Yorba linda, north Orange County voter turnout for 2018 midterm election shows noteworthy gains

Every north Orange County city in the News-Tribune coverage area posted noteworthy gains in voter turnout last month over the midterm election four years ago, with Yorba Linda leading the seven-city field with 77 percent of registered voters casting ballots, up from 49 percent in 2014.

The other numbers: Brea turnout leaped from 48 to 74 percent, Buena Park from 38 to 63 per-cent, Fullerton from 44 to 69 percent, La Habra from 38 to 69 percent, La Palma from 48 to 71 percent and Placentia from 44 to 73 percent (all rounded to nearest percentage).

The Yorba Linda Country Club and Fairlynn county islands turnout for 1,565 registered voters increased from 50 to 76 percent, while the East Placentia county island turnout for 570 voters jumped from 52 to 79 percent.

However, turnout figures still didn't match voter participation in the 2016 presidential ballot, when the percentages ranged from 76 percent in Buena Park to 86 percent in Yorba Linda.

One of the most interesting contests was in the 39^th Congressional District that includes Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia and Yorba Linda, as well as areas in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

Democrat Gil Cisneros, who moved to Yorba Linda about the time he began his candidacy in 2017, replaces Republican Ed Royce, who didn't seek re-election after 26 years in Congress.

Cisneros is the first-ever Democrat to represent Yorba Linda in Congress, although Democrat Richard Hanna represented some north county areas during his six terms in Congress, 1963-1974, when he resigned.

Republican Young Kim defeated Cisneros in Brea with a 53 percent margin, in Placentia and the East Placentia county territory with a 51 percent margin and in Yorba Linda and Country Club and Fairlynn county areas with a 64 percent margin.

Cisneros won Buena Park with 58 percent, Fullerton with 55 percent and La Habra with 56 percent. His overall Orange County tally was 49 percent to Young's 51 percent, but he won districtwide 51.5 to 48.5 percent.

In the governor race, Gavin Newsom won Buena Park (55 percent), Fullerton (53 percent), La Habra (53 percent) and La Palma (51 percent). John Cox won Brea (56 percent), Placentia (54 percent) and Yorba Linda (67 percent).

Diane Feinstein won in all seven cities and countywide for senator, as did Marshall Tuck for state schools superintendent, although Tony Thurmond won the office in statewide balloting.

Yorba Linda opposed all four bond propositions, while Buena Park approved all four. Brea, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma and Placentia approved two and opposed two. The gas tax repeal won in all seven cities, with Yorba Linda recording the highest “yes” vote at 67 percent.

Yorba Linda and Villa Park were the only two of 34 county cities to oppose setting confinement standards for certain farm animals. “No” posted a 2.6 percent margin in Yorba Linda and a 7.9 percent margin in Villa Park.