For as much the coronavirus, now in its second calendar year, dominated headlines, the coastal cities of Orange County played host to no small number of notable events in 2021.
The county went against the recall effort by 52% to 48% a narrower margin than Newsom's overwhelming statewide victory but still a significant result in the former conservative bastion.
Their elections have led to a divisive debate about whether it's problematic to have these duly elected people in office if they share QAnon-related views. The debate has prompted questions about whether officials expressing such views is simply their free-speech right, a distraction from real government work, a bad example or a real danger to the communities in which they serve.