California Voter Guide
Get informed in minutes with our Voter Guide for California’s March 5 primary election. Unpack ballot measures and compare candidates in the most important races on Bay Area ballots and learn the easiest ways to cast your vote.
- U.S. Senate primary and Proposition 1
- Bay Area races and measures
- Democratic and Republican presidential primary
- Voting tips
Important Dates
Feb. 5
Voting begins.
Feb. 20
Online voter registration deadline.
March 5
Election Day: Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Results will be available starting 8 p.m.
April 4
Last day for county elections officials to certify election results.
Top Election News
Shape California’s Future
Important choices are in your hands this primary election. You can decide on a once-in-a-generation U.S. Senate race, and a proposition to overhaul California’s mental health funding, along with contests for state Legislature, and a slew of regional and local races and measures.
Key California Elections
U.S. Senate
U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff, former baseball star Steve Garvey and attorney Eric Early are among the candidates running in California’s most competitive U.S. Senate election in decades.
Proposition 1
Gov. Gavin Newsom says this measure will provide the housing desperately needed by many Californians with severe behavioral health challenges. Critics argue that housing will come at the expense of mental health services and civil liberties.
Key Bay Area Elections
Get comprehensive information about the top races in each Bay Area county.
Alameda County
Voters will consider changes to the county’s recall process and choose a new member of Congress, among other heated races.
Contra Costa County
Competitive elections for county supervisor and state Legislature are on the ballot this year.
Marin County
There’s an open seat on the Board of Supervisors, plus voters in Larkspur will weigh in on a referendum challenging the city’s rent-control law.
Napa County
With multiple openings on the Board of Supervisors, this election could shape the direction of the county’s government.
San Francisco
Mayor London Breed, facing reelection in November, puts her plans to change policing and welfare on the ballot.
San Mateo County
Supervisors Dave Pine and Warren Slocum are termed out of office — opening two seats in this election.
Santa Clara County
U.S. Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo’s imminent retirement has sparked a competitive primary race for her long-held House seat.
Solano County
An open seat on the county Board of Supervisors and a competitive primary for state Senate headline this election.
Presidential Election
Democratic Primary
Candidates are competing for the 496 delegates that California will send to the party’s convention in Chicago, where a nominee will be chosen for the general election.
Republican Primary
Candidates are competing for the 169 delegates that California will send to the party’s convention in Milwaukee, where a nominee will be chosen for the general election.
The KQED 2024 Primary Voter Guide was made by our news and product teams comprised of Adhiti Bandlamudi, Bryan Bindloss, Dan Brekke, Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí, Jason Cater, Jason Chee, Teresa Cho, Kevin Cooke, Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, Duke Fan, Annelise Finney, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Pamela Gilmour, Matthew Green, Alex Hall, Tyche Hendricks, Sydney Johnson, Sahila Jorapur, Nisa Khan, Marisa Lagos, Juan Carlos Lara, Kimberly Low, Guy Marzorati, Gabe Meline, Vanessa Merina, Rachael Myrow, Daisy Nguyen, Chante Owens, Attila Pelit, Noah Piper, Vanessa Rancaño, Ezra David Romero, Caroline Sarkki, Scott Shafer, Molly Solomon, Ki Sung, Ethan Toven-Lindsey, and Danielle Venton.