2024 Primary Election Guide: San Diego Assembly Districts

Democrats currently hold a 62 to 18 supermajority in Sacramento. It is unlikely the GOP will gain enough seats to break this hold this year. Republicans’ political weakness forces them into a position of trashing California so they can get attention when they go to the media and say “see, government doesn’t work.” So, negativity is their watchword. Illusion is their inspiration. And a mob boss-type guy who spends his day ranting is their leader.

San Diego includes six Assembly Districts. Three of those districts are NOT having primary elections, either because there are only two candidates (D74 & D80) or the incumbent is running unopposed (D78). 

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• District 75 - East San Diego County Orange County to Mexico Border
  Includes portions of Escondido, Poway, Santee, El Cajon 

Current Assembly member- Marie Waldron R (termed out)

This is the reddest part of the county, and the only district where Republican voter registrations are higher than that of Democrats. It’s Darrell Issa territory. There hasn’t been a Democrat elected to the 75th district since 1992. This is an open seat, it’s not surprising to see this many candidates on the ballot

Since Carl DeMaio is on the ballot, expect to see slime on the campaign trail. There are TV ads railing against something-something-immigration that are aimed at boosting the notion that De Maio’s real opponent is Democrat Kevin Juza.  

What the three time loser aims to do is squeeze Republican Party endorsed candidate Andrew Hayes out of the top two primary, giving DeMaio a clear shot in November.

• Democrats Running:

Christie Dougherty, teacher - https://www.facebook.com/Christiedoughertyfor75thDistrict/. A political newbie selling a rational and polite approach to politics.

Joy Frew, Retired, https://frewforassembly.com/ The founder of Fallbrook Climate Action Team and activist with that city’s Democratic Club brings a focus on criticizing investor-owned utilities and building a more sustainable grid to the table.

Kevin Juza, Businessman - https://www.kevinjuza.com/ He’s run for office before in Poway and lost twice. This time, he’s got the endorsement of local Democratic and Labor groups, and promises, if elected, that he’ll bring projects in for the district with high paying union-jobs. He’s the Democrat with the most name recognition.

• Republicans Running

Carl DeMaio. Businessman, https://carldemaio.com/ He’s the man fighting “special interests” and hoovering up email addresses and small donor funding. DeMaio is one of the few political forces locally generating bi-partisan disgust. 

Jack Fernandes, Business owner, https://www.fernandesforassembly.com/ He wants you to believe his election would bring lower taxes and stem the exodus of companies and individuals fleeing California. Maybe he should try making some promises he could keep and run for dog catcher.

Andrew Hayes, Lakeside Union School District Board of Trustees, https://www.electandrewhayes.com/ He’s worked for two notable conservative State Senators and promises to support law enforcement in the face of (a largely imaginary) crime wave.

The big guns in Republican politics in California are behind him, along with local branches of the law enforcement industrial complex. And just to make sure Carl DeMaio doesn’t muck things up, you will see Trump signs everywhere in his messaging.

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• District 76 - Non- coastal areas from Carmel Valley to San Pasqual Valley. Includes portions of Poway, Escondido, Vista, San Marcos

Incumbent Assemblyman Democrat Brian Maienschein is termed out. Democrats have a roughly 6 point lead in terms of voter registration

Thing to watch is this race will be who gets the number two spot for the November ballot.

• Democrats Running

Darshana Patel, Scientist, Poway Unified Board of Education- https://patelforassembly.com/ She’s paid some partisan dues along the way, and is the endorsed candidate of the Democratic Party, along with a lot of the state and region’s Dem elected officials  She ran for school board promising to fix a disaster, delivered, and convincingly won re-election.

Joseph Rocha, Marine officer and Attorney, https://www.rochaforassembly.com/ He ran an uphill battle in losing to State Senator Brian Jones two years ago, and likely has retained name recognition in the area. He’s got his own set of labor endorsements, starting with the California Labor Federation, along with unions representing state and local government workers, and finishing with an also impressive list of politicos. The fact that he was discharged from the Navy for being gay has won him support from LGBTQ+ organizations.

• Republican Running

Kristie Bruce-Lane, businesswoman and victims advocate, https://www.kristiebrucelane.com/ The former director of the Olivenhain Municipal Water District ran against Brian Maienschein for this seat in 2022. 

This time out, she’s got the clout of a credible list of just about every Republican you could think of, along with the County GOP’s blessing. Her campaign is centered around “bringing common sense to Sacramento,” and the mythology of crime being on the increase. The way I see it, she’s running on one undeliverable and one big lie 

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• District 77- Coastal area from Carlsbad to Coronado Strand. Includes cities (or portions) of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, San Diego, Coronado

Democrats have a 16 point lead over Republicans in terms of voter registration. One in four voters are No Party Preference, so there’s a lot of ‘give; in the electorate.

• Democratic Candidates

The incumbent is two term Democrat Tasha Boerner Horvath, https://tashaboerner.com/ She’s kept herself in a high profile position by writing and sponsoring a lot of legislation on varied issues. It’s hard to see her not making the general election ballot and likely going back to Sacramento next year.

Henny Kupferstein, Democrat, Autism Researcher, https://www.facebook.com/HennyKupferstein  is running to  provide a voice for the neurodivergent — she has autism herself. She says her priorities are financial accountability and transparency for government program spending.

• Republican Candidate

James Browne, Entrepreneur/Financial Advisor, https://browne4assembly.com/home. His candidacy seems like a placeholder to have the term Republican appear on the ballot.  His campaign website has lots of generic positivity and says he has no endorsements.

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• District 78- Central Northern San Diego Includes cities (or portions) of: San Diego, El Cajon

Incumbent Democrat Chris Ward, https://voteforward.com/ has no challenger and therefore won’t be on this ballot.

Republicans consider this district unwinnable; Democrats have a better than 2 to 1 advantage in voter registration and the seat traditionally has gone to LGBTQ+ candidates.

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• District 79 - Central San Diego County. Includes cities (or portions) of: San Diego, Spring Valley, La Mesa, El Cajon

Incumbent Democrat Dr. Akilah Weber is running for State Senate.

• Democratic Candidates

Colin Parent, Councilmember in La Mesa and CEO of Circulate San Diego, https://colinparent.org/ He’s been involved in enviro friendly groups for so long that lefties in OB consider him a corporate tool. No wonder, since Parent is beloved by the YIMBY movement. He’s got a solid group of organized labor endorsements, along with the support of many local elected Democrats. He’s played mostly within the system in advocating for causes, driven by a high level of consciousness about climate change.

LaShae Sharp-Collins, Adjunct professor at San Diego State University, https://www.lashaeforassembly.com/ has two high profile backers that count, namely the state Democratic party and outgoing incumbent Dr. Akilah Weber. She’s got a sizable group of state legislators, unions representing state workers, and many core party activists behind her. Her life history is centered around educational attainment, and I’m guessing that will carry over to Sacramento.

Her experience as District Director for former Assembly member Shirley Weber gives her a built-in edge, in my opinion.

Racquel Vasquez, Mayor of Lemon Grove since 2016, https://www.racquelvasquez.com/ and first Black city mayor in San Diego County. . You have to ask yourself, how is it that this assembly primary features three high profile candidates? 

Vasquez’s record as Mayor is full of accomplishments leading into her running for higher office; she balanced the city budget for the first time in many years and Lemon Grove is the only city in the County of San Diego to meet the State of California affordable housing mandate. 

One thing is for sure, D79 is fertile ground for emerging Democratic candidates, with the party having a 27 point edge over the GOP in registered voters. That’s why there are no Republicans in the contest. I see Vasquez and Parent vying for second place on the November ballot.

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• District 80 -South San Diego County. Includes cities (or portions) of San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, San Ysidro, Bonita

Incumbent Democrat David Alvarez, https://www.davidalvarez.com/ is well known in the district, having served as a San Diego City Councilman for eight years.   

Republican Michael W. Williams, retired Intelligence Officer, https://www.mikeforad80.org/ is his party’s sacrificial lamb for this contest. He’s right out of central casting, based on perusing his campaign website.

This quote about the unhoused population kind of says it all: “There needs to be discipline for the undisciplined in order to make them productive members of society.”

Because there are only two candidates in this district, the primary is canceled; they will face each other in November.

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Previously: CA’s Presidential Primary, CA Proposition One, San Diego Mayor, City Attorney,  San Diego City Council
Next Up: California 39th State Senate Contest-Passing the torch to Akilah Weber

(In a couple of weeks, I will publish a condensed voter guide)