California Globe Voter Guide to the 2020 March Primary

California is having its first ever early March Primary Election this March 3, 2020.

California Globe is providing you a peek into the races statewide, and some hot seats and issues.

Remember, registration deadline is February 18. However, California does now allow Online registration, and same-day registration.

This March, for the first time, Californians will be able to conditionally register to vote at any polling place or vote center on Election Day and during the two-week period prior to the election.

We will be updating this page, as well as answering any questions you leave in the comments section.

Battleground Primaries:

California top-two battleground primaries, 2020
Office	Incumbent	Open seat?	MOV in 2018	Challengers: Republicans and Democrats
California’s 16th	Jim Costa (D)		D+15.0	Esmeralda Soria (D) Kim Williams (D) Kevin Cookingham (R)
California’s 10th	Josh Harder (D)		D+4.5	Mike Barkley (D) Ryan Blevins (D) Bob Elliott (R) Ted Howze (R) Marla Livengood (R)
California’s 21st	TJ Cox (D)		D+0.8	Ricardo De La Fuente (D) Roque De La Fuente (R) David G. Valadao (R)
California’s 22nd	Devin Nunes (R)		R+5.4	Phil Arballo (D) Bobby Bliatout (D) Dary Rezvani (D) Eric Garcia (Independent)
California’s 25th	former Rep. Katie Hill (Resigned)		D+8.7	Robert Cooper (D) Getro Elize (D) Christopher Smith (D) Christy Smith (D) Cenk Uygur (D) Anibal Valdez-Ortega (D) Mike Garcia (R) Kenneth Jenks (R) Stephen Knight (R) David Lozano (R) Daniel Mercuri (R) George Papadopoulos (R) Otis Lee Cooper (Independent
California’s 39th	Gil Cisneros		D+3.1	Young Kim (R) Steve Cox (Independent)
California’s 45th	Katie Porter		D+4.1	Rhonda Furin (R) Christopher Gonzales (R) Peggy Huang (R) Greg Raths (R) Don Sedgwick (R) Lisa Sparks (R)
California’s 48th	Harley Rouda		R+7.1	Brian Burley (R) James Griffin (R) John Schuesler (R) Michelle Steel (R) Richard Mata (American Independent Party)
California’s 50th	Duncan Hunter (not running for reelection)		R+3.4	Marisa Calderon (D) Ammar Campa-Najjar (D) Carl DeMaio (R) Darrell Issa (R) Brian Jones (R) Nathan Wilkins (R) Jose Cortes (Peace and Freedom Party of California) Helen Horvath (Independent) Lucinda Jahn (Independent) Henry Ota (Independent)

Other important congressional races include Andy Caldwell challenging Rep. Salud Carbajal in California’s 24th congressional district on the Central Coast.

California Labor, Agriculture and Business Advocate Andy Caldwell Challenging Rep. Salud Carbajal

and former Republican Rep. Darrell Issa about his current campaign for the 50th Congressional District:

California Globe Interviews Former Rep. Darrell Issa

Eric Early is running to oust Rep. Adam Schiff:

Eric Early Announces He is Running Against ‘Liar and Leaker’ Rep. Adam Schiff

Michelle Steel is challenging Rep. Harley Rouda in CA-48.

O.C. Sup Michelle Steel Wants to Take Orange County Back for California’s Congressional Republicans

Ballotpedia has much more information on the March Primary.

Ballot Initiatives

The only ballot measure Californians are voting on in March is Proposition 13, a school bond. It has nothing to do with California’s 1978 Prop. 13.

March 3, 2020:

For the upcoming November election, there are many initiatives already qualified for the ballot.

November 3, 2020:

Ballotpedia has all of the ballot initiatives which have been cleared for signature gathering, as of February 8, 2020.

For Northern California Voters

Sacramento: Measure G:

A city charter amendment to divert tax revenue to a children’s fund amending the city charter to allow 2.5% of unrestricted revenues to be allocated to a children’s fund for the next 12 fiscal years. measure establishes a Sacramento Children’s Fund Planning and Oversight Commission and was qualified for the ballot by Sac Kids First, made up of groups that stand to benefit from the annual $10 million tax revenue.

Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) is running for reelection in District 6. She has three challengers – two Democrats and one Republican. Matsui first won election to the US House of Representatives in a special election in 2005 following the death of her husband Rep. Robert Matsui, also in 2005.

Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) is being challenged by Republican Colonel “Buzz” Patterson, a career Air Force pilot and Clinton Administration official responsible for carrying the nuclear football. Rep. Ami Bera has represented the district since January 2013 following redistricting. Currently Congressional District 7 represents southern and eastern Sacramento County. California Globe analyzed this District 7 race and interviewed Patterson.

Close State Races that have been analyzed by the California Globe:

• Assembly 3rd District

San Francisco: San Francisco voters will have five ballot measures on March 3 to consider.

Proposition A: Decades of deferred maintenance has left several City College campuses in dire need of renovation, according to Prop. A’s supporters. The measure would allow the city college district to sell $845 million in bonds to perform improvements to school buildings, including seismic retrofits.

Proposition B: As part of the city’s ongoing efforts to ensure San Francisco can rebound and rebuild after the Big One, Prop. B is the latest earthquake safety and emergency response bond. If passed, the city would be allowed to sell $628.5 million in bonds to finance infrastructure improvements at police and fire stations, the 911 call center, and other disaster-response facilities.

Proposition C: Prop. C seeks to ensure that employees of the San Francisco Housing Authority can access their city retirement medical benefits if they found another city job following the agency’s collapse in March.

Proposition D: With so many San Francisco neighborhoods beset by a rash of empty storefronts, Prop. D would tax property owners who keep ground-floor space in certain commercial districts vacant.

Proposition E: Prop. E, which needs a simple majority to pass, would restrict future office development if San Francisco fails to meet state-mandated affordable housing goals.

(San Francisco Chronicle has more details on the five ballot initiatives.)

Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA) faces three Republicans in the Congressional 10th district focused around Tracy. The current Republican favorite to challenge Harder is former Turlock City Councilman Ted Howze. California Globe analyzed this race and interviewed Howze.

Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) will go against several Democrats and a Republican in the Fresno-centered 16th District battle. Democratic Fresno City Council President Esmeralda Soria hopes to take on Costa in the General, but Republican Jim Cunningham could get the number two spot if the Democratic vote is too fractured.

Close State Races that have been analyzed by the California Globe:

• Assembly 10th District
• Assembly 13th District
• Assembly 29th District
• Senate 5th District
• Senate 7th District
• Senate 13th District

For Southern California Voters

Los Angeles County: Measure R

Measure R: If passed, it grants the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission to develop a plan designed to reduce jail population and incarceration and granting the Commission subpoena power to investigate complaints.

Disgraced Congresswoman Katie Hill’s 25th Congressional District is wide open. Serving the LA suburbs, 13 people have signed on for the primary. Democratic Assemblywoman Christy Smith (D-Santa Clarita) and Young Turks host Cenk Uyger are leading the Democratic pack, being endorsed by Gavin Newsom and Bernie Sanders respectively. Republicans, meanwhile, have former Congressman Steve Knight. A smith-Knight battle is likely, but Uyger has proven to have a lot of support.

Close State Races that have been analyzed by the California Globe:

• Senate 19th District
• Senate 21st District
• Senate 28th District

Inland Empire

San Bernardino County: No Major Ballot Propositions besides a few local tax levies

Riverside County: Measure A

Measure A: The Riverside Community College District wants a $715 million bond measure to improve facilities at 3 locations: Riverside City College, Moreno Valley College and Norco College.

Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA) is stepping aside, leaving an open race in the 8th district. Assemblyman Jay Obernolte (R- Big Bear) has gotten the GOP’s nod while other Republicans and Democrats are doing everything they can to come close to the heavy district favorite. The closest is Democratic activist Chris Bubser, but she still trails by quite a lot in the polls.

Close State Races that have been analyzed by the California Globe:

• Assembly 35th District
• Assembly 36th District
• Senate 23rd District

Orange County

Measure A: Measure A would require any Board of Supervisors’ proposal to impose, extend, or increase a tax to receive at least two-thirds approval of the Board of Supervisors before the tax is presented to the voters.

Most Orange County races for Congressional, Assembly, and State Senate races are tight between Republicans and Democrats in 2020.

Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-CA) faces a tight race in the 39th Congressional District against Republican and former Assemblywoman Young Kim.

Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) also faces a barrage of GOP challengers in the 45th district with former Laguna Hills Mayor and current City Councilman Don Sedwick facing a tussle with Yorba Linda City Councilwoman Peggy Huang and other Republicans in the primary.

Rep. Harley Rouda (D-CA) is yet another Democrat facing off against Republicans in Orange County in a close 48th Districtrace. Orange County Supervisor Michelle Park Steel will most likely get the Republican nod on March 3rd, but like November, it’s going to be a close one in March.

Close State Races that have been analyzed by the California Globe:

• Assembly 73rd District
• Senate 29th District
• Senate 37th District

San Diego County

Measure A: A land use and development measure, Measure A would amend the San Diego County General Plan to require voter approval for General Plan amendments that increase residential density for property designated by the General Plan as Semi-Rural or Rural.

Measure B: Another land use measure, this time a little more personal to voters. Measure B asks for approval to continue developing the Newland Sierra Project and build over 2,000 new homes and 1,777,684 square feet of commercial space on what is now wildlands.

Measure C: Measure C, aka ‘the convention center one’, would increase the hotel tax with a tiered range from 1.25% to 3.25%, with revenue dedicated to expanding the San Diego Convention Center, improving streets and related infrastructure, and funding programs to reduce homelessness.

Measure D: Under Measure D, San Diego would require that the city council appoints the city auditor from a list of three candidates recommended by the Audit Committee and term limits the auditor to two five-year terms.

Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) and Republican challenger San Juan Capistrano Mayor Brian Maryott are neck to neck in the 49th Congressional race.

Former Congressman Duncan Hunter’s resignation in the 50th District leaves this an open race. Republicans almost exclusively back former Congressman Darrell Issa, although State Senator Brian Jones (R – Santee) may be a surprise. Ammar Campa-Najjar, a former Obama White House staffer, leads the Democrats.

The 53rd District is another open race, this time due to Representative Susan Davis (D-CA) deciding not to run. 16 others are running. Top among the Democrats is San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez. For the Republicans it’s a three way tie going in.

Close State Races that have been analyzed by the California Globe:

• Assembly 77th District