With California's accepted ballot numbers standing at 11.2% as of today, there's a good chance you haven't voted yet. Analysts believe we could rival 2012 (31.1%) with the lowest presidential primary turnout over the past century. The two parties already seem destined for a sequel match-up for the Presidency in the fall. The only other major statewide race is for Dianne Feinstein's former seat.
In San Francisco, seven initiatives - ranging from public assistance to algebra - will supplement the single statewide measure promoting mental health treatment. The House race here will likely result in a top-two finish for Nancy Pelosi and GOP-endorsed Bruce Lou.
In California, you may register to vote on Election Day and vote provisionally (meaning the bureaucracy needs to validate your registration status before counting your ballot). Election Day is less than a week away (March 5). You must postmark your ballot by that day, or drop it off at a California precinct on Election Day. Early in-person voting is also available for the majority of California voters. Or cast your ballot in person on Election Day like I do!
- U.S. Senate -
Adam Schiff (D-Burbank): House of Representative (District 30) since 2001; House Intelligence Committee Chair (2019-23); lead impeachment manager in first trial against President Trump; first Congressional member to participate in the AIDS/LifeCycle; former California State Senator (1997-2001)
Endorsements: Speaker Emerita Rep. Nancy Pelosi, State Assm. Phil Ting, SF Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, SF City Attorney David Chiu, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Sen. Barbara Boxer, former SF Mayor Art Agnos, LA Times, La Opiniรณn, United Farm Workers
Steve Garvey (R): former first baseman for the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres; sports marketing firm founder
Endorsements: San Diego Police Officers Association
Katie Porter (D-Irvine): House of Representative (District 47) since 2019; Congressional Progressive Caucus deputy chair; studied under Harvard Law Professor Elizabeth Warren
Endorsements: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), CA Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Sen. Scott Wiener, SF Chronicle, United Auto Workers
Barbara Lee (D-Oakland): House of Representative (District 12) since 1998; former California State Senator (1997-98); former California State Assemblymember (1991-97); sole Congressional member to vote against the War in Afghanistan; former Black Panther Party member
Endorsements: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-LA), CA Attorney General Rob Bonta, CA State Controller Malia Cohen, CA State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CA Secretary of State Shirley Weber, SF Mayor London Breed, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, LA Mayor Karen Bass, author Gloria Steinem, Bay Area Reporter, Sacramento Bee, SF Bay Guardian, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters
- Initiatives -
CA Proposition 1: Mental Health Treatment
Authorizes $6.38 billion in bonds for mental health treatment facilities and supportive housing; changes the spending requirements from the tax revenues of the Mental Health Services Act (2004).
YES: CA Democratic Party, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, SF Mayor London Breed, SF District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Bay Area Reporter, LA Times, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, CA Chamber of Commerce, CA Hospital Association, CA Professional Firefighters, GrowSF, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU CA, SF Labor Council, SPUR, Swords to Plowshares
NO: CA Peace and Freedom Party, SF Green Party, OC Register, ACLU of Northern California, Disability Rights (CA), League of Women Voters (CA)
SF Proposition A: Affordable Housing
Authorize $300 million in bonds for affordable housing.
YES: SF Democratic Party, Speaker Emerita Rep. Nancy Pelosi, State Sen. Scott Wiener, State Assm. Phil Ting, Mayor London Breed, all 11 Board of Supervisors, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, GrowSF, SEIU 1021, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Labor Council, Sierra Club SF, SPUR
NO: SF Green Party, SF Republican Party
SF Proposition B: Police Officer Staffing
Set and fund minimum police officer staffing levels, but with the requirement of a new or amended tax in the future.
YES: SF Democratic Party, State Assm. Matt Haney, SEIU 1021, SF Labor Council
NO: SF Green Party, SF Republican Party, State Sen. Scott Wiener, Mayor London Breed, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, Golden Gate Restaurant Association, GrowSF, League of Pissed Off Voters, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Tenants Union
SF Proposition C: Real Estate Transfer Tax Changes
Boost office conversions to residential property; change the methodology for setting office space development and transfer tax rates.
YES: SF Republican Party, Speaker Emerita Rep. Nancy Pelosi, State Sen. Scott Wiener, Mayor London Breed, Bay Area Reporter, SF Chronicle, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, Golden Gate Restaurant Association, GrowSF, SF Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club SF, SPUR
NO: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, SF Bay Guardian, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, MEDA, SEIU 1021, SF Labor Council, SF Tenants Union
SF Proposition D: Local Ethics Laws
Strengthen and standardize ethics laws related to gifts, relationships, and non-work activities.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, SF Republican Party, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, GrowSF, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU 1021, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Labor Council, SF Tenants Union, SPUR
NO:
SF Proposition E: Police Department Policies
Modify SFPD procedures, including the increased use of technology and less administrative burden.
YES: SF Republican Party, State Sen. Scott Wiener, Mayor London Breed, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, Golden Gate Restaurant Association, GrowSF, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Police Officers Association
NO: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, ACLU of Northern California, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU 1021, SF Labor Council, SF Tenants Union
SF Proposition F: Cash Assistance Drug Requirements
Require certain cash assistance recipients who appear to be dependent on illegal drugs to participate in screening, evaluation, and treatment for drug dependency as a condition to receive most of those benefits.
YES: SF Republican Party, Mayor London Breed, Golden Gate Restaurant Association, GrowSF
NO: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, State Assm. Matt Haney, Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Sing Tao Daily, ACLU of Northern California, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, Glide, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU 1021, SF AIDS Foundation, SF Labor Council, SF Tenants Union, SPUR
SF Proposition G: Algebra
Encourage SFUSD to offer Algebra 1 to students by their eighth-grade year.
YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, SF Republican Party, 10 Board of Supervisors, Bay Area Reporter, SF Chronicle, GrowSF, SF Chamber of Commerce
NO: Supervisor Shamann Walton, SF Bay Guardian, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, SEIU 1021
