Wahab wins SD10 state Democratic Party pre-endorsement; no consensus in AD20

AC Transit boardmember abruptly resigns

10th State Senate District candidate Aisha Wahab.

ELECTION 2022

SD10/AD20

—CADEM PRE-ENDORSEMENTS—Alameda County Democrats in the East Bay’s 10th State Senate District overwhelmingly signaled their support for Hayward Councilmember Aisha Wahab’s candidacy on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, the field of three Democrats in the open 20th Assembly District fought to a draw.

—California Democrats across the state met in similar caucuses on Saturday to determine whether candidates for the June primary will receive the statewide party’s often pivotal endorsement at its convention next month.

—Wahab received 94 percent support from Democrats in the state senate district that represents areas including Hayward, Fremont, and North San Jose. Three voters backed “no endorsement,” while Fremont Mayor Lily Mei received just one vote. Afterwards, Wahab thanked voters and called herself the “true Democrat” in the race. The comment was a jibe at Mei, who until 2019 had registered as “No Party Preference.”

—Under the party’s endorsement rules, a candidate needed 70 percent or more of the vote to win what is called a “pre-endorsement.” In the case of Wahab, today’s decision means she will be placed on the convention’s consent calendar for approval. Although the party’s exclusive endorsement is not yet officially secured for Wahab’s campaign, it’s almost a certainty next month.

—In cases when a candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, but less than 70 percent, the voting caucus can again vote at the convention. This secondary procedure did not happen in the 20th Assembly District on Saturday.

—Alameda Labor Council leader Liz Ortega-Toro was the top vote-getter, but her 19 votes was nowhere close to moving the pre-endorsement forward. Jennifer Esteen received 18 votes, a strong showing for the upstart progressive’s campaign, followed by Dublin Councilmember Shawn Kumagai with 13 votes. Without a consensus of voters, there will be no party endorsement for the June primary in AD20, a perhaps fitting result for what many believe will be an evenly-matched election this spring.