President Obama is the 44th president of the United States. In a victory that had many on either side of the political divide biting their fingernails well into the night, Mr. Obama won the electoral college and a return to office to finish much of what he started during his first term.

According to Peter Grier, staff writer for the Christian Science Monitor, exit polls reveal that a key to Obama’s victory was winning 93% of African-American votes, 71% of Hispanic votes, and 73% of Asian votes. Mitt Romney took most of the white vote, which is 72% of the electorate. But it wasn’t enough. Pundits say he needed 76% turn out of white voters, his primary political base.

Here is a summary of the national results….
Barack Obama (60,653,724 votes or 50%) 303* electoral votes
Mitt Romney (57,813,403 votes or 48%) 206* electoral votes

*270 electoral votes needed to win

Control of House
218 Balance of power
193 (D)
233 (R)

Control of Senate
50 Balance of power
53 (D)
45 (R)

In California, the two competing propositions crafted to support school funding had significantly different outcomes. Governor Brown’s Proposition 30 won, but Proposition 38 lost by a landslide. (Prop 38′s chief advocate is Molly Munger, Pasadena resident, John Muir High School alumnae, and former federal prosecutor).

Proposition 37 which would’ve required labeling of food sold to consumers made from plants or animals with genetic material changed in specified ways, was also rejected by voters.

For a full rundown of election results for state propositions follow this media link. And, of course we don’t want to overlook our elected officials from various local districts.

The Golden State is navigating through some very tough budgetary decisions and the list of our newly elected 2012 California Assembly members who will be making some very important decisions this year can be found at this link.

Voting is the essential step in a fully functioning democracy. Never forget to exercise your right to be heard.

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. Martin Luther King, Jr.