By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer
The vote certification for San Diego’s regional primary election is coming this Thursday, April 4. The last time Voice & Viewpoint checked in with readers the registrar of voters had 360,000 counted votes. Now it is reported the total counted votes is over 700,000—here is how that margin has shifted local campaign races and which candidates will return in a runoff campaign again come November.
This primary election gave San Diego voters the opportunity to select their preferred candidates to run in the November general election. Races that will be continuing on to the primary are candidates who did not garner over 50% of the vote. This November there will be 4 local runoffs in Assembly Districts 74, 75, 76, and 79.
Local to Southeastern San Diego, the 79th Assembly District runoff to fill Akilah Weber’s spot will be a tight call. La Mesa City Councilmember Colin Parent has secured his spot for the runoff, but the candidate coming with him is close between two Black female candidates—Lashae Sharp-Collins who has 30.31% of votes, and Racquel Vasquez who has 30.1% of votes. As of April 1st, the difference between them is by 111 votes.
Other likely runoffs as of press time include:
- Assembly District 75 Runoff: Republican Carl Demaio 42.9%, followed by Republican Andrew Hayes, 18.6%
- Assembly District 76 Runoff:Republican Kristice Bruce-Lane-49.4%, and Democrat Darshana Patel 34.15%
Assembly District 74 may result in a runoff as well, Republican Laurie Davis holds 50.5% of the vote, but Democrat Chris Duncan is only behind by 1.5%, at 49.5%.
Meanwhile, early polling results from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters indicate that this year’s voter turnout rate is notably lower than in previous years, at 36%. In 2020 and in 2021 the primary turnout rate was at 50%.
Local positions that garnered over 50% of the vote and will not have to go into a runoff are:
- State Senator 39th District: Akilah Weber
- San Diego City Council Special District 4 : Henry Foster
- San Diego City Council District 3: Stephen Whitburn
- San Diego City Council District 9: Sean Elo Rivera
- City of San Diego City Attorney: Heather Ferbert
According to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, the official vote certification will be announced April 4th after 5 PM. For a full list of early poll results, feel free visit: www.livevoterturnout.com/ENR/sandiego
What did YOU think about this year’s primary election results? Share your Voice with us at: [email protected]
Macy Meinhardt is a part of the inaugural cohort of California Berkeley Local News Fellowship program funded by the state of California.
