Democratic incumbents in San Diego's most expensive, competitive and high-profile races took early leads in their reelection campaigns.

Why it matters: The mayoral and county supervisor races both became referendums on public concerns with housing costs, homelessness and crime in California's second largest city.

Driving the news: Mayor Todd Gloria held a comfortable lead over police officer Larry Turner with 54.6% of the vote as of Wednesday morning.

• Terra Lawson-Remer also had a healthy lead to be reelected to represent District 3 on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors with 55.7% of the vote over former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

State of play: Gloria declared victory in a speech to supporters at the Westin Gaslamp late Tuesday.

• "Thanks to all of you tonight, we are not turning San Diego around, we are going to move forward," he said, referencing Turner's campaign slogan.
• Lawson-Remer was more hesitant in her speech to supporters: "I feel very good about our first results, but I think it's still too close to call tonight," she said.

The big picture: Gloria and Lawson-Remer entered their reelection campaigns with significant advantages, as Democrats have large voter registration edges in both the city and the county's District 3.

• Turner is an independent and a first-time candidate, and Faulconer is a Republican.
• But both Turner and Faulconer received major donor support to make the races competitive.

Catch up quick: Republicans long dominated San Diego's county government, but lost control in 2020 when Lawson-Remer took the District 3 seat and Nora Vargas won in District 1.

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The county's two biggest tax increase proposals are trailing in early returns.

Driving the news: Measure G, the countywide half-cent sales tax increase for transportation projects, is trailing with 51.7% of voters opposing it and 48.3% supporting it.

• Measure E, the city's proposed one-cent sales tax increase for general services, fared better but still trailed, with 50.7% opposing it and 49.3% supporting it.

State of play: Measure E was intended to address what the city's independent budget analyst estimates is a $1 billion deficit over the next five years.

• Measure G is aimed at funding regional transportation projects like an airport-transit connection and relocating the rail corridor off of the Del Mar Bluffs as part of the San Diego Association of Governments' plan to meet state emissions reduction targets.

What they're saying: Gloria, a major supporter of Measure E, said Tuesday he was still optimistic the measure would pass.

• "We're only about two points behind — I believe it's very possible that lead will grow as the ballots are counted," he said.

Zoom out: Nine other cities across the county also had sales tax increases or extensions on the ballot.

• Measure P, a tax extension in Chula Vista, is poised to pass with 73% support.
• Measure J, a tax extension in El Cajon, is as well, with 67.6% support.
• Measure K, a tax increase in Encinitas, is trailing with 52.1% of voters opposed.
• Measure I, a tax increase in Escondido, is leading with 59.8% support.
• Measure L, a tax extension in La Mesa, looks like it will pass with 80.1% support.
• Measure T, a tax increase in Lemon Grove, is poised to pass with 71.5% support.
• Measure X, a tax extension in Oceanside, is also likely to pass, with 69.2% support.
• Measure Q, a tax increase in San Marcos, has an early lead of 59.5% support.
• Measure S, a tax increase in Santee, is trailing with 53.2% of voters opposed.

We've got our eyes on results in the key races.

In the California Assembly's 79th District, a fully blue race, LaShae Sharp-Collins took an early lead over Colin Parent with about 52.6% of the vote. 

• Republican Carl DeMaio held a large lead over fellow Republican Andrew Hayes with about 60% in the 75th district. 

In San Diego's congressional races, Democrat Scott Peters secured a major win over Republican challenger Peter Bono in the 50th district.

• Rep. Sara Jacobs (D) declared victory over El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells (R) in the 51st District.
• Rep. Mike Levin (D) held a slim lead over Matt Gunderson (R) in the 49th District with 50.9% of the vote.

Zoom in: San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera took a big lead for reelection over Terry Hoskins in District 9 with about 58% of the vote.

• In District 3, Councilmember Stephen Whitburn did the same, with a 59.8% lead over Coleen Cusack.
• Heather Ferbert holds a double-digit edge over Brian Maienschein in the City Attorney race.

The intrigue: 10 state propositions are on the table in California.

• Proposition 33, the measure to expand local governments' ability to enact rent control ordinances, looked unlikely to pass.
• Proposition 36, increasing penalties for some drug and theft crimes by partially rolling back 2014's Proposition 47, garnered heavy support.

🗳️ Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff became California's next senator Tuesday, and Republicans have now gone nearly two decades without winning a statewide race in California. (Axios)

⚓ Leonard Glenn Francis, the Malaysian military contractor known as "Fat Leonard," was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday, a decade after pleading guilty the U.S. Navy's worst-ever public corruption and bribery scandal. (Union-Tribune)

🔥A Fire Weather Warning was issued for San Diego County inland valleys and mountains, with SDG&E considering cutting power for thousands. (CBS8)

If you were too busy doomscrolling and refreshing election results to catch the sunset last night, it was a good one.