Randy's Guide 5-7-7: Super Tuesday

Lucky us, most voters will be treated to two elections this year. Like 2008, California will participate in February's Super Tuesday, which awards more than one-third of the pledged delegates in the Democratic Party presidential primaries. The state has a top-two system for its State Senate and Assembly races, meaning that the two candidates who get the most votes will advance to the November general election. California also has one statewide proposition.

 

San Francisco, meanwhile, offers five local propositions. Early voting has already begun at SF City Hall. Same-day voter registration is now available.

 

The primary is on Tuesday, March 3. Turnout in the 2016 primary was about 57%, while 2008 saw roughly 65%.

 

CA Proposition 13: Bonds for Public Education Facilities

Authorize $15 billion in bonds to fund facilities for preschools, K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities. Place new restrictions on developer fees.

 

YES: CA Democratic Party, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, State Sen. Scott Wiener, State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting, Los Angeles Times, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, CA Chamber of Commerce, CA Federation of Teachers, CA SEIU, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Club

 

NO: CA Libertarian Party, SF Green Party, SF Peace and Freedom Party, Orange County Register, San Jose Mercury News

 

SF Proposition A: City College Facilities

Authorize $845 million in bonds to fund facilities for City College of SF, in accordance with seismic and energy-efficiency standards. Requires 55% of votes to pass.

 

YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, State Sen. Scott Wiener, State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Club, SEIU 1021, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Sierra Club, SPUR

 

NO: SF Republican Party

 

SF Proposition B: Earthquake Safety and Response

Authorize $628.5 million in bonds on improvements to facilities used for emergency response and recovery. Requires two-third of votes to pass.

 

YES: SF Democratic Party, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Mayor London Breed, State Sen. Scott Wiener, State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting, Former Mayor Willie Brown, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Club, Golden State Warriors, SEIU 1021, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Firefighters 798, SF Police Officers Association, SF Sierra Club, SPUR

 

NO: -none-

 

SF Proposition C: Retiree Health Care for Former Housing Authority Employees

Extend retiree health care benefits to former Housing Authority employees hired by the City and County of SF.

 

YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Mayor London Breed, State Sen. Scott Wiener, State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting, Alice B Toklas LGBT Club, SEIU 1021, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Sierra Club, SPUR

 

NO: -none-

 

Proposition D: Vacancy Tax

Apply an increasing tax, starting at $250 per square foot, for any ground-level available retail property kept vacant for at least half of the calendar year. Use proceeds to help small businesses. Requires two-third of votes to pass.

 

YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Mayor London Breed, State Sen. Scott Wiener, State Asm. David Chiu, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Alice B Toklas LGBT Club, Haight-Ashbury Merchants Association, SEIU 1021, SF Sierra Club, SPUR

 

NO: SF Republican Party, SF Chamber of Commerce

 

Proposition E: Limits on Office Development

Tie the approval of large development projects to meeting affordable housing goals.

 

YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Bay Guardian, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Club, SEIU 1021, SF Sierra Club, SF Tenants Union, Todco (real estate developer)

 

NO: SF Green Party, SF Republican Party, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, State Sen. Scott Wiener, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Housing Action Coalition, SPUR
 

U.S. House of Representatives - 12th District

The San Francisco seat has been occupied by Nancy Pelosi (D), currently House Speaker, since 1987. Pelosi hinted that she may retire in 2022. She has five challengers this term.

 

Shahid Buttar (D) has progressive endorsements from the Berniecrats, League of Pissed Off Voters, SF Tenants Union, District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston, former Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez, former US Senator Mike Gravel, actress Susan Sarandon, and Dr. Cornel West.

 

John Dennis (R) has conservative endorsements from the SF Libertarian Party, SF Republican Party, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), SF Log Cabin Republicans, and Chinese American Alliance.

 

The other three candidates are Agatha Bacelar (D), Tom Gallagher (D), and DeAnna Lorraine (R).

 

CA State Senate - 11th District

Scott Wiener (D) seeks re-election and has endorsements from top officials (Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Kamala Harris, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Mayor London Breed), newspapers (Sing Tao Daily, Bay Area Reporter), and organizations (SEIU CA, Equality CA, CA Democratic Party, United Farm Workers, CA Bike Coalition).

 

Jackie FIelder (D) has endorsements from three Board of Supervisors (Gordon Mar, Dean Preston, Hillary Ronen), SF Democratic Party Chair David Campos, former State Asm. Tom Ammiano, former Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez, the SF Bay Guardian, SF Berniecrats, CA Teachers Association, and the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Club.

 

Erin Smith (R) has the backing of the SF Republican Party.

 

Democratic Party Presidential Primary

Eight main candidates remain in the race to be the nominee for the Democratic Party. There are also four minor candidates and seven approved write-in candidates for the Democratic Party. California has 416 pledged delegates tied to the results on March 3.

 

Joe Biden: fourth in Iowa, fifth in New Hampshire, second in Nevada

Endorsements include: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA), Secretary of State Alex Padilla (CA), Rep. Charlie Crist (FL), Gov. Andrew Cuomo (NY), former Secretary of State John Kerry, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, actor Alec Baldwin, Las Vegas Sun, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

 

Michael Bloomberg: not on the ballot for Iowa, New Hampshire, or Nevada

Endorsements include: SF Mayor London Breed, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Gov. Gina Raimondo (RI), author Thomas Friedman, Judge Judy Sheindlin, and actor Clint Eastwood.

 

Pete Buttigieg: first (though still contested) in Iowa delegates, second in New Hampshire, third in Nevada

Endorsements include: San Diego Union Tribune, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis (CA), State Sen. President Toni Atkins (CA), Austin Mayor Steve Adler, former Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, actor George Takei, actress Sharon Stone, musician Ben Harper, and Equality CA.

 

Tulsi Gabbard: eighth in Iowa, seventh in New Hampshire, seventh in Nevada

Endorsements include: Former Sen. Mike Gravel (AK), former Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH), former Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson (LIB), and singer Dave Navarro.

 

Amy Klobuchar: fifth in Iowa, third in New Hampshire, sixth in Nevada (based on county delegates)

Endorsements include: Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA), former Vice President Walter Mondale, singer Clay Aiken, actress Jane Lynch, SF Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, New York Times, Seattle Times, and Houston Chronicle.

 

Bernie Sanders: second in Iowa delegates, first in New Hampshire, first in Nevada

Endorsements include: SF District Attorney Chesa Boudin, former SF Supervisor Jane Kim, Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Attorney General Keith Ellison (MN), NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, writer Noam Chomsky, filmmaker Michael Moore, comedian Sarah Silverman, rappers Lizzo and Cardi B, SF Bay Guardian, and American Federation of Teachers.

 

Tom Steyer: seventh in Iowa, sixth in New Hampshire, fifth in Nevada

Endorsements include: State Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC), musicians TLC, and rapper MC Lyte.

 

Elizabeth Warren: third in Iowa, fourth in New Hampshire, fourth in Nevada

Endorsements include: State Sen. Scott Wiener (CA), State Asm. David Chiu (CA), Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro (TX), former Gov. Michael Dukakis (MA), soccer player Megan Rapinoe, singer John Legend, author Stephen King, and New York Times.