Liccardo wins, Mullin coasts to easy victory

While results in his own race are looking positive, Liccardo acknowledged concerns around national election night results for Democrats. 

“You could say it’s a swirl of mixed emotions — relieved that results seem to be heading in a good direction in my own race, but feeling dismay about the direction of this country,” he said. “I’m very blessed to work with a great team.” 

Mullin successfully defended his seat against Republican housing policy advisor Anna Kramer, garnering 73.4% of the vote compared to Kramer’s 26.6%, according to U.S. Secretary of State semiofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.

He’s honored to be going back to the House of Representatives for a second term and will continue to focus on issues involving the economy, climate and artificial intelligence and workforce development, Mullin said. 

“I am so very grateful the voters are going to give me a second term,” he said. “I want to continue to deliver for the district and bring dollars home.” 

With the Senate projected for Republican control and the potential for a second Trump presidency looming, Mullin said he’s remaining optimistic that Democrats will be able to retain control of the House of Representatives. 

“I think at this point, it’s a necessity that Democrats take control of the U.S. House,” he said. “[To defend] the small d-democratic institutions that have made the American republic what it is. A second Trump presidency challenges all of those.” 

San Mateo County, a Democratic stronghold, sent incumbent Democratic state representatives back to the California Assembly and Senate by comfortable margins. 

State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, won the 13th District with 72.6% against Republican Alexander Glew, an engineer, according to U.S. Secretary of State semiofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.

“I love this job and I love the work I’ve been able to do and my team, and I’m excited to get back up there,” Becker said. 

Incumbent Assemblymember Marc Berman, D-Palo Alto, is getting sent back to the District 23 state Assembly seat with 61.9% of the vote after he was challenged by Palo Alto Councilmember Lydia Kou, another Democrat. 

Kou was outspoken against state housing reforms that streamline development, while Berman maintained the growing severity of the housing affordability crisis has created an environment in which constituents were supportive of those projects. 

Like Mullin, Berman expressed excitement with the results of his own race while weighing in on the dark possibilities a second Trump presidency could bring. 

“I’m having deja vu to the first time I got elected to the Assembly in 2016. Still holding out hope, but it doesn’t look great,” he said. “If Trump does get elected, we dealt with this for four years. … California will once again have to serve as the tip of the spear of resistance against his insane policies.” 

Incumbent Assemblymember Diane Papan, D-San Mateo, won her seat by 74.1% against Republican and small business owner Mark Gilham in the District 21 race, according to U.S. Secretary of State semiofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. It’s an honor to serve the district, she emphasized, also expressing optimism for Proposition 4 — a state bond for climate change funding that she worked on throughout her previous tenure. 

“It can’t come soon enough, really. I’m delighted that residents of California are willing to have the foresight to invest in climate resilience,” she said. 

North County residents will continue to be represented by incumbent state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, who beat Republican challenger and nurse Yvette Corkrean with 77% of the vote for the 11th District, according to U.S. Secretary of State semiofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, No. 5.

Also in North County, Democrat San Francisco Supervisor Catherine Stefani beat civil rights educator David Lee in the District 19 state Assembly race with 61.8% of the vote, according to U.S. Secretary of State semiofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Semiofficial election results will be updated as counting proceeds. All mail ballots postmarked from Nov. 5 and received by Nov. 12 will be accepted, and about 40% are received after Election Day, according to the Elections Office.

Further results will be posted 4:30 p.m. Nov. 7, Nov. 8, Nov. 11, Nov. 13, Nov. 15, Nov. 18, Nov. 20 and Nov. 22. The election is to be certified Dec. 5, according to the Elections Office.