Election Season Is Around The Corner. Are You Stressed Yet?

Highlighting California’s race for Senate, local measures on the ballot, and polling data for statewide elections.

Image c/o Getty image

By Jenevieve Monroe 
News Editor

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While Saint Mary’s students are cramming to persevere through this wet and dreary February, millions of Californians are preparing their ballots for the upcoming primary election on March 5th.  This year’s media headlines have highlighted the race of candidates seeking to succeed late Senator Diane Feinstein. She announced in February 2023, that she would not run for reelection in 2024. Later that September she passed away, leaving behind a legacy as America’s longest serving female Senator. Feinstein’s trailblazing career has inspired citizens across the state to seek out her Senate spot. As of late February, the four remaining frontrunners include: 

Adam Schiff (D), Lawyer and former Congressman
Steve Garvey (R), former Dodgers player and businessman
Katie Porter (D), Lawyer and Congresswoman
Barbara Lee (D), Social worker, Congresswoman, and small business owner

These candidates attended their third and final debate on Tuesday evening (February 20th). They discussed issues like “career politicians” abusing DC budgets and raising inflation, the return of earmarked funding, oil inflation and climate policy. There was also a heated round of accusations against certain candidates for accepting corporate money “from Big Pharma, Big Oil, and the Big Bank executives.”

An updated poll released by Emerson College shows Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff to be in the lead with an overall 28% voter approval rate.  He is followed by Republican Steve Garvey at 22%, Democratic Rep. Katie Porter with 16%, and Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee at 9%.  There is still a notable margin of undecided voters, polling at approximately 17%.  With such a large margin of uncertainty, who knows what the upcoming weeks may hold?

The East Bay’s District 12 is also hosting elections for a new representative this year.  Expect to see three candidates on the ballot: 

Tony Daysog (D), Alameda vice mayor
Lateefah Simon (D), Nonprofit foundation president
Jennifer Tran (D),  Professor/Chamber President

If you weren’t already stressed out with decisions, prepare to be. Last, but not least, are some of the presidential candidates! You can find the full list of candidates online at California’s Secretary of State webpage.  To keep it simple, expect to see six major names on the ballot [endorsed by SF Chronicle]:

Nicki Haley (R), former UN ambassador
Donald Trump (R), former President
Joe Biden (D), US President
Dean Phillips (D), Member of Congress
Jill Stein, Political activist
Cornel West, Political activist

While politicians fight their way up the approval ratings, California voters are looking to see what topics they ought to expect at the booths.  Voters statewide get the opportunity to weigh in on a single prop issue in March, but will have more to choose from by November. Here’s what to expect for the first proposition:

PROP 1, “Mental health care reform including bond measure to fund treatment beds”
“Proposition 1 would shift the way California spends tax revenue from the Mental Health Services Act to cover addiction treatment and housing. It would also authorize $6.38 billion in bond funding to build residential mental health treatment facilities. It’s part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to get people with severe mental illness who are languishing on the streets into housing and treatment.”

Make sure all local property owners check their ballots this year! In Contra Costa County, one of the proposed measures has specifically requested $52 million in bonds for the Moraga School District.  These bonds are intended to fund the district’s building and facility infrastructure. If Measure D passes, the district will pay for the bonds “by levying $30 per $100,000 in assessed value on property.” A similar measure will be on the ballot for the Antioch School District as well.  With a request worth $195 million, the district intends to pay for the bonds “by levying an additional $48 per $100,000 of assessed value for property.”  

There’s a lot going on for Saint Mary’s students in the next few weeks.
 Hang in there voters, we’ll get through it.