Voters Reject Props 4 and 39 as Wiener Endorses Haney for Senate

Statewide election procedure reforms, a high-profile legislative succession contest, and shifting local coalition dynamics are defining California's post-election landscape. Across California, voters weighed three major constitutional and statutory ballot measures governing elections and voting, rejecting Propositions 4 and 39 while narrowly approving Proposition 5.

Proposition 4 failed with 52% voting against and 48% in favor, leaving intact California's 1988 ban on using public funds for candidate campaigns (which currently exempts 5 charter municipalities, including San Francisco). Proponents Lorrel Plimier of the League of Women Voters of California, Catherine Kennedy of the California Nurses Association, and Senator Tom Umberg argued public financing would counter wealthy donors, whereas opponents Robert Gutierrez of the California Taxpayers Association, Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and former Fair Political Practices Commission Chair Dan Schnur noted that more than 60 candidates ran for governor in June and warned of unlimited taxpayer subsidies. By contrast, Proposition 5—inspired by the 2021 recall election targeting Governor Gavin Newsom and backed by Common Cause—led narrowly by 50.3% to 49.7%, reforming state recalls so vacancies are filled by special election or appointment rather than a simultaneous replacement vote, alongside Proposition 3's passage continuing a tax on the top 2% of earners. Meanwhile, voters defeated Proposition 39 by 58.6% to 41.4%, rejecting a mandate requiring in-person government identification and the last 4 digits of Social Security numbers on mail-in ballots after opponents raised $34.5 million against $36.6 million from supporters including Uline Chief Executive Officer Richard Uihlein.

In legislative politics, Congressman-elect Scott Wiener endorsed 17th Assembly District Representative Matt Haney on Thursday to succeed him in the 11th California Senate District ahead of a special election early next year to fill the final 2 years of Wiener's term. Haney, who has secured endorsements from more than 70 members of the Legislature including Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani, faces Democratic activist Christine Pelosi, who entered the race in November 2025 after her mother, Representative Nancy Pelosi, announced her retirement. The race unfolds as the Fair Political Practices Commission continues 2 probes opened in July 2024 and August 2025 examining Haney's 2022 and 2024 campaign expenditures—including $65,000 on 49ers tickets since early 2023 ($75,000 total on sports and shows), a ballot measure committee that raised $119,000 while spending under $19,000 on ads, and reporting of a $5,000 holiday toy drive donation.

At the municipal level, moderates notched decisive victories in San Francisco even as progressives gained ground nationally. Following Connie Chan's concession to Wiener and the trailing performance of Democratic Socialists of America-backed Proposition I (despite 500 volunteers mobilized by organizer Tuesday Thornton), 3 GrowSF-endorsed candidates led the 8-person race for 3 Board of Education seats, with Phil Kim declared a winner. While Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club Co-President AjaiNicole Duncan and former Progressive Caucus Chair Amar Shergill called for movement renewal, consultant Daniel Anderson pointed to District 8 Supervisor-elect Gary McCoy—who prevailed after moderate opponent Manny Yekutiel exited on October 1—and statewide leads by former Supervisor Jane Kim and Central Valley winner Randy Villegas as bright spots.