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
![A black and white microphone is perched on a lectern. The front panel of the lectern is colored light red with the word "Senate" printed across the front. A small blue shape is collaged behind the image.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/California-Senator-Primary-2024@2x.png)
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.
![A black and white mid-rise apartment building is pictured at three-quarters view, revealing a pink side wall with a medical cross symbol on it. A small blue shape is collaged to the left of the building.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/California-Prop1-Behavioral-Health-Primary-2024@2x.png)
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.
![A raising crane sits next to stacks of shipping containers in the Port of Oakland. The image is in black and white and contained in a light blue circle.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/Bay-Area-Alameda-County@2x.png)
Alameda County
Voters will consider changes to the county’s recall process and choose a new member of Congress, among other heated races.
![Two refinery drums sit amongst trees in the hills of Contra Costa County. The image is in black and white and contained in a light blue circle.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/Bay-Area-Contra-Costa-County@2x.png)
Contra Costa County
Competitive elections for county supervisor and state Legislature are on the ballot this year.
![A boardwalk passes by a large rock formation along the Pacific coast in Marin County. The image is in black and white and contained in a light blue circle.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/Bay-Area-Marin-County@2x.png)
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.
![A cluster of grapes hangs from a vineyard in Napa County. The image is in black and white and contained in a light blue circle.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/Bay-Area-Napa-County@2x.png)
Napa County
With multiple openings on the Board of Supervisors, this election could shape the direction of the county’s government.
![The southern tower of the Golden Gate Bridge is viewed from the San Francisco shore. The image is in black and white and contained in a light blue circle.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/Bay-Area-San-Francisco-County@2x.png)
San Francisco
Mayor London Breed, facing reelection in November, puts her plans to change policing and welfare on the ballot.
![A span of the San Mateo Bridge is shown above still bay waters. The image is in black and white and contained in a light blue circle.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/Bay-Area-San-Mateo-County@2x.png)
San Mateo County
Supervisors Dave Pine and Warren Slocum are termed out of office — opening two seats in this election.
![Hangar One sits in Moffett Field in Santa Clara County. The image is in black and white and contained in a light blue circle.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/Bay-Area-Santa-Clara-County@2x.png)
Santa Clara County
U.S. Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo’s imminent retirement has sparked a competitive primary race for her long-held House seat.
![Wind turbines rise above agricultural hills in Solano County. The image is in black and white and contained in a light blue circle.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/Bay-Area-Solano-County@2x.png)
Solano County
An open seat on the county Board of Supervisors and a competitive primary for state Senate headline this election.
Presidential Election
![The blue donkey symbol of the Democratic Party is surrounded by a field of blue plus symbols in various weights.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/Presidential-Primary-Democrat@2x.png)
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.
![The red elephant symbol of the Republican Party is surrounded by a field of red plus symbols in various weights.](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2024/01/Presidential-Primary-Republican@2x.png)
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.