican incumbent Steve Knight in the 25th Congressional District.

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Hill had received 83,662 votes to Knight's 79,545 with provisional and mail-in ballots still to be counted.

New Sheriff in town?

left, Alex Villanueva, challenger for Los Angeles County Sheriff, shown with Elizabeth Yuson, of Los Angeles, on election night at Cities Restaurant in Los Angeles. Right, Sheriff Jim McDonnell, center, with Alexandra Kazarian, left, and Felipe Plascencia, on election night at the JW Marriott in Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Sheriff Jim McDonnell on Wednesday was in jeopardy of being ousted by voters as challenger Alex Villanueva took a razor-thin lead in the race to lead the sprawling, scandal-tainted law enforcement agency.

With votes still being counted, the outcome of the race is still in question. But the fact that McDonnell is fighting for his political life has stunned the Los Angeles political establishment and raised questions about future reforms at the department.

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