California: Election Day

Redistricting reform measure Proposition 11 teetered between pass and fail early Wednesday, with 50.9 percent in favor and 49.1 percent opposed, with 78.1 percent of the precincts counted.

Paul Hefner, a spokesman for the anti-11 group Citizens for Accountability, said he was encouraged that early returns showed the measure passing 55-45, then the numbers slowly moved toward more opposition as the night went on.

"I think we just have to watch and see how it turns out," he said.

SACRAMENTO -- As in the presidential race nationally, voters opted for change over experience Tuesday in voting for first-time candidate Kevin Johnson over two-term Mayor Heather Fargo.

Johnson led Fargo 57.1 percent to 42.3 percent with 97 percent of precincts counted early Wednesday, giving an acceptance speech at 11 p.m. before getting an official concession from Fargo.

Less than an hour after polls closed, opponents of alternative energy measure Proposition 10 claimed victory, saying voters had not been fooled by a scheme to enrich billionaire T. Boone Pickens.

"Proposition 10 is the ultimate example of a wealthy special interest abusing the ballot initiative process to enrich itself," said Richard Holober, the No on 10 spokesman and executive director of the Consumer Federation of California.

Energy was high in the final hours of Bill Durston's uphill push to take the 3rd Congressional District from U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River).

Durston campaign spokesperson Pat McConahay said her election office was besieged by volunteers Tuesday who wanted to make get-out-the-vote calls for the Democrat.

"We're also calling brand-new voters out here, letting them know that they need to support not just Obama, but the local candidate Bill Durston," she said.