Candidates Vie For 6 San Diego Assembly Seats, State Senate Seat In Final Push To Primary

By Elizabeth Ireland, Times of San Diego

March 5, 2024

Tuesday’s primary election features races in six state Assembly districts across San Diego County, as well as one state Senate district.

The lone state Senate race in San Diego County will take place in the 39th District, where two contenders are seeking to replace Toni Atkins, who announced that she will be running for governor.

Democrat Akilah Weber, who served as an Assembly member for the 79th District, will face off against Republican Bob Divine, a retired Navy commander. Since there are only two candidates in the race, both will advance to the November general election, regardless of the outcome Tuesday.

The 39th state Senate District stretches from Solana Beach to southern San Diego, and east into San Pasqual Valley.

In the 74th Assembly District, which covers North County and extends into the southern portion of Orange County, Republican incumbent Laurie Davies and Democrat Chris Duncan are seeking the seat.

Davies was first elected to the district in 2020, and defeated Duncan in 2022.

Davies’ campaign says making housing more affordable, investing in transportation improvements and public safety, and removing the nuclear waste stored at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station elsewhere are among her chief priorities. She also says she would address homelessness by increasing the number of emergency shelters, putting resources into drug addiction and mental health treatment centers and support laws that place barriers on mandated treatment.

Duncan, who is currently the mayor of San Clemente and a former federal prosecutor, says he will pursue tougher gun safety laws, supports women’s reproductive rights, and look to restore local beaches and fix the coastal rail line.

With only two candidates on the primary ballot, Davies and Duncan will both advance to the November general election.

One of the larger races will take place in the 75th Assembly District, which covers much of the inland portions of the county, as well as a small portion of Riverside County.

With incumbent Marie Waldron terming out, six candidates are seeking to take her seat.

Two Republican candidates, Carl DeMaio and Andrew Hayes, are likely to be the top two vote-getters in a district that has favored Republicans.

DeMaio, a former San Diego City Council member, has frequently sought political office, but has been unsuccessful in past campaigns for Congress and San Diego mayor.

Hayes, president of the Lakeside Union School District Board of Trustees, has received Waldron’s endorsement, as well as the endorsement of the San Diego County Republican Party, among others.

Rounding out the 75th District race are teacher Christie Dougherty, a Democrat; biotech entrepreneur Jack Fernandes, a Republican; retired government employee Joy Frew, a Democrat; and local business owner Kevin Juza, a Democrat.

In the 76th District, which is mostly concentrated in North County but covers some of the northernmost portion of San Diego, three candidates are running to succeed Brian Maienschein, who is running for San Diego City Attorney.

Kristie Bruce-Lane, a Republican, previously ran against Maienschein in 2022. Bruce-Lane, a businesswoman and victims’ advocate, names among her chief issues the reduction of high living costs, increasing public safety, and addressing homelessness through the “enforcement of our laws,” as well as working to treat “addiction/substance abuse, mental health, and poverty in our communities.”

Darshana Patel, a research scientist and Poway Unified school board member, has received the endorsement of the San Diego County Democratic Party. She cites education, income inequality, climate change, and addressing homelessness through affordable housing, mental health infrastructure and addition treatment, as some of her primary concerns.

Joseph Rocha, a Marine officer, lawyer and Democrat, says public safety, housing and homelessness and the rising costs of living are the biggest issues facing the district. His endorsements include San Diego County Supervisors Nora Vargas and Terra Lawson-Remer, San Diego County Firefighters – CAL FIRE Local 2881, and the California Teachers Association.

In 77th Assembly District, a coastal district stretching from Carlsbad down to the border, incumbent Tasha Boerner is looking to keep her seat, with challenges from autism researcher Henny Kupferstein, and financial adviser James Browne.

Boerner, a Democrat, says solving homelessness by addressing its root causes, helping people manage the high costs of living, and addressing climate change and other environmental issues are her key points of concern.

Kupferstein, a Democrat, says she will advocate for the neurodivergent and aging populations and address homelessness through housing first policies.

Browne, a Republican, says his primary concerns are addressing mental health problems and food insecurity issues that lead to homelessness, helping small business owners, and protecting the environment.

Three candidates are vying to represent the 79th Assembly District, which covers southeastern San Diego and up into El Cajon, as its representative, Akilah Weber, is running for state senate.

Colin Parent, a Democrat who serves on the La Mesa City Council, has the endorsements of several local Democratic leaders such as Rep. Scott Peters, and Assembly members Chris Ward, Tasha Boerner and David Alvarez. Parent has identified repairing damaged roadways and addressing affordable housing shortages as some of his chief concerns.

LaShae Sharp-Collins, San Diego County Office of Education community engagement specialist, is endorsed by Weber and the California Democratic Party, among others. Her key issues include prioritizing equity in education, solving homelessness through increased funding for services and affordable housing, and addressing environmental hazards she says disproportionately impact the 79th District.

Racquel Vasquez, mayor of Lemon Grove, says she would revitalize the local economy, advocate for affordable housing, and combat homelessness by supporting programs that provide services for mental health and substance use.

In the 80th Assembly District, which covers south San Diego County, Democratic incumbent David Alvarez faces off against Republican challenger Michael Williams.

Alvarez, who also previously served on the San Diego City Council, says he will support policies that spur affordable housing construction.

Williams, a retired Navy officer, says he supports public safety, a state educational voucher system, and a “tough love” approach to homelessness.

In the 78th Assembly District, incumbent Chris Ward is running unopposed.

The top two vote-getters in the other races will advance to the November election.

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