Huntington Beach voters tonight weighed in on the future of their city’s library, coming out against the city council’s proposal to institute a book review committee, with nearly 59% of voters opposing the limits as of 9:30 p.m.

Voters were also on track to approve a law that would block city leaders from selling the library or privatizing its operations, with over 60% of voters approving the restriction. 

Measure A, which asked voters to repeal the city’s proposed 21 person book review committee, received over 30,000 votes in support, with just over 21,000 calling for the committee to remain in place. 

Measure B, which asked voters to block any future proposals to privatize the library’s operations, got over 31,000 votes while over 20,000 voters wanted to let city leaders make those decisions. 

The next update for results is scheduled for Wednesday evening on the county registrar’s website. 

This city council majority has been nearly undefeated in elections and ballot issues since 2022, winning all of their council seats in landslide general elections and two out of three of the ballot initiatives they pushed for during the 2024 primary election. 

[Read: Primary Election Night Results: Huntington Beach Decides on Voter ID Law]

City Council members have been loudly calling for residents to vote no on both initiatives for months, calling for the investigation of multiple proponents of the initiatives and organizing signs throughout town calling to keep porn away from kids. 

[Read: Parents Object to ‘Protect Our Kids From Porn’ Signs in Huntington Beach]

But library volunteers and residents came out in force at city council meetings, calling for city leaders to keep their hands off the shelves and leave book selection to librarians. 

The election will determine the future of the city’s library after years of debate, with council members insisting that it needs more oversight due to the presence of porn in the children’s section while many residents and library volunteers claim it’s just an effort to censor books they disagree with. 

The debate started when council members greenlit a book review committee back in October 2023, though the group was never formally created.  

[Read: Huntington Beach Creates Panel To Decide What Books Go Into City Library]

A few months later, they also talked about privatizing the library’s operation, though plans for the proposal died out after strong public pushback. 

[Read: Huntington Beach Library Privatization Efforts Fizzle Out After Public Pushback]

Spencer Hagaman, campaign manager for the Our Library Matters movement that pushed for Yes on A&B, said the results show the voters are against any interference at the library.

“The majority of Huntington Beach voters agree: free people read freely,” Hagaman wrote. “We are united in protecting our libraries. No one will take away our freedom to read.”

When asked for comment, Councilman Chad Williams, one of the leaders of the No on A&B campaign, issued this statement. 

“We lost, that hurts, still absorbing it; but it is right to give credit where credit is due. Congratulations to the YES’s on your victory! I can sincerely admire how hard you worked and stuck together as a united front. Your zeal, tenacity and whatever-it-takes mentality paid off, undeniably; and I can commend that.” 

Williams also encouraged unity moving forward in the city. 

“Tomorrow is a new day, God’s blessings, mercies, and goodness shine down on us all. We can so easily forget, or take it for granted, just how good we have it in Huntington Beach. We have it so good! Let’s do our best to remember that the things that unite us, are far greater than the things that separate us. Life is a continual lesson, always a student, and I look forward to the next chapter ahead together.” 

Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.