Candidates noted with a * are endorsed or supported by CDT, and candidates noted with a ** are endorsed by our partner regional tables. We will continue to provide weekly updates until through the final results. Please contact staff if you have any further questions.
CALIFORNIA VOTERS
Over 16 million ballots were mailed to voters for the primary election, 27% of which were returned by the deadline. There are nearly 2.4 million unprocessed ballots throughout the state, with several counties not having updated their totals since election day. Los Angeles has nearly 700,000 as of March 6, San Diego 350,000 as of March 4, Sacramento 150,000 as of March 10, Riverside 130,000 as of March 6, and Orange 126,000 as of March 9. Voter turnout will likely end up around 50%, which would be similar to the 2016 primary.
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION
Joseph R. Biden – 27.5% (+2.6% from March 4)
Michael R. Bloomberg (no longer running) – 13.0% (-1.3%)
Bernie Sanders – 34.2% (+0.6%)
Elizabeth Warren (no longer running) – 13.2% (+1.2%)
This list only includes candidates who have won at least 5% of the vote. Fifteen other candidates have between 0.0%-2.5% of the vote.
The federal administration is threatening, again, to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities. ICE is also increasing operations in sanctuary cities to try to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants. “The expanded surveillance operations and added manpower are the latest intensification in a conflict between the Trump administration and cities that refuse to help with deportations, including Boston, New York, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New Orleans and Newark. The effort began last month and will run through Dec. 31, according to the internal email, which says the initiative is called Operation Palladium. The latest directive is simple: Arrest as many undocumented immigrants as possible, and ‘flood the streets,’ as one official involved said his bosses had put it.”
CONGRESSIONAL RACES
CENTRAL VALLEY
All four Central Valley congressional races below are top priority races for CDT partner Communities for a New California.
Congressional District 10
Michael J. “Mike” Barkley (D) – 3.3 % (+0.2% since March 4)
Ryan Blevins (D) – 2.0% (no change)
Josh Harder (D – Incumbent) – 41.5% (+1.7%)
Bob Elliott (R) – 14.1% (-0.1%)
Ted Howze (R) – 35.7% (-1.8%)
Marla Sousa Livengood (R) – 3.4% (no change)
Democratic incumbent Josh Harder will face Republican Ted Howze in the general election. Howze is a large animal veterinarian with extensive experience serving in public office in Turlock.
Congressional District 16
Jim Costa (D – Incumbent) – 37.6% (+0.1% since March 4)
Esmeralda Soria (D) – 20.3% (+1.9%)
Kimberly Elizabeth Williams (D) – 5.7% (+0.1%)
Kevin Cookingham (R) – 36.4% (-2.1%)
Democratic incumbent Jim Costa, the most conservative Democrat in the House, outspent progressive Fresno City Councilmember Esmeralda Soria 4-to-1. Costa will face Republican Kevin Cookingham, a former counselor, educator and principal in the Clovis Unified School District, in the general election.
Congressional District 21
TJ Cox (D – Incumbent) – 38.0% (+1.9% since March 4)
Ricardo De La Fuente (D) – 8.2% (-0.1%)
Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente (R) – 2.4% (-0.1%)
David G. Valadao (R) – 51.5% (-1.6%)
TJ Cox is considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats as he seeks re-election against Republican David Valadao, who held this seat from 2012-2018 before he was defeated by Cox. In 2018, Cox lost the primary to Valadao, 37% to 63%, then won the general 51% to 49%, a 27-point swing. The race wasn’t called until Thanksgiving.
Congressional District 22
Phil Arballo (D) – 24.8% (+1.3% since March 4)
Bobby Bliatout (D) – 12.7% (+1.2%)
Dary Rezvani (D) – 3.0% (+0.1%)
Devin G. Nunes (R-Incumbent) – 56.9% (-2.5%)
Eric Garcia (NPP) – 2.6% (no change)
Andrew Janz — who narrowly lost to Republican incumbent Devin Nunes in 2018 — endorsed Democrat Phil Arballo, who will face Nunes in the general election.
LOS ANGELES
Congressional District 25 (Los Angeles)
Christy Smith (D) – 31.1% (+0.3% since March 4)
Cenk Uygur (D) – 5.6% (+0.4%)
Mike Garcia (R) – 24.5% (-1.0%)
Steve Knight (R) – 19.4% (-0.7%)
This list only includes candidates who have won at least 5% of the vote. Nine other candidates have between 0.5%-4.1% of the vote. CDT and Voices for Progress endorsed Christy in 2018 in her successful run for state assembly in AD38. Steve Knight is seeking to reclaim this seat that he lost in 2018 to Katie Hill, though Smith will face Republican Mike Garcia, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot and businessman.
ORANGE COUNTY
All three Orange County congressional races below are top priority Democratic protects for CDT partner Orange County Civic Engagement Table Action (OCCETA).
Congressional District 39 (Orange County)
Gil Cisneros (D-Incumbent) – 45.7% (+1.4% since March 4)
Young Kim (R) – 49.5% (-1.3%)
Steve Cox (NPP) – 4.8% (-0.1%)
Republican Young Kim is seeking to reclaim this seat that she lost to Cisneros in 2018.
Congressional District 45
Katie Porter (D-Incumbent) – 49.7% (+1.6% since March 4)
Peggy Huang (R) – 11.2% (-0.1%)
Greg Raths (R) – 18.3% (-0.6%)
Don Sedgwick (R) – 13.2% (-0.7%)
This list only includes candidates who have won at least 5% of the vote. Three other candidates have between 1.0%-4.1% of the vote. Republican Greg Raths is a Mission Viejo city councilmember and retired U.S. Marine Corps member.
Congressional District 48
Harley Rouda (D-Incumbent) – 46.0% (+2.3% since March 4)
Brian Burley (R) – 12.3% (-0.5%)
Michelle Steel (R) – 35.4% (-1.3%)
This list only includes candidates who have won at least 5% of the vote. Three other candidates have between 1.3%-2.6% of the vote. Republican Michelle Steele is a Korean American Orange County Supervisor.
SAN DIEGO
Congressional District 49 (which also includes a small portion of Orange County)
Mike Levin (D-Incumbent) – 55.5% (+2.7% since March 4)
Brian Maryott (R) – 44.5% (-2.7%)
Republican Brian Maryott is financial planner and Mayor of San Juan Capistrano.
Congressional District 50
Maria Calderon (D) – 5.2% (+0.1% since March 4)
Ammar Campa-Najjar* (D) – 36.3% (+1.9%)
Carl DeMaio (R) – 20.2% (-0.8%)
Darrell Issa (R) – 23.5% (-1.4%)
Brian W. Jones (R) – 10.8% (no change)
This list only includes candidates who have won at least 5% of the vote. Five other candidates have between 0.2%-2.1% of the vote. CDT supported Ammar when he narrowly lost this seat to then-Republican incumbent Duncan Hunter in 2018. We are supporting him again in 2020, and his candidacy is a priority for CDT partners Engage San Diego Action Fund and Alliance San Diego Mobilization Fund.
Congressional District 53
Janessa Goldbeck (D) – 8.6% (+1.2% since March 4)
Georgette Gómez (D) – 20.4% (+1.8%)
Sarah Jacobs (D) – 29.1% (-0.5%)
Michael Patrick Oristian (R) – 7.7% (-1.4%)
Famela Ramos (R) – 7.7% (-0.4%)
Chris Stoddard (R) – 13.5% (-0.5%)
This list only includes candidates who have won at least 5% of the vote. Nine other candidates have between 0.3%-3.4% of the vote. This district is currently represented by Democrat Susan Davis, who is retiring from this seat. This will be a very competitive Dem-on-Dem race.
STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES
Per Politico: “The oil industry is learning the same lesson in California as former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is nationally: money isn’t everything. Energy-producing companies deployed millions of dollars to push chosen candidates into runoffs for the state Legislature, but early returns show those investments aren’t yielding great returns. While the results are still shifting as ballots flow in, the early picture has some of the industry’s preferred Democrats running behind.”
Oil invested over $750,000 in support of Mani Grewal in SD5, over $1,000,000 each for Nora Campos in SD15 and Sylvia Rubio in AD57 (Sylvia being the sister of mod Dem Assemblymember Blanca Rubio and Senator Susan Rubio, whom oil helped win against CDT-endorsed Mike Eng in 2018). All three are likely not going to make it through to the general election. Oil is also supporting Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh in SD23, who is currently positioned to move into the general election with CDT-endorsed Democrat Abigail Medina.
Senate District 5 (Central Valley)
Susan Talamantes Eggman* (D) – 33.5% (+2.1% since March 4)
Mani Grewal (D) – 18.4% (+0.5%)
Jesús Andrade (R) – 16.6% (-0.1%)
Kathleen A. Garcia (R) – 5.8% (-0.3%)
Jim Ridenour (R) – 25.8% (-2.1%)
Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman is running to replace moderate Democrat Cathleen Galgiani, who is terming out. Susan will face Republican Jim Ridenour, former Modesto mayor, in the general election, a match-up that will favor her.
Senate District 7 (Contra Costa)
Steve Glazer (D – Incumbent) – 48.9% (+0.7% since March 4)
Marisol Rubio** (D) – 23.1% (+2.0%)
Julie Mobley (R) – 28.0% (-1.3%)
CDT partner Lift Up Contra Costa Action endorsed Marisol Rubio as the progressive challenger to Senator Steve Glazer, the most moderate of Senate Democrats and who is closely aligned with several industries. Rumor has it that Glazer recruited Republican Julie Mobley to push Marisol out of the general election.
Senate District 13 (Silicon Valley)
Josh Becker (D) – 23.6% (+3.2% since March 4)
Michael Brownrigg (D) – 11.8% (no change)
Sally J. Lieber (D) – 16.9% (+0.9%)
Shelly Masur (D) – 15.9% (+0.6%)
Annie Oliva (D) – 11.8% (-1.1%)
Alexander Glew (R) – 17.9 (-3.3%)
John H. Webster (LIB) – 2.1% (-0.3%)
This is a closely watched race to replace Democrat Jerry Hill, who is terming out and endorsed Josh Becker — who has ties to wealthy tech donors — for this seat. Sally Lieber served as a state assemblymember in an overlapping district and is being opposed by several industry interests for her progressive record. Shelly Masur is backed by a coalition of the California Federation of Teachers, California Medical Association and the California Teachers Association. Real estate interests are supporting Annie Oliva.
Senate District 15 (Silicon Valley)
Nora Campos (D) – 16.6% (-0.1% since March 4)
Dave Cortese* (D) – 34.0% (+1.0%)
Ann Ravel (D) – 22.0% (+2.2%)
Ken Del Valle (R) – 6.1% (-1.1%)
Robert Howell (R) – 10.2% (-1.9%)
Tim Gildersleeve (NPP) – 0.7% (no change)
Johnny Khamis (NPP) – 10.3% (-0.2%)
This is another closely watched race to replace Democrat Jim Beall, who is terming out. CDT and Voices for Progress endorsed Dave Cortese for this seat. This will be a very competitive Dem-on-Dem general election race.
Senate District 23 (Inland Empire)
Kris Goodfellow (D) – 17.4% (+0.4% since March 4)
Abigail Medina* (D) – 27.5% (+1.2%)
Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R) – 25.2% (+0.1%)
Cristina Puraci (R) – 8.0% (-0.4%)
Lloyd White (R) – 21.9% (-1.3%)
CDT and Voices for Progress endorsed Abigail Medina to flip this seat from Republican to Democrat. We endorsed her in 2016 when she narrowly lost an assembly race (challenging a Republican incumbent) that makes up half of this senate district. CDT partner Inland Empire United (IE United) is leading an independent expenditure in support of Abigail. Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh is a Latina realtor.
Senate District 28 (Inland Empire) – no changes in this race since March 4
Anna Nevenic (D) – 2.9%
Elizabeth Romero (D) – 21.7%
Joy Silver (D) – 20.6%
Melissa Melendez (R) – 41.5%
John Schwab (R) – 13.4%
This is a special election for Republican Jeff Stone’s seat after he was appointed to the federal Department of Labor. The run-off is May 12, 2020. One of IE United’s partners will support Elizabeth Romero’s candidacy for the run-off.
Senate District 29 (Orange County)
Joseph Cho (D) – 18.4% (+0.4% since March 4)
Josh Newman (D) – 33.1% (+0.4%)
Ling Ling Chang (R – Incumbent) – 48.5% (-0.8%)
Democrat Josh Newman is looking to reclaim this seat from Republican incumbent Ling Ling Chang. Newman defeated her in 2016 for this seat, but then was recalled in 2018 for his vote in support of the gas tax, and Chang re-took the seat in a special election that year.
Assembly District 9 (Sacramento)
Jim Cooper (D – Incumbent) – 43.5% (+1.7% since March 4)
Tracie Stafford (D) – 22.1% (+2.1%)
Mushtaq A. Tahirkheli (D) – 2.6% (-0.2%)
Eric M. Rigard (R) – 31.9% (-3.5%)
Jim Cooper is a former police chief and one of the most powerful moderate Democrats in the Assembly. He was recently one of the co-leaders of the informal moderate caucus. CDT partner Smart Justice California endorsed Tracie Stafford in this race.
Assembly District 36 (Los Angeles)
Johnathon Ervin* – 7.4% (+0.2% since March 4)
Steve Fox – 16.7% (+0.8%)
Diedra M. Greenaway – 5.8% (+0.2%)
Tom Lackey (R – Incumbent) – 54.6% (-2.0%)
This list only includes candidates who have won at least 5% of the vote. Four other candidates have between 2.7%-4.9% of the vote. CDT and Voices for Progress endorsed Johnathon Ervin to flip this seat. Steve Fox is a former Democratic assemblymember with a history of sexual misconduct. The Association of Realtors contributed to an independent expenditure for Fox, likely to ensure an easier race for Republican incumbent Tom Lackey.
Assembly District 42 (Inland Empire/Central Valley)
DeniAntionette Mazingo* (D) – 30.8% (+1.3% since March 4)
Andrew F. Kotyuk (R) – 33.7% (-1.0%)
Chad Mayes (NPP – Incumbent) – 35.4% (-0.4%)
CDT and Voices for Progress endorsed Deni Mazingo to flip this seat to Democratic. Mayes would be the first NPP elected to state office.
LOCAL RACES
Sacramento City Council District 4 – Nonpartisan
Katie Valenzuela – 53%
Steve Hansen (Incumbent) – 46%
Katie Valenzuela is is the Policy and Political Director of CDT partner California Environmental Justice Alliance and will be the most progressive member of the Sacramento City Council.
Fresno Mayor – Nonpartisan (Central Valley)
Jerry Dyer – 52.17% (-2.31% since March 4)
Andrew Janz – 39.27% (+3.12%)
This list only includes candidates who have won at least 5% of the vote. Five other candidates have between 0.52%-2.31% of the vote. CDT partner Communities for a New California is prioritizing this race, supporting Andrew Janz (who ran as a Democrat and came within 5 points of defeating Republican incumbent Devin Nunes in Congressional District 22 in 2018) to defeat Jerry Dyer, a conservative former police chief. Dyer can win this race outright with over 50% of the primary vote, a problematic policy that favors incumbents and conservatives and disenfranchises voters who turn out for general elections.
Los Angeles District Attorney – Nonpartisan
Jackie Lacey (Incumbent) – 49.94% (-0.75% since March 4)
George Gascón* – 27.66% (+0.83%)
Rachel Rossi – 22.40% (-0.07%)
CDT endorsed George Gascón in his challenge to conservative incumbent Jackie Lacey. Lacey failed to secure more than 50% of the vote (and her votes are trending downward), forcing a run-off in the general election. This was only possible with the independent expenditure led by CDT partner LA Voice Action and supported by several CDT donors.
On a related note, LA County voters approved Measure R (71.95% Yes to 28.05% No), the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission Ordinance, that would allow the commission to investigate the sheriff’s office independently.
Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, District 2 – Nonpartisan
Herb J. Wesson Jr. – 31.41% (-0.68% since March 4)
Holly J. Mitchell* – 27.34% (+1.83%)
Jan C. Perry – 11.96% (-0.30%)
Albert Robles – 11.02% (-0.36%)
Jorge Nuño – 6.40% (-0.24%)
Jake Jeong – 6.36% (-0.18%)
René Lorenzo Rigard – 5.51% (-0.7%)
CDT endorsed Senator Holly Mitchell for this seat and several CDT donors have supported an independent expenditure on her behalf and led by LA Voice Action as she faces LA City Council President Herb Wesson.
San Diego Mayor – Nonpartisan
Todd Gloria** – 42.21% (+1.98% since March 4)
Scott Sherman – 23.30% (-1.87%)
Barbara Bry – 23.03% (-0.58%)
Tasha Williamson – 6.42 (+0.69%)
Gita Appelbaum Singh – 2.96% (-0.02%)
Rich Riel – 2.08% (+0.2%)
CDT partner Engage San Diego Action Fund endorsed Todd Gloria in this race to replace a termed out Republican with a progressive Democrat. Barbara Bry is also a progressive Democrat.