Politics & Government
2020 Primary Election: San Diego County Voter Guide
Here's a full roundup from Patch on the important races in San Diego County for the March 3 California primary election.
SAN DIEGO, CA — Turnout is expected to be strong election day in California, as many of San Diego County's more than 1.8 million registered voters cast their ballots in the presidential primary election.
For the first time, California is part of Super Tuesday, when presidential primaries will take place in more than a dozen states. In the past, the Golden State's primary was held in June, when the nominees for both major parties are typically already decided.
There are 20.4 million registered voters in the state, an increase of 3.1 million since the last presidential election in 2016. In fact, 80 percent of eligible Californians are registered to vote, the highest heading into a presidential primary in California in the past 68 years.
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A total of 1,826,138 people are registered to vote in San Diego County, according to the latest voter registration numbers from Secretary of State Alex Padilla's office. That's nearly 82 percent of eligible voters.
"California entered 2020 with a record 20.4 million registered voters — and I only expect that figure to climb as we reach the presidential primary in March and general election in November," Padilla said.
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Major Elections
The statewide races dominating the headlines in California are those for the presidential primary and Proposition 13, the only statewide measure on the ballot. Proposition 13 asks voters to authorize the sale of $15 billion in bonds to fund facility improvements at schools from pre-K to public universities.
In San Diego County, voters will also weigh in on local measures and races for city councils, the Board of Supervisors, State Senate, State Assembly and U.S. Congress.
Congress
In the 49th Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Mike Levin is facing Republican Brian Maryott. The district covers the northern coastal areas of San Diego County, including Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad and Encinitas, as well as a small portion of southern Orange County. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is in the district.
In the 50th Congressional District, there are nine viable candidates running for the seat. The candidates include Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, Republicans Carl DeMaio, Darrell Issa, Brian Jones and Nathan "Nate" Wilkins, and Peace and Freedom Party candidate José Cortés. Helen L. Horvath, Henry Alan Ota and Lucinda Kwh Jahn, who are all listed as no party preference, are also on the ballot.
The spotlight is on the race after 50th District Rep. Duncan D. Hunter resigned from office in January. The Republican is set to be sentenced this month and is facing a maximum of five years in prison after he and his wife were indicted in 2018 on five dozen criminal counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records.
The district includes much of East County San Diego along with a sliver of Temecula in Riverside County.
In the 51st Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Juan Vargas is facing Republican Juan Hidalgo Jr. The district includes all of Imperial County and southern portions of San Diego County that run along the U.S.-Mexico border, including National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and El Centro.
In the 52nd Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Scott Peters is facing Democrat Nancy Casady, Republican Jim DeBello and Ryan Cunningham, who is running without a party preference. The district includes the coastal and central portions of the city of San Diego and the cities of Coronado and Poway.
In the 53rd Congressional District, Democrat Susan Davis is retiring. More than a dozen candidates are on the ballot, including Democrats Georgette Gomez, Janessa Goldbeck, Sara Jacobs, Jose Caballero, John Brooks, Joseph Fountain, Eric Roger Kutner, Annette Meza Suzette Santori and Joaquín Vázquez. The Republican candidates are Michael Patrick Oristian and Chris Stoddard. Fernando Garcia is running without a party preference.
The district stretches from Interstate 5 and Balboa Park on the west, through Mission Valley to East County, and continues south to Chula Vista.
State Senate
In the 39th district, incumbent Democrat Toni Atkins is running unopposed. The district includes most of the City of San Diego north of state Route 94, as well as Coronado, Del Mar and Solana Beach and parts of unincorporated Rancho Santa Fe.
State Assembly
In the 71st Assembly District, incumbent Republican Randy Voepel is facing Democrat Elizabeth Lavertu.
In the 75th Assembly District, incumbent Republican Marie Waldron is facing Democrats Karen "Kate" Schwartz and Roger Garcia.
In the 76th Assembly District, incumbent Democrat Tasha Boerner Horvath is facing Republican Melanie Burkholder.
In the 77th Assembly District, incumbent Democrat Brian Maienschein is facing Republican June Yang Cutter.
In the 78th Assembly District, Democrats Sarah Davis, Micah Perlin and Chris Ward are competing for Todd Gloria's seat. Gloria is running for mayor of San Diego.
In the 79th Assembly District, incumbent Democrat Shirley Weber is facing Republicans Carmelita "C.L." Larrabaster and John Moore.
In the 80th Assembly District, incumbent Democrat Lorena Gonzalez is facing Republicans Lincoln Pickard and John Vogel.
Board of Supervisors
In District 1, there are four Democrats vying for outgoing Supervisor Greg Cox's seat. The candidates are Rafael Castellanos, Ben Hueso, Sophia Rodriguez and Nora Vargas. The district includes Coronado, Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, National City and incorporated and unincorporated communities within San Diego.
In District 2, Republicans Joel Anderson and Steve Vaus and Democrat Kenya Taylor are vying for outgoing Supervisor Dianne Jacob's seat. The district includes El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Poway and Santee, as well as a number of communities, including Alpine, Lakeside, Ramona and Spring Valley.
In District 3, incumbent Republican Kristin Gaspar is facing Democrats Olga Diaz and Terra Lawson-Remer. The district includes Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Escondido, San Pasqual Valley and parts of northern San Diego.
City Councils
Elections are being held for the Carlsbad City Council, Chula Vista City Council, San Diego City Council and San Diego Mayor.
San Diego Mayor
Six candidates are competing to become San Diego's next mayor. Read more.
San Diego City Council
A total of 28 candidates are competing for five open seats on the San Diego City Council. Read more.
Carlsbad City Council
Three candidates are competing for the District 1 seat on the Carlsbad City Council. The special election was added to the primary ballot to fill the vacancy created when former Councilwoman Barbara Hamilton resigned in October. Read more.
Chula Vista City Council
Six total candidates are competing for the District 3 and District 4 seats on the Chula Vista City Council.
Local Measures
There are 17 local measures in San Diego County, from countywide initiatives to local school district measures. Read more here.
Here's a look at the two countywide measures:
Measure A
The "Safeguard Our San Diego Countryside" initiative would require voter approval for General Plan amendments that increase residential density — the number of dwelling units in an area — in semi-rural and rural areas. Read more.
Measure B is about a specific project called the "Newland Sierra Project," a master planned community in North County. County supervisors granted an amendment to the General Plan for the project in 2018. The measure asks voters whether the amendment should be approved. Read more.
Where to Vote
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on election day in California. Ballots must be handed in by the time polls close, according to the Secretary of State. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before election day.
Find your polling place by using San Diego County's online locator and entering your address.
Also see:
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