California Primary Election – 2024

photo of the White House by Aaron Kitteridge from Pexels

California was among the 15 states and one territory that participated in the 2024 primary election (March 9, 2024). Technically, there were two primary elections – one for Democrats, and one for Republicans. This year’s ballot included a list of people who were running for president, and a list of those running for U.S. Senate.

California Presidential Democratic Primary

Joe Biden (President of United States): votes: 2,344,271 – 89.5% (The Hill)
Marianne Williamson (Author, speaker, politician): votes: 98.238 % (The Hill)
Dean Phillips: (Co-founder of Talenti gelato): votes: 74,607 – 2.8% (The Hill)
Armando Perez-Serrato: (Substitute teacher, para-educator) votes: 32,845- 1.2% (Ballotpedia)
Gabriel Cornejo (Progressive and social justice issues) votes: 31,771 – 1.2% (The Politics Watcher)
President Boddie (Conservative Democrat) votes: 19,517 – 0.7% (California’s voters guide)
Stephen Lyons Sr. (Retired four-star general) votes: 16,841 – 0.6% (Wikipedia)
Eban Cambridge (Healthcare reform, climate change) votes: 9,006 – 0.3% (The Hill)

California Presidential Republican Primary

Donald J. Trump (former President of the United States) votes: 1,495,835 – 78.8% (The Hill)
Nikki Haley (Former 116th Governor of South Carolina) votes: 337,113 – 17.8% (The Hill)
Ron DeSantis (Governor of Florida) votes: 27,647 – 1.5% (The Hill)
Chris Christie (former 55th Governor of New Jersey) votes: 16,385 – 0.9% (The Hill)
Vivek Ramaswamy (American entrepreneur) votes: 8,095 – 0.4% (The Hill)
Rachel Swift (Employer and Manager of a small business) votes: 3,375 – 0.2% (The Hill)
David Stuckenberg (Co-founder and first CEO of Genesis Systems) votes: 3,071 – 0.2% (The Hill)
Ryan Binkley (Pastor of Create Church) votes: 2,935 – 0.2% (Wikipedia)
Asa Hutchinson (former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson) votes: 2,683 – 0.1% (ABC News)

California switched to a top-two primary system in 2011, which does not apply to elections for U.S. President, county central committees or local office races, USA TODAY, reported. In a statement at the time, then-California Secretary of State Debra Bowen praised the new process, saying it “simplifies the process and offers more choices.”

However, it has been heavily criticized by both Democrats and Republicans since taking effect, saying it could lead to one party shut out of the general election, and alleging it encourages strategies that some disagree with…

…While voters navigate this nonpartisan “jungle” primary format, this year they must also reckon with ballots that list the open seat twice.

The Senate race is to fill late-Dianne Feinstein’s seat, which she held for 30 years until her death in September at the age of 90. As a result, voters will be faced with two Senate race options on their March primary ballots — one for the remainder of Feinstein’s term ending January 3, 2025, and the other for a full six-year term ending 2031. The same goes for November ballots.

California Senate Election – 2024

Voters are headed to the California Senate primary, as polling shows, Rep. Adam Smith (D) leading the crowd of California Senate contenders, with Rep. Katie Porter (D) and Republican Steve Garvey hovering around second place. (The Hill)

Porter is hoping to secure second-place and advance into November’s runoff in the state’s “top two” primary. All candidates, regardless of party affiliation, will be placed on the same ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to November.

Shiff, Porter, Garvey and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) are running to serve a full term that was vacated by the late Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) and is temporarily being filled by Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif) who decided against running for a full term.

California US Senate Primary