Gavin Newsom rises to governor, Feinstein holds seat

Former San Francisco Mayor and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has won the race to be California’s new governor.

Newsom, heavily favored to defeat Republican businessman John Cox, was ahead 57 percent to 43 percent with more than a third of the state’s precincts reporting.

In other statewide races, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, herself a former San Francisco mayor, defeated fellow Democrat and state Sen. Kevin de Leon to hold onto her Senate seat.

Current Attorney General Xavier Becerra will also hold onto his seat, defeating Republican Steven Bailey.

A race that was still too close to call late tonight was for the state Superintendent of Public Instruction. Marshall Tuck was ahead 52 percent to 48 percent with nearly two-thirds of the precincts still yet to report.

Among other races for seats on the state level, current San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Malia Cohen was elected to the District 2 seat of the state Board of Equalization, beating Mark Burns.