New Districts, New Rules and New Candidates on June Ballot

On June 5, Californians for the first time will vote in an open primary.

The top two vote getters in a race will move on to the November general election, whether they are from the same party or not.

In addition, this will be the first election with the new congressional, state Senate and state Assembly districts approved last fall by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. They officially take effect in January. You can look at the new districts at this website.

The Alameda County elections department website is here. Below are the races people in Alameda County will see on their June ballot.

CONGRESS

11th District

The new district is primarily in Contra Costa and includes Richmond, Pinole, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Kensington, part of Martinez, Concord, Clayton, Lamorinda, Pleasant Hill, Danville, Alamo and Walnut Creek.

There are four candidates in this race.

Democratic Congressman George Miller was first elected to Congress in 1974. He is a lifelong Contra Costa County resident who is outspoken on  environmental and health care reform issues.

Democrat Cheryl Sudduth is a Richmond resident who lists herself on the ballot as a director contracts and compliance. No website could be found for Sudduth.

Democrat John Fitzgerald is a Concord resident who lists himself as a contractor. On his website, Fitzgerald is quoted as saying global warming is a scam and furthur investigations are needed into the September 11th attacks and Oklahoma City bombing.

Republican Virginia Fuller is a registered nurse who lives in Pinole. She lists herself as an advocate for children’s health who wants to build jobs in inner cities and offer school choices to parents.

5th District

The new district includes Lake, Sonoma, Napa, Solano and Contra Costa counties, including Martinez, Pinole, Hercules, Crockett and Rodeo.

There are two candidates on the ballot.

Democratic Congressman Mike Thompson was first elected to Congress in 1998. He's a former state senator and a Vietnam veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart. The St. Helena resident is also a small vineyard owner who describes himself as a Blue Dog Democrat.

Thompson's challenger is Republican Randy Loftin. The Napa resident works as a financial planner. No website could be found for Loftin.

15th District

This new district includes San Ramon, Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Union City Hayward and part of Fremont.

There are three candidates in this election.

Democrat Congressman Pete Stark was first elected to Congress in 1972. On his website, he says he has led "the fight to protect Social Security and Medicare, enact health reform, promote peace rather than war, and standing up for working families."

Democrat Eric Swalwell is an Alameda County prosecutor who also serves on the Dublin City Council. Swalwell grew up in Dublin and graduated from Dublin High. He's offering himself as a moderate alternative to Stark.

Christopher Pereja lists no party preference and no job description on the ballot. On his website, he criticizes career politicians and says he wants to build strong economy. The Hayward resident is the owner of B2B Power Exchange and LeadGenaires, companies that help businesses find new opportunities

STATE SENATE

7th District

The new district includes Concord, Clayton, Pleasant Hill, Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Lamorinda and East County.

There are two candidates.

Democrat Mark DeSaulnier was first elected to the state Senate in 2008. He's also businessman who has served on the Concord City Council and Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.

Mark Meuser is DeSaulnier's only opponent. The Republican lists himself on the ballot as a counselor at law. No website could be found for Meuser.

3rd District

The new district includes Martinez, Benicia, Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, Davis, Woodland, Napa, Sonoma, Petaluma and Rohnert Park.

There's only one candidate on the ballot in this race.

Democrat Lois Wolk was elected to the state Senate in 2008. Wolk was in the state Assembly from 2002 to 2008. She lives in Davis. She’s also been a mayor and county supervisor.

9th District

The new district includes San Leandro, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, Pinole and Hercules.

There's only one candidate in this election.

Democrat Loni Hancock was elected to the state Senate in 2008. Prior to that she served as assemblywoman and mayor of Berkeley.

ASSEMBLY

14th District

The new district includes Concord, Clayton, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Benicia and Vallejo.

There's only one candidate running in this race.

Democrat Susan Bonilla was first elected to the Assembly in 2010. Prior to that, she served on the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors and on the Concord City Council. She's also a former high school English teacher.

11th District

The new district includes Benicia and Martinez as well as a large part of Solano County and the Delta.

There are five candidates in this race.

Democrat Jim Frazier is the mayor of Oakley who lists himself on the ballot as a business owner. No website for Frazier could be found.

Democrat Patricia Hernandez is a Rio Vista resident who lists herself as a professional negotiator who helps negotiate contracts for the Union of American Physicians and Dentists.

Democrat Gene Gantt is a retired Benicia fire chief who currently is the interim executive director of the California State Firefighters Association. He describes himself as an avid conservationist and outdoorsman.

Len Augustine lists no party preference on the ballot. He a retired USAF colonel and the former mayor of Vacaville. No website for Augustine could be found.

Republican Mike Hudson is Suisun City's vice mayor and a local business owner. Hudson has a Facebook page, but no website could be found for him.

16th District

The new district includes Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, the San Ramon Valley, Lamorinda and Walnut Creek.

There are two candidates in this race.

Democrat Joan Buchanan was a San Ramon Valley Unified School District board member for 20 years. She was first elected to the Assembly in 2008.

Republican Al Phillips says on his website that he favors reducing regulations and streamlining government. No biographical information is listed on the site.

COUNTY SUPERVISOR

2nd District

The district includes the San Ramon Valley, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda and part of Walnut Creek.

There are three candidates.

Candace Anderson is the mayor of Danville. She's been on the Town Council for 10 years. She holds a degree in public policy.

Sean White is a solar energy professor who lives in Canyon. He has a Facebook page that lists himself as a "Green/Democrat." No website for White could be found.

Tomi Van der Brooke is a Contra Costa Community College District trustee who has worked for Fortune 500 companies and run a small business. She lives in Orinda.

3rd District

This new district covers much of East Contra Costa County as well as the eastern portion of the San Ramon Valley. 

There is only one candidate. 

Mary Nejedly Piepho is the incumbent. She is a Discovery Bay resident who has served two terms on the board.

5th District

This new district covers northern Contra Costa County, stretching from Pittsburg to Hercules.

There is only one candidate.

Federal Glover has been on the board since 2000.