March Primary ballot is set
The East Bay Insiders Newsletter is the exclusive home of the Election 2024 in Alameda County: Notes on the Mar. 5 ballot; BLee again polls badly; Another surprise candidate in SD5; Plus, more.
ELECTION 2024
86 days to Primary Day
—ROAD TO MAR. 5 BEGINS—Alameda County is guaranteed to have a new congressmember next year. Long-time East Bay Rep. Barbara Lee is officially running for the U.S. Senate. Nine candidates hopes to replace Lee’s big shoes in the 12th Congressional District.
—The game of musical chairs continued in the open 5th State Senate District race. Just a year after leaving Congress, Jerry McNerney swooped in at the last minute on Friday to join the race that includes San Joaquin County Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua, and the labor-favored Rhodesia Ransom.
—Six candidates will appear on the ballot to replace termed out state Sen. Nancy Skinner in the 7th State Senate District. No word yet on whether Skinner’s next move includes running for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors following Keith Carson’s retirement on Friday.
—Below is the unofficial list of candidates for the March Primary, followed by notes on some of the races:
MARCH 2024 PRIMARY BALLOT
ALAMEDA COUNTY
Board of Supervisors - District 1 (Dublin-Livermore-Sunol-Fremont)
*David Haubert, supervIsor
Board of Supervisors - District 2 (Hayward-Union City-Newark-Fremont)
Elisa Marquez, appointed supervisor
Board of Supervisors - District 4 (East Oakland-Castro Valley-Pleasanton)
Jennifer Esteen, Registered Nurse
*Nate Miley, Alameda County supervisor
Board of Supervisors - District 5 (Berkeley-Oakland-Emeryville-Albany)
—Open seat—
*Deadline extended to Dec. 13.
Ballot Measures
Charter amendment related to conforming recall provisions with state law.
Charter amendment related to lowering county job posting requirements to 14 calendar days.
—NOTES—News of Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson’s retirement on Friday vaulted the board’s District 5 into a potentially marquee March primary matchup.
—The District 4 race between Supervisor Nate Miley and Jennifer Esteen now takes on new meaning. If re-elected, Miley will become the dean of this suddenly less-than-experienced board.
—Alameda County’s ballot measure to amend the charter and align its recall provisions with the state law will be a primary election focal point amid District Attorney Pamela Price’s increasingly likely recall.
Board of Education - Area 2
*Angela Normand, ACBOE trustee
Board of Education - Area 5
Lupe Angulo, ALCO Commision on Status of Women
*Janevette Cole, ACBOE trustee
Joe Ramos, Hayward USD trustee
Board of Education - Area 6
John Guerrero
*Eileen McDonald, trustee
—NOTES—The three Alameda County Board of Education races were late to form. No other candidate filed to challenge Board of Ed Trustee Ken Berrick, and the office will not appear on the ballot. The big race here is in Area 5. Incumbent Janevette Cole is viewed by the teachers unions as too cozy with charter schools. The unions are backing Lupe Angulo. Hayward school boardmember Joe Ramos, also poses problems for Cole and labor.
Zone 7 Water District Board - Full Term (Choose 3)
Alan Burnham, chemist/businessman
*Sandy Figuers, board director, Zone 7
*Laurene Green, board director, Zone 7
*Kathy Narum, board director, Zone 7
Zone 7 Water District Board - Short Term (Choose 1)
Catherine Brown
*Deadline extended to Dec. 13.
Superior Court Judge - Office #5
Terry Wiley, fmr ALCO assistant DA
*Deadline extended to Dec. 13.
Superior Court Judge - Office #12
Mark Fickes, ALCO Superior Court commissioner
Michael Johnson, attorney at law
*Deadline extended to Dec. 13.
—NOTES—Expect just one Alameda County Superior Court judicial race on the March Primary ballot. Mark Fickes, who ran for judge four years ago, and attorney Michael Johnson, are running to replace retiring Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo.
STATE SENATE
5th District (San Joaquin County-Livermore-Dublin-Pleasanton-Sunol)
Khalid Jafri
Jerry McNerney-D, former congressmember
Rhodesia Ransom-D, former Tracy councilmember
Carlos Villapudua-D, assemblymember
7th District (Berkeley-Richmond-Oakland-Alameda)
Jesse Arreguin-D, Berkeley mayor
Jovanka Beckles-D, AC Transit board director
Dan Kalb-D, Oakland councilmember
Kathryn Lybarger-D, California Labor Federation president
Jeanne Solnordal-R, broker
Sandre Swanson-D, fmr assemblymember
9th District (Contra Costa County-San Leandro-Castro Valley-San Lorenzo)
Tim Grayson-D, assemblymember
Marisol Rubio-D, San Ramon councilmember
—NOTES—It’s starting to feel like the Tri-Valley will be stuck in the middle of major San Joaquin County power struggle in the 5th State Senate District. In just the last few days this race is barely recognizable to the matchup expected a week ago. Out: Edith Villapudua. In: Her husband, Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua. In: Former Rep. Jerry McNerney, who joined the race just prior to Friday’s filing deadline.
—In the 7th State Senate District, six candidate will compete in a March Primary that will be very expensive, pitting labor vs. labor. In the 9th State Senate District that includes Contra Costa County, San Leandro, and nearby unincorporated areas, Assemblymember Tim Grayson will face San Ramon Councilmember Marisol Rubio.
ASSEMBLY
14th District (Richmond-Piedmont-North Oakland-Berkeley)
Utkarsh Jain-R, college student
Margot Smith-D, social scientist
*Buffy Wicks-D, assemblymember
16th District (Lamorinda-Walnut Creek-Pleasanton-Livermore-Sunol)
*Rebecca Bauer-Kahan-D, assemblymember
Joe Rubay-R🗄️
18th District (Oakland-Alameda-Berkeley)
*Mia Bonta-D, assemblymember
Cheyenne Kenney-R, parental rights activist
Mindy Pechenuk-R, ALCO GOP central committee
Andre Sandford-AIP, housing program manager
20th District (San Leandro-Hayward-Dublin)
*Liz Ortega-D, assemblymember
24th District (Fremont-Milpitas-San Jose)
Bob Brunton-R, businessman/electronics/finance
*Alex Lee-D, assemblymember
Marti Souza-R, pastro/entrepreneur
—NOTES—Four of the five Democratic incumbents running for re-election will face challengers. It’s likely each of the four incumbents will face Republicans in the top two November 2024 General Election. First-term Assemblymember Liz Ortega will be running unopposed.
U.S. SENATE
Eric Early-R, attorney
Steve Garvey-R, fmr first baseman
Barbara Lee-D, CA-12 congressmember
Christina Pascucci-D, television reporter
Katie Porter-D, CA-47 congressmember
Adam Schiff-D, CA-30 congressmember
CONGRESS
10th District (Concord-Brentwood-Walnut Creek-San Ramon-Dublin)
*Mark DeSaulnier-D, congressmember
Mohamed Elsherbini
Katherine Piccinini-R
Joe Sweeney-NPP, business owner
12th District (Oakland-Berkeley-Alameda-San Leandro)
Tony Daysog-D, Alameda councilmember
Denard Ingram-D, social worker
Ned Nuerge-R, retired driving instructor
Abdur Sikdur-D, professor/entrepreneur
Lateefah Simon-D, BART board director
Stephen Slauson-R, electrical engineer
Andre Todd-D, veteran/doctor
Jennifer Tran-D, professor/chamber president
*Deadline extended to Dec. 13.
14th District (Tri-Valley-Hayward-Tri-Cities)
Alison Hayden-R, special education teacher
Vin Kruttiventi-R, business owner/community advocate
Luis Reynoso-R, trustee, Chabot-Las Positas Dist Board
*Eric Swalwell-D, congressmember
17th District (Fremont-Milpitas-San Jose-Santa Clara)
Joe Dehn
Anita Chen
*Ro Khanna-D, congressmember
Mario Art Ramirez
Ritesh Tandon-D, businessman
—NOTES—Nine candidates will seek to succeed 12th District Rep, Barbara Lee, including seven Democrats and two Republicans. BART Board Director Lateefah Simon, university professor Jennifer Tran, and Alameda Councilmember Tony Daysog lead the field of Democrats. The list of candidates, however, does not include Tim Sanchez, the Oakland business owner who was viewed as an early contender for the top two.
—In the 14th District, Rep. Eric Swalwell will face three Republicans, including Chabot-Las Positas Community College Trustee Luis Reynoso. Swalwell typically draws a large number of Republicans in the primary, but Vin Kruttiventi could be different. He loaned his campaign $250,000 earlier this year, and has shown a willingness to spend. (Note: the unofficial list of candidates in the 10th District and 17th District are not yet confirmed.)
U.S. SENATE/12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
—END OF AN ERA, PART I—It’s official. Oakland and surrounding areas will have a new congressmember.
—After the filing deadline for the March Primary came and went on Friday evening, long-time East Bay Rep. Barbara Lee filed for the U.S. Senate race and, in doing so, vacated the congressional seat she has held since 1998.
—The filing deadline for the 12th Congressional District is now pushed to Wednesday at 5 p.m.
—Lee’s bid to replace late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, however, received another dose of bad news on Friday.
—New polling showed Lee’s senate campaign is still failing to gain much traction with the electorate. The PPIC survey indicates Lee has fallen to fourth place in the top two primary field.
U.S. SENATE POLL
Adam SCHIFF-D 21%
Katie PORTER-D 16%
Steve GARVEY-R 10%
Barbara LEE-D 8%
*Poll was conducted on Nov. 9-16.
—Every poll released this year has shown Schiff and Porter atop the polls. A poll in June showed Lee with 13 percent support, and just three points off the pace.
—But that survey appears to be Lee’s high-water mark with two months until vote-by-mail ballots arrive in mailboxes across the state.
—A large number of undecideds identified in other polls seemed to buoy Lee’s hopes for improvement as the senate race moved down the finish stretch to March.
—But perhaps the worst news in this current poll is the number of undecided are dropping (14 percent), while Lee’s numbers remain stagnant.
ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - DISTRICT 5
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—END OF AN ERA, PART I—Keith Carson, the longest-serving member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, announced on Friday evening that he will not seek re-election next year.
—Carson sent an email to constituents just after the 5 p.m. filing deadline for the March Primary had passed.
—“I trust this message finds you well. It is with a mix of gratitude and reflection that I share a significant decision about my role as your County Supervisor,” Carson wrote.
—“On November 13th, I started the process to run in the March 2024 election, but after careful consideration, prayer, and consultation with my family, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2024.”
—Carson has served Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, and Piedmont residents in District 5 since 1992.
—“This decision was not made lightly, but I believe it is the right time for a new chapter for both myself and the district,” Carson wrote.
—“While I am physically ready for another term, I believe it is time for new energy that reflects the evolving needs of District 5.”
—Carson will finish the end of his current term through the end of next year.
—His departure from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors further signals a new era in county politics is underway.
—In the past two years, the board has lost long-time Supervisors Wilma Chan and Richard Valle, in addition to Supervisor Scott Haggerty, who decided not to seek re-election in 2020.
—The short list of possible successors for the District 5 seat starts with current state Sen. Nancy Skinner, who is termed out of office next year.
5TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—SENATE SWINGERS—Now that Carlos Villapudua has traded his assembly campaign to his wife, Edith Villapudua, for hers in the Tri-Valley/San Joaquin County 5th State Senate District, let’s look at how his campaign funds match up with the current primary field.
—Through the mid-year campaign finance period, Villapudua reported $213,092 in ending cash. In addition, Villapudua reported $53,900 in late large contributions since the June 30 filing deadline.
—By comparison, Rhodesia Ransom reported a cash balance of $135,442, as of the June 30 mid-year filing period, along with $92,000 in late large contributions reported since.
—They include maxed-out $10,900 donations from SEIU Local 1021 and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
—These numbers do not include campaign spending, but it appears Ransom can still compete with Villapudua and his access to Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley institutional support.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—MONEYBALL—Below is Form 497 campaign contributions ($5,000 or more) filed Dec. 8 through Dec. 10.
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE ASSEMBLY
—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), BNSF Railway Company, $3,000 (Dec. 6).
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), BNSF Railway Company, $3,500 (Dec. 7).
—Alex Lee (24th Assembly District), Pechanga Band of Indians, $2,500 (Dec. 7); Laborers Local Union No. 270 Political Action Committee, $2,500 (Dec. 8).
STATE SENATE
—Tim Grayson (9th Senate District), Morongo Band of Mission Indians Native American Rights Fund, $5,500 (Dec. 7); Chevron USA, Inc., $4,900, $600 (Dec. 8).
—James Shoemaker (5th Senate District), Pacific Medical, Inc., $5,500 Dec. 7); John Petlansky of Tracy, $2,500 Dec. 7); Fred Douma of Ripon, $2,000 (Dec. 7); Diane Quaresma of Ripon, $1,000 (Dec. 7); A G Enterprises, $1,000 (Dec. 7).
