Adrian Rojas Elliot’s 2024 Primary Election Guide | California & Los Angeles County
Rants, recommendations, and requisite irreverence to prepare you for the 2024 primary
Those of you familiar with my relentlessly consistent election missives know I often spend the first few paragraphs snarkily editorializing about the current state of American politics (see my other Medium posts but note that 2002-2014, I wrote them in emails). As we’re careening headlong into a 2020 Trump v. Biden rematch in November, voters are understandably apathetic and there’s not much more relevant to this primary I haven’t already breathlessly warned you about. But, ever the opiner, I’ll offer a few thoughts.
Come autumn, indeed there’s sure to be a spate of insane propositions for us to argue about—I predict the electorate will take up topics essential to governing such as gender, land acknowledgements, and the rights of criminals—but for now, the ballot is relatively sparse.
So, the primary’s lack of dazzle means voter turnout is expected to be low. This puts us at risk of the US Senate seat left vacant by Dianne Feinstein (respectfully, it was time) going to a Republican, further shifting the balance of the Senate. So if there’s any reason to vote now, it’s that. Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, and Adam Schiff are all excellent candidates (I canvassed for Katie Porter in 2018 to flip the House!)—but Schiff is leading in the polls and is most likely to beat a Republican challenger.
Another focus on this ballot is the Los Angeles County District Attorney, an office currently held by George Gascón (whom I did endorse in the past, but no longer will). He’s a highly controversial figure whose… let’s say, creative approach to prosecution has earned him a distinctly unsavory reputation amongst Angeleños and police alike. His aspirational prosecutorial philosophy reminds me of that old saying about communism: looks good on paper, doesn’t work.
Zooming out a bit: As the national stage becomes more detestable and fractured, remember that local politics is where the real work happens. The states are the laboratories of democracy, so focus on the governing of your local communities. Keep your mind where your body is. This will be more important than ever as our country is further divided and unrepresentative of our values, but the governments of our local communities, cities, counties, and states will reflect who we are, and hopefully, serve as havens from the increasingly adversarial miasma emanating from Washington.
Vote proudly—even if you have to hold your nose—before Tuesday March 5th at 8pm.
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References & Resources 📚
I use a range of sources to formulate my recommendations for candidates and propositions up and down the ballot. If I didn’t make a recommendation for an office or measure on your ballot, use the links below for more helpful information, slates, and endorsements.
- Ballotpedia »
- LA Forward Action Progressive Voter Guide »
- LAist Voter Game Plan »
- CADEM.org (California Democratic Party) »
- Democratic Socialists of America, Los Angeles »
- Los Angeles Times »
- CalMatters »
- Los Angeles County Democratic Party »
- ACLU of Southern California » (they don’t have a voter guide for this primary, but there will definitely be one for the general in November)
I don’t live in San Francisco anymore, but many of you do! If you need recommendations for San Francisco Bay Area ballots, refer to the voter guides below:
Opinions Ahead 🗣
We won’t agree on every candidate or proposition. My goal is not to change your mind, but to present my opinion so you can land squarely in your own views — whether we agree or not. Candidates and voters are human and therefore imperfect, as are ballot propositions. No human or law will ever meet your own personal criteria in all contexts, so spare me the moral archaeology of what so-and-so did awhile back.
Local Ballots Will Vary 🏛
The lists below do not encompass every district. And if you live in a city that is not Los Angeles, such as Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Burbank, West Hollywood, Pasadena, Hermosa Beach, etc., you will have additional candidates and measures for your city. If your local candidates / offices are not listed below, you can start by entering your address into the CADEM endorsements form here. If you need further guidance, use the links in the References & Resources section I compiled above.
• Statewide Candidates
President of the United States: Joseph R. Biden Jr.
United States Senator, Full Term (ending January 3, 2031): Adam B. Schiff
United States Senator, Short Term (ending January 3, 2025): Adam B. Schiff
• Statewide Measures
✅ State Measure 1 — YES: Improves mental health treatment facilities and provides housing for the homeless. Read more about it here.
• Los Angeles City & County Offices
📝 Is someone on your ballot missing from my list? Click here for a full guide to every candidate in Los Angeles County
United States Representative
30th District: Mike Feuer (endorsed by Mayor Karen Bass)
31st District: Gil Cisneros
Los Angeles County District Attorney: Jonathan Hatami (Or, if you must, anyone except George Gascón. This is important.)
Member of the State Assembly
51st District: Rick Chavez Zbur
Members of the County Central Committee, 51st District
Vote for no more than seven:
Danielle Wilson
Susan Sheu
Isabel Storey
Michael Soloff
Deana Igelsrud
Erick Matos
Eddie Mendoza
Los Angeles County Supervisor
2nd District: Holly J. Mitchell
4th District: Janice Hahn
5th District: Kathryn Barger
Los Angeles Superior Court Justice
Office № 12: Lynn Dianne Olson
Office № 39: Steve Napolitano
Office № 48: Ericka J. Wiley
Office № 93: Victor Avila
Office № 97: Sharon Ransom
Office № 115: Christmas Brookens
Office № 124: Kimberly Repecka
Office № 130: Leslie Gutierrez
Office № 135: Steven Yee Mac
Office № 137: Tracy M. Blount
• Los Angeles City & County Measures
✅ Los Angeles County Measure HLA— YES: Improves street safety and transit corridors. Learn more about it here.
