Voter’s Guide to the 2014 Midterms

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Note: We will be updating this post as with KCRW’s election coverage in the lead-up to the election.

When is the election?
Tuesday, November 4, 2014. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If you have a mail-in ballot, it must be received by election day. Ballots can be returned to county election offices or to any polling place within the voter’s county on Election Day. Here’s a tip sheet on voting by mail.

What’s on the ballot? 

There’s the race for Governor with Republican Neel Kashkari hoping to take Gov. Jerry Brown’s long-held seat away from him.

Sen. Henry Waxman’s 33rd district congressional is up for grabs with Republican Elan Carr or state Sen. Ted Lieu hoping to claim it.

There’s also the heated LA County supervisors race, where Bobby Shriver and Sheila Kuehl are facing off  to fill Zev Yaroslavsky seat, as he’s termed out.

What are all the propositions? We’re explaining them here.

You can find more in-depth coverage and candidate debates below:

Which Way, LA? Warren Olney interviews Neel Kashkari  Kashkari is the GOP candidate running against incumbent Jerry Brown for governor of California. He’s optimistic that he can turn things around for the middle class, and the Republican party. Listen.

Which Way, LA? hosted a debate between Sheila Kuehl and Bobby Shriver. Both are vying to represent LA’s third district as LA County supervisor.  Audio/Transcript here. 

 Which Way, LA? Jerry Brown wants to be the only four term Governor in California history, but you’d hardly know he’s campaigning for re-election next month. We compare the pragmatist he is now with the reformer he was when he first was elected four decades ago. Listen here.

Press Play Overview of ballot measures and what’s getting support from politicians and the public with Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs at Cal State LA Listen.

Which Way, LA? debate on Prop. 45 Now California’s elected Insurance Commissioner controls what you pay for insurance on your home and your car. Proposition 45 would give the commissioner the same power to regulate some health insurance. Listen to the debate over Prop. 45 on Which Way, LA? here: Health Insurance Rates: Who’s The Decider?

Which Way, LA? State Controller’s Race Democrat Betty Yee is running against Republican Ashley Swearengin to become the next State Controller. The controller’s job is to manage the finances of the state, ensuring the budget is spent the way it was intended, and that California’s bills are paid on time. The controller can audit state agencies and serves on many boards and commissions.  Listen to Warren interview Yee here. And Swearengin here. 

Which Way, LA? Santa Monica Airport debate  One hundred years ago, the Santa Monica Airport was Clover Field, where Douglas Aircraft pioneered aviation. It was used by the Army Air Corps during World War II, and then turned back to the City, which agreed to keep it running. As residential neighborhoods developed nearby, there’s been increasing concern about noise and air pollution, potential accidents—and property values. Two competing Santa Monica ballot measures will determine to the future of the airport. Measure D keeps the airport open, Measure LC affirms the ability for the City Council to manage (and possibly close) the airport. Listen to the debate here. 

Which Way, LA? Superintendent of Public Instruction Race  Former Democratic Assemblyman  Tom Torlakson is the incumbent, running for a second 4-year term. Challenger Marshall Tuck left the financial sector to become head of the Green Dot Charter Schools in Los Angles and then lead Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s Partnership for Education. Listen to the interviews here.

Which Way, LA? Measure P  Proposition P would raise money for parks, recreation, gang prevention, protection of beaches and maintenance of zoos and museums.  It would replace Proposition A, passed in 1992, which runs out next year. But it was drafted behind closed doors and placed on the ballot at the last minute, without any public discussion.  Supervisors Antonovich and Ridley-Thomas voted against it.  But support came from Gloria Molina, Don Knabe and Zev Yaroslavsky. Listen to the debate here. 

Updated October 30, 2014