Jessica Robertson holds a sign against book bans during the Rutherford County Library System Board meeting that was held in the Council Chambers of Murfreesboro City Hall, on Tuesday, June 2, 2025.
Huntington Beach, California – In a clear rebuke to the city’s conservative leadership, voters in Huntington Beach have supported two ballot measures aimed at restoring public control of libraries and ending a controversial book review board that critics say amounted to political censorship.
As of Wednesday evening, unofficial results showed 58% of voters in favor of Measure A, which would dissolve the 21-member community review board tasked with determining the appropriateness of children’s books in public libraries. Measure B, which would restrict the city’s ability to privatize its public library system, drew even stronger support, with just over 60% of voters backing the measure.
The election marks a rare public reversal in a city that has become an outpost of conservative resistance in Southern California. Known for its anti-mask protests and opposition to statewide progressive policies, Huntington Beach saw its last remaining Democratic city council members ousted in December 2023. In their place came what critics dubbed the “MAGA-nificent 7,” a slate of hardline conservatives who quickly began reshaping city governance — and its libraries.
Last year, the council ordered the removal of over 100 books, many dealing with puberty, pregnancy, and LGBTQ+ topics, and installed a review board to oversee library content. Members of the council, including Don Kennedy, linked the presence of LGBTQ-themed materials in libraries to a “dramatic alarming rise” in queer identification among youth, accusing such books of “indoctrination.”
Librarians faced increasing hostility. Some were publicly labeled “pedophiles” and “groomers.” In April 2024, librarian Melissa Ronning announced her resignation during a public comment period, expressing disappointment that city officials failed to defend staff from harassment. “I used to love working for the city of Huntington Beach,” she said. “The fact that we are referred to as pedophiles and groomers on social media and nobody from the city speaks up to defend us speaks volumes.”
Supporters of the ballot measures, including the grassroots group Protect Huntington Beach, said the outcome reflected bipartisan concern over government overreach. “The voters in Huntington Beach made it clear that government overreach on the operations of the Huntington Beach Public Libraries was unacceptable,” said co-founder Cathey Ryder.
The Orange County Registrar of Voters reports that just over 3,000 ballots remain uncounted—insufficient to change the outcome. Official certification is expected by the end of June.
While the election does not undo the broader shift toward conservatism in Huntington Beach, it signals a decisive boundary. For many voters in this coastal community, the public library remains a place for learning—not a political battleground.
