Beckles joins growing SD7 race; Bonta will seek re-election in AD18

Oakland activist speaks hypocritically about potential recall; Another ‘Oh, Bryan’ moment in San Leandro

Jovanka Beckles

ELECTION 2024

—FOUR FOR SD7—AC Transit Board Director Jovanka Beckles is the latest to join the quickly-forming March 2024 primary in the 7th State Senate District.

—In an early field of lefties, Beckles is easily the most progressive. An acolyte of Sen. Bernie Sanders and the Richmond Progressive Alliance, Beckles ran for AC Transit on a platform advocating for free public transportation.

—The seat is being left open by termed out state Sen. Nancy Skinner and will likely be one of the East Bay’s most watched primary races. The district includes progressive strongholds Oakland and Berkeley, in addition, to Richmond.

—Beckles joins Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, AFSCME Local 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger, and Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb. Four years ago, Beckles and Kalb ran solid campaigns in the 15th Assembly District race won by Buffy Wicks.

—STAYING PUT—A candidate rumored to be interested in the 7th State Senate seat has decided to stay-put.

—Assemblymember Mia Bonta announced on Wednesday that she is running for re-election in the Oakland and Berkeley-centered 18th Assembly District.

—Bonta won a special election in 2021 to replace her husband, Rob Bonta, in the 18th District, and won re-election last fall.

—Bonta expressed interest in running for Rep. Barbara Lee’s open seat in the 12th Congressional District, which overlaps her assembly district and the 7th senate district. But Bonta relented two weeks ago and, instead, endorsed Lateefah Simon’s bid for CA12.