Early results show Santa Clara County’s sales tax increase measure leaning toward voter approval on election night.

As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, just more than 57% of voters cast ballots in favor of Measure A, or 181,193 votes, with nearly 43% voting against it, or 136,513 votes. The general tax needs a simple majority of more than 50% to pass. County leaders say the five-eighth cent sales tax increase would bring in $330 million in extra revenue annually to stave off the threat of crushing hospital closures, but wouldn’t avoid cuts entirely. County hospitals are losing their largest source of federal funding after the passage of unprecedented cuts to Medicaid under President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” or H.R. 1.

Sharply-dressed county executives, local activists and supporters of

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