Brace yourselves, it’s a long June primary ballot

When registered voters receive their voting materials for the June primary in the mail starting later this month, they will see a long list of candidates.

For example, there are 27 running for governor, 32 for U.S. senator and, depending on their congressional district, could be selecting between seven (52nd District) and 16 (49th District) candidates. There will also be five statewide propositions referred by the California State Legislature.

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters staff will start mailing the packets on April 26, according to its website at sdvote.com. The first day vote-by-mail ballots will be available is May 7.

Candidates below were listed as qualified as of April 3, according to the Registrar’s website.

► In the 52nd Congressional District incumbent Scott Peters, a Democrat who has held the office since 2012, is facing six Republican challengers. They are Michael Allman (a direct democracy advocate), Danny Casara (a retired Army sergeant), Jeffrey Cullen (an internal medicine doctor), John Horst (a cyber security engineer), Omar Qudrat (a counter terrorism attorney) and James Veltmeyer (a physician and surgeon).

In addition to Rancho Bernardo and Poway, the sprawling 52nd District includes Carmel Mountain Ranch, Black Mountain Ranch and Rancho Peñasquitos.

► The 49th Congressional District, which includes 4S Ranch, has 16 qualified candidates. They are seeking to fill the office held by Republican Darrell Issa since 2001. He is not seeking re-election.

Democrats running for the office are Doug Applegate (a retired Marine Corps colonel whom Issa narrowly defeated in 2016), Sara Jacobs (an education nonprofit CEO), Paul Kerr (small-business owner) and Mike Levin (a clean energy advocate)

Republican candidates are Rocky Chávez (Assemblyman representing the 76th District), Kristin Gaspar (San Diego County Supervisor representing District 3), Diane Harkey (represents the California State Board of Equalization’s 4th District), Brian Maryott (mayor pro-tem in San Juan Capistrano), David Medway (a physician), Craig Nordal (a real estate businessman), Mike Schmitt (a neuroaudiologist) and Joshua Schoonover (a patent attorney).

Other candidates are Libertarian Joshua Hancock (no career listed), Peace and Freedom Party member Jordan Mills (a Southwestern College professor), Robert Pendleton (a surgeon, businessman and artist) with no party preference and Green Party member Danielle St. John (a human rights advocate).

► In the 77th Assembly District, incumbent Brian Maienschein (a Republican who has held the office since 2012) is being challenged by Democrat Sunday Gover, a small-businesswoman. The district includes Rancho Bernardo, Poway, 4S Ranch, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Sabre Springs and Rancho Peñasquitos.

► There are three candidates in the state Senate 38th District race, who are seeking to succeed the termed-out Joel Anderson, a Republican who has held the office since 2010. They are Democrat Jeff Griffith (a fire captain and paramedic), Republican Brian Jones (a former Assemblyman) and Libertarian Antonio Salguero (a business owner). The district includes Poway, Carmel Mountain Ranch and Sabre Springs.

► In countywide offices, incumbent Ernest Dronenburg, Jr., the county’s assessor, recorder and clerk, is being challenged by Matt Strabone, an ethics attorney.

► District Attorney Summer Stephan, who was appointed to the office last year, is being challenged by Genevieve Jones Wright, a deputy public defender.

► Sheriff Bill Gore, who has held the office since 2009, is being challenged by Dave Myers, a commander in the sheriff’s department.

► Not facing any opposition in his re-election bid is San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister, who has held the office since 2002.

► County Board of Education 5th District incumbent Rick Shea, who has held the office since 2015, is being challenged by Cheryl James-Ward, an educator and professor. The district includes Poway Unified School District communities west of Pomerado Road.

► There are 47 superior court seats up for election, but only two are contested. For Office No. 28, incumbent Herbert J. Exarhos is challenged by Vicki Rothman (an attorney and business owner). For Office No. 37, incumbent Gary Kreep is challenged by Matt Brower (a deputy district attorney), Steve Miller (a retired federal prosecutor), Tim Nader (a deputy attorney general) and Victor Torres (a private practice lawyer).

Other elections in the June primary include governor (27 candidates), lieutenant governor (11 candidates), secretary of state (eight candidates), controller (three candidates), state treasurer (five candidates), attorney general (four candidates), insurance commissioner (four candidates), State Board of Equalization 4th District (seven candidates), U.S. senator (32 candidates) and state superintendent of public instruction (four candidates).

The last day to register to vote in the June 5 primary is May 21. The final day to submit a written request for a vote-by-mail ballot is May 29, but voters may also vote in person or pick up a ballot between May 30 and June 5 at the office in Kearny Mesa.

Polls will be open on Election Day — Tuesday, June 5 — between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. for those who want to vote in person or drop off their ballot.

email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com