EYE ON SJC
CONGRESSIONAL RACE
EDITOR’S NOTE: Results from the California Secretary of State and Orange County Registrar of Voters’ websites tracking the election are unofficial. Certification of the results is expected for July 15.
Levin Maintains Heavy Lead Ahead of Projected Battle with Maryott for the 49th
SENATE RACES
State Senate Races Take Shape in 36th, 38th Districts
BY C. JAYDEN SMITH
The results of California’s Primary Election on Tuesday, June 7, appear to have narrowed the race for the U.S. House of Representatives 49th District seat down to two candidates: Rep. Mike Levin, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican challenger Brian Maryott. Unofficial results posted as of early Thursday morning, June 9, had Levin and Maryott as the apparent front-runners who are projected to be included in the ballots for the General Election this coming November—setting up another race between the two following the 2020 elections. Levin, who’s serving his second con-
BY COLLIN BREAUX
The unofficial results in California’s Primary Election have provided a preview of what’s to come in the General Election this November. Two State Senate races covering portions of South Orange County include the 36th and 38th—the first representing Dana Point and San Clemente, and the latter, San Juan Capistrano and Rancho Mission Viejo. District 36 had only two candidates, Democrat Kim Carr and Republican Janet Nguyen. The two will automatically go on to the General Election. In California, the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the November races. As of early Thursday morning, June 9, Nguyen was the apparent front-runner, receiving 56.7% of the vote (70,664), while Carr trailed with 43.3% (53,912), according to the unofficial results from the California Secretary of State’s office. Carr, a Huntington Beach councilmember, was in a council meeting while early results were released Tuesday night, but did provide a prepared statement when reached for comment. “I’m a third-generation Californian who grew up in Orange County, and I am raising my family here. This is my home, and I’m grateful to serve this beautiful community,” Carr said. “This campaign is all about protecting and preserving our neighborhoods, keeping our coastal economy vibrant, helping small businesses thrive and ensuring a woman’s right to health care.” Nguyen, a state assemblymember, had not responded to a request for comment, as of press time. Over in the 38th District, the race
ASSEMBLY RACE
With Duncan, Davies Already Set for General Election Faceoff, Primaries Give Glimpse to the Fall BY BREEANA GREENBERG
With just two candidates facing off in the race to represent California’s 74th Assembly District, the June 7 primaries may offer a preview of what’s to come this November. Based on unofficial results as of early Thursday morning, June 9, Assemblymember Laurie Davies, the Republican The Capistrano Dispatch June 10-23, 2022
(Left to right) Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear and Matt Gunderson.
appeared to be narrowed down to Democrat Catherine Blakespear and Republican Matt Gunderson. Blakespear had 43.7% of vote tally (60,690), while Gunderson led with 45.5% (63,085). Democrat Joe Kerr, a retired fire captain and an additional primary candidate, got 10.8% of the votes (15,011). Blakespear, the mayor of Encinitas, said through a prepared statement that she was “honored by the tremendous support for our campaign.” “Tonight, voters sent a clear, unmistakable message that they want someone who will fight for our environment, for women’s right to choose, and for gun violence prevention,” Blakespear said. “I’m humbled by tonight’s victory and excited for the road ahead in the General Election.” Gunderson, a small business owner, said he is “happy by the early results and to have the approval from the voters of the 38th District to move on to the General Election.” “It is still early in the evening, but it is obvious that this district wants real change and real solutions on issues like the gas tax, homelessness, rising crime, and a return to local control,” Gunderson continued. “Sacramento’s one-sizefits-all policies simply do not work in our coastal community, and the voters are making that clear tonight.”
(Left to right) Rep. Mike Levin and Former San Juan Capistrano Councilmember Brian Maryott.
secutive term in office, looked to hold off challenges from a host of other Republican candidates, including current Orange County Board Supervisor Lisa Bartlett and Oceanside Councilmember Christopher Rodriguez. With votes from all 467 precincts partially reported, Levin held a strong lead in the contest with 49.8% of the vote (56,624 votes). Maryott received 18.5% (20,979), with Bartlett trailing at 10.7% (12,186).
OC BOARD RACE
Unofficial Results Show Foley Likely to Face Bates in November BY BREEANA GREENBERG
OC Board Supervisor Katrina Foley, the Democratic incumbent, continued to lead the pack of candidates running in the race for Fifth Supervisorial District early Thursday morning, June 9, and she is projected to face State Sen. Patricia Bates in the upcoming General Election. Unofficial results from the Orange County Registrar of Voters showed Foley holding on to a strong lead, receiving 41.27% of the vote (36,432). Bates, a former board supervisor, has received 23.09% of the votes (20,378). Fellow supervisor hopefuls Diane Harkey, a former assemblymember, and Newport Beach Councilmember Kevin Muldoon trailed in the race, each receiving less than 19% of the vote. Acknowledging that vote-by-mail and conditional ballots are continuing
incumbent, led the vote tally with 52.8% (35,404), strengthening her hopes for a reelection in the fall. Her challenger, San Clemente Mayor Pro Tem Chris Duncan, had led in the race late Tuesday night, but with votes from all precincts partially reported by the following day, the Democrat’s portion of the tally fell, and stood at 47.2% (31,611 votes) on Thursday. Speaking with The Capistrano Dispatch the night of the race, Duncan said the early results were encouraging. “All the residents of this district deserve someone who’s going to be effective in Sacramento and deliver for them,” Duncan said.
He added that his campaign’s biggest strength was his efforts to “meet voters where they are.” “We put in the work,” Duncan continued. “We hear what their concerns are, and I talk very specifically about what I can do to address those concerns and be a voice for them in Sacramento.” Duncan previously campaigned for the State Assembly seat in 2020, when the seat was under the 73rd District, but he lost in the Primary race, receiving 18.4% of the vote. Davies went on to win the seat in the 2020 General Election against Democrat Scott Rhinehart. Davies on Wednesday morning said Page 6
(Left to right) OC Board Supervisor Katrina Foley and State Sen. Patricia Bates.
to be counted from Tuesday’s Primary, Foley on Wednesday morning remained cautiously optimistic ahead of the final outcome. “So, we don’t know what the final outcome is of the Primary yet,” Foley continued. “I think it’s going to be tough to get to that 50% margin, but what the takeaway was to me is that we have a lot of bipartisan support and we were able to just really get votes across the whole district, not just in one area.” As of press time, Bates had not responded to requests for comment.
she felt her experience as an assemblymember has been her greatest strength in the campaign. “I’ve been up here not for a year and a half,” Davies said. “I’ve been working across the aisle, and that’s something that not everybody can do. I was able to get six out of six bills passed and signed into law, and they are good common-sense bills.” “I’m doing the same thing right now,” Davies continued. “I have nine bills that have gone over to the Senate already. I really believe in common-sense policy, and I’m there working across the aisle, and that’s really what needs to be done.” thecapistranodispatch.com
