Healdsburg Voter Guide: What's On The June 2 Ballot

HEALDSBURG, CA — Ballots for the June 2 Statewide Direct Primary Election will land in mailboxes starting next week, bearing the names of more than 60 candidates for one of the most chaotic gubernatorial races California has seen in decades.

It’s a political contest plagued by scandal, partisan infighting, and a lack of clear frontrunners. Beyond the swift rise and fall of Democratic former Rep. Eric Swalwell, who ended his campaign and congressional career amid allegations of sexual assault, the major storyline has been the possibility that two Republican candidates might emerge from the primary as dozens of Democrats divide the vote. In California, the top two vote-getters in the primary — regardless of party preference — advance to the November general election.

Down-ballot, voters will weigh in on congressional races. Thanks largely to the naked gerrymandering of Proposition 50 passed by Golden State voters last year in a rebuke of President Donald Trump, 2026 is shaping up to be a slog for the California GOP, according to the polls. The party currently holds just eight of the state’s 52 congressional seats after the Jan. 6 death of Northern California’s Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa. According to the Cook Political Report, only four of those eight are solidly Republican heading into the primary.

Closer to home, voters will cast ballots in several local races.

Races to watch in Healdsburg

Measure B: Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District, California, Measure B, Sales Tax Extension Measure

The only countywide measure for Sonoma County voters is Measure B for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District.

Voters will decide whether to extend an existing quarter-cent sales tax — one already in place and currently being paid — that funds the SMART commuter train running through Sonoma and Marin counties.

Without this extension, the tax expires in 2029 and the train's funding disappears with it, officials said. Approving the measure would keep the tax in place for 30 more years, generating around $51 million per year to maintain train and bike/pedestrian pathway operations, expand the rail line to planned destinations, and keep service running for commuters, seniors, students, and low-income riders.

No new tax is created; this is simply a vote on whether to continue one that already exists.

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors — District 4

Some of the most pressing issues for this office include land use and development, homelessness policy, county budget decisions, and wildfire prevention and rural services.

• Todd Lands — Incumbent, Small Businessman
• Tom Schwedhelmm— Business Owner
• Melanie Bagby — Business Owner

Congress

U.S. Representative, 2nd District

Democratic incumbent Rep. Jared Huffman is being challenged by several candidates who share concerns prevalent in Sonoma County, such as climate change, the economy and the future of public lands.

The challengers include:

• Gregory Burgess - Elder caregiver
• Tim Geist- Retired researcher
• Jared Huffman - U.S. representative
• Robin Littau - Enterprise elementary school board member
• Nicolette Hahn Niman - Author/rancher/mother

County Offices

• County Superintendent of Schools — Amy Carter, Incumbent running unopposed
  
• Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector —Amanda Ruch, Incumbent running unopposed
• County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor —Deva Marie Proto, Incumbent running unopposed
• Judge of the Superior Court Judge, Office #10 — David Kim, Incumbent running unopposed

State Offices

State Superintendent of Public Instruction

• Richard Barrera - State Superintendent Advisor
• Wendy Castaneda Leal - School District Superintendent
• Frank Lara - Teacher/Union VP
• Ainye Long - Public School Teacher
• Gus Mattammal - Educator/Executive/Author
• Al Muratsuchi - Assemblymember/Classroom Educator
• Josh Newman - Educator/Strategic Advisor
• Nichelle M. Henderson - College Trustee/Teacher
• Anthony Rendon - Democracy Advocate/Educator
• Sonja Shaw - School District President

Nearby voters will decide on two school district parcel taxes:

• Measure A: Twin Hills Union School District (Sebastopol)
• Measure C: Bellevue Union School District Parcel Tax (Santa Rosa