VOTIVATOR - CA Primary Election
My picks for the 6/2 ballot --
I apologize to all of you for being so late with this election’s VOTIVATOR. This election in California is extraordinary for a number of reasons, and I’ve had a hard time sorting out my choices. There are so many candidates in this “jungle” primary, where there’s no separate ballot for Republicans and Democrats – and so many running are notable Democrats – that there exists the very real possibility (though diminished lately, according to polls) that we could end up with two Trump Republicans to choose between on the November ballot.
For that reason, I am voting strategically. Right now, Xavier Becerra is the Democratic front-runner. I now plan on voting for him in hopes that he’ll get more votes than either of the Republicans, guaranteeing him a spot in November. I am going to wait a week or so before voting to be sure Becerra is still in the lead. I’m also hoping that Katie Porter gets more votes than either of the Republicans, so that I can vote for her in November. I know this sounds weird, but such are our times!
Becerra is an experienced and well-tested figure, having served as California Attorney General and as the Secretary of Health and Human Services under Joe Biden. He is not a flashy guy. His platform is pragmatic. He gets it that the ideal health system for California and the nation would be a “Medicare for All” system of universal national health insurance, and he also gets it that it cannot happen until Democrats hold the White House, House of Representatives, and 60 votes in the Senate. Without Federal cooperation, an effective single-payer system is impossible in California. I don’t see him as a bold visionary, but I do see him as a steady hand who can be effective in Sacramento, herding the cats in the Legislature to fight climate change, protect women’s rights, and protect immigrants. Again, if Katie Porter makes it to the November ballot, I will vote for her – she is a brilliant visionary, less beholden to special interests than Becerra - and I trust that she can channel her feistiness into good works. I strongly resonate with the progressive platform of Tom Steyer, but I don’t want to see another billionaire, with zero experience in electoral politics, voted into public office. I wish he’d drop out of the race and give the money he’d spend on campaigning to progressive Christian organizations. He’s one of us, and he could do a lot to raise the profile of our movement and deliver a critical constituency for progressive causes nationally.
Many of my choices are incumbents, and absent any drama around them, I’m inclined to see them stay in office. Endorsements from people and organizations I respect matter a lot to me in making my picks. Much as I support the labor movement, it is obvious to me that public employee unions have gained far too much influence in state politics. So I’m always on the lookout for solid progressive candidates who are willing to push back against them when necessary.
Here are my picks – let me know yours, and your reasons for your choices!
STATEWIDE:
Governor: Xavier Becerra.
Lieutenant Governor: Josh Fryday. Former mayor of Novato, former military lawyer. Now leads the state’s service, volunteer and civic engagement efforts with California Volunteers.
Secretary of State: Shirley Weber (incumbent).
Controller: Malia Cohen (incumbent). (I was tempted to do something extraordinary and vote for the Republican candidate, Herb Morgan, because he has a great plan to maximize the use of tech in tracking state expenditures. But I held back because the Republican party is so far off the rails these days that we can’t risk giving them a mile by giving them an inch. I feel badly about that, but here we are…)
Treasurer: Eleni Kounalakis. She’s terming out as Lieutenant Governor – has done a fine job in that role.
Attorney General: Rob Bonta (incumbent). He’s done a remarkable job of pushing back against Trump on dozens of fronts at the same time.
Insurance Commissioner: Jane Kim. This is an impossible job, balancing the need to keep insurance companies afloat while protecting consumers. Kim is the underdog Democrat in the race. She’s on the very progressive end of the political spectrum. She’s on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Richard Barrera. Very experienced guy – the underdog Democrat in the race… president of the San Diego Unified School Board, advisor to the State Dept of Education.
Board of Equalization, District 2 (the state tax commission): Sally Lieber, incumbent.
US Congress, Dist 24: Salud Carbajal (incumbent). Doing a great job….
State Assembly, Dist 32: Steve Bennett (incumbent). Same!
LOCAL (I live in Ojai, CA):
Judge of the Superior Court: Amy Van Sickle (incumbent)
Ventura County Superintendent of Schools: Cesar Morales (incumbent)
Ventura County Assessor: Keith Taylor (incumbent)
Ventura County Auditor-Controller: Michelle Yamaguchi (incumbent)
County Clerk/Recorder: Michelle Ascencion (incumbent)
Treasurer-Tax Collector: Marilou Tan (currently Assistant Treasurer-Tax Collector)