Both presidential candidates spent Monday galvanizing their voter base.
AP: "Closing out a wildly unpredictable White House race, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump blitzed through battleground states Monday in a final bid to energize supporters. Clinton, backed by an emotional appeal from Barack Obama, urged voters to embrace a “hopeful, inclusive, bighearted America,” while Trump vowed to “beat the corrupt system."
"The candidates rallied voters late into the night, a frenzied end to a bitter election year that has laid bare the nation’s deep economic and cultural divides. Clinton and Trump were both nostalgic at times, looking back fondly at a campaign that has put each on the brink of the presidency."
"Clinton campaigned with confidence, buoyed by FBI Director James Comey’s announcement Sunday that he would not recommend criminal charges against her following a new email review. The FBI inquiry had sapped a surging Clinton momentum at a crucial moment in the race, though she still heads into Election Day with multiple paths to the 270 Electoral College votes needed to become the nation’s first female president."
READ MORE related to Beltway: On election eve, California Bernie Sanders supporters still 'feel the Bern' -- CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO with Sacramento Bee; Supporters of Trump, Clinton and Sanders heard different messages over the past 18 months -- KEITH SHARON with L.A. Daily News; Obamas combine forces with the Clintons to fend off Trump -- GABRIEL DEBENEDETTI with Politico; Record-breaking early voting fuels Democratic optimism -- KYLE CHENEY with Politico
Meanwhile, Capitol Weekly's poll of absentee voters who have already cast their ballots is in -- and the results are surprising.
JONATHAN BROWN in Capitol Weekly: "What a year it has been for polling-related news in California – please try to contain your excitement."
"The venerable Field Poll went online (shades of Dylan Goes Electric)."
"Meanwhile, USC and the LA Times combined to produce the most, um, “noteworthy” poll of the cycle (shades of Dewey Defeats Truman), which polling Director Dan Schnur posted on twitter “is wrong, but still gives us important info…”
The most common way of reaching a voter is with a mailer -- but just how effective were they this year in capturing people's attention?
CHRISTINE MAI-DUC and ALLISON WISK with LAT: "For Californians, prying an inches-thick stack of political ads from a mail slot is a familiar-but-vexing ritual, a routine repeated every 24 hours in the waning days of an election cycle. And for those new to the state who arrive in an election year, their initiation into the tradition seems to begin in earnest just as boxes are unpacked, as campaigns of all sizes and stripes vie for their attention."
"While rifling through — and disposing of — political mailers can represent little more than a daily inconvenience, in some races, particularly down-ballot match-ups, these ads are often the primary way a campaign communicates with voters. When it comes to articulating their stances on the issues, candidates without the benefit of the national stage may struggle to get the word out about their campaigns and turn to direct mail to do the job."
"But it can backfire and turn off voters, said Peggy Scholz, a Pasadena registered nurse who was among several readers who contacted The Times about the flood of ads they received. The Times put out a call to readers,asking them to send in photos of mailers sent to them during the primary or general election."
What does the 2016 election mean for the Bay Area once the final votes are in?
MATTHEW ARTZ with Mercury News: "After more than 500 days on the campaign trail, maybe the ugliest race for the White House in American history is mercifully over."
"But as voters head to the polls across the country and Bay Area on Tuesday, political experts also will be focusing on broader, longer-lasting themes that transcend the chorus of “Crooked Hillary” and “Groper in Chief.”
"On Decision Day, they will be watching for whether a long-anticipated Latino wave will wash over the country’s electorate, elevating Hillary Clinton and Democrats’ push to control the Senate. But even if that happens, could the impact diminish after the top of the ticket where the distrust with Republican billionaire Donald Trump ends?"
Bernie Sanders made his way up and down California in strong support of Proposition 61, urging voters to choose 'yes' to control drug costs.
CHRISTINE MAI-DUC and SOPHIA BOLLAG with LAT: "Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders held rallies in Los Angeles and Sacramento on Monday to urge voters to support Proposition 61, the California pharmaceutical drug-pricing initiative."
"Hundreds turned out to see the former Democratic presidential candidate criticize drug companies and encourage supporters to combat the influence of money in politics."
"Proposition 61 would limit state government spending on prescription drugs to the prices paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Because the VA typically negotiates the lowest prices for prescription drugs of any public or private entity, the measure’s supporters say they hope to curb rising drug costs paid by the state."
READ MORE related to The Ballot: Voters asked to decide fate of new Burbank airport terminal -- SHARON MCNARY with KPCC; These marijuana investors are ready to spend millions if California passes Prop. 64 -- KEVIN SMITH with San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Education initiatives saw hardly any opposition on this year's ballot.
LOUIS FREEDBERG and ASHLEY HOPKINSON with EdSource: "Campaign spending on the three education-related initiatives on the Nov. 8 ballot — Propositions 51, 55 and 58 — has been remarkably one-sided."
"Together, $75.8 million has been spent to get the three initiatives passed, according to figures published by the California Secretary of State through Nov. 6. By contrast, a little more than $6,000 has been spent to oppose these initiatives."
"The largest amount by far — $58.6 million — has gone to persuade voters to approve Prop. 55, the initiative that will maintain additional taxes on high-income earners in California to raise money for schools and community colleges and the state’s Medi-Cal program. Some of the funds would also go into the state’s reserve, or “rainy day fund,” to protect against future downturns."
READ MORE related to Education: Districts grapple with superintendent turnover along with new reforms -- LOUIS FREEDBERG and MICHAEL COLLIER with EdSource; New campaign promotes power of teachers to reduce stress of traumatized students -- JANE MEREDITH ADAMS with EdSource
The U.S. Senate candidates also spent their Monday reaching out to supporters.
PHIL WILLON with LAT: "California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris spent the final day before election day hop-scotching from San Diego to Los Angeles, urging supporters to go to the polls to back down-ballot Democrats in tight races."
"Harris started Monday morning at UC San Diego with retired Marine Col. Doug Applegate, who Democrats hope will have enough support to knock offGOP Rep. Darrell Issa, one of the Obama administration's most vociferous critics."
"Applegate told the crowd, a mix of students, union workers and party loyalists, one of the major reasons that Issa was on the ropes was because of the “racism, bigotry and misogyny” of Donald Trump, whom Issa backs."
READ MORE related to U.S. Senate Race: Rep. Loretta Sanchez and some of her California colleagues make one last group pitch -- JAVIER PANZAR with LAT; U.S. Senate race to make history, no matter the victor -- MARY PLUMMER with KPCC
Some cities are mulling over a tax for video-streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu.
GEORGE AVALOS with Mercury News: "For television viewers who “cut the cord” and moved over to streaming video services, the cable companies aren’t the only ones missing your money."
"Turns out your hometown is too — and it might be coming for its cut."
"Cities throughout California — including at least a dozen in the Bay Area — are considering adopting a streaming video tax to make up for revenue lost by viewers who have left their cable TV subscriptions behind in favor of Netflix, Hulu or HBO Go, among others."
Podcast: Capitol Weekly sits down with the FPPC's chair Jodie Remke for a chat about campaign specifics.