Robin's ballot — 2026 primary edition

It's primary season in the United States and mail-in ballots get mailed out across California this week! Being a news junkie and civic engagement wonk, people frequently ask me how I'm voting and why. This time around I have a blog, so I might as well put it to use.

Below you'll find how I'm voting, as well as a few recommendations for other nearby contests. I'll only add explanation where I have something to say, mostly in open seats with no incumbent. I'm not listing contests that have only one candidate.

Katie Porter for Governor

I am not thrilled about any of the candidates in this year's election, but Katie Porter, Xavier Becerra, Betty Yee, and Tony Thurmond were most interesting to me. I was never, ever going to vote for a billionaire (Steyer), or a preferred candidate of billionaires (Mahan), and then given the large field, needed to focus on the most viable candidates.

Katie Porter and Xavier Becerra are viable candidates with governing experience. I initially leaned toward Becerra, but Porter has more labor endorsements, is taking less corporate money, and has the kind of genuine lefty populist orientation that our era demands. I'm voting for Katie Porter.

An important aside: at this point the paranoia among fellow registered Democrats about Republicans getting both of the top-two spots in the jungle primary is not just baseless, it's a hysteria that stifles legitimate discourse and criticism.

The constant push to ONLY vote for the top polling candidate only benefits one person: the white straight cisgender dude — with NO governing experience and the kind of fortune that can only be amassed by being a deeply morally compromised person — who can afford to buy the election. (Anyone can make big promises like Steyer if they don't know what they're doing or what it'll take to get it done.)

Let me not mince words: fuck that. I'm a strategic voter but what's being passed off as strategy right now is hysteria. Other people have made well articulated arguments about why that's the case, so I won't rehash it here.

Oliver Ma for Lieutenant Governor

Oliver Ma is a civil rights lawyer with labor backing and the distinction of being the first statewide candidate in California to be endorsed by the California Democratic Socialists of America.

If you like people who are bold about bending broken systems, such as AOC, Bernie, and Mamdani, then Oliver Ma is the way to go.

Shirley Weber for Secretary of State

Incumbent who seems to be doing fine.

Malia Cohen for Controller

Incumbent who seems to be doing fine.

Tony Vazquez for Treasurer, maybe?

I'm still trying to get a better sense of our options here. Tony Vazquez and Eleni Kounalakis seem to have the most relevant experience. I like what I've heard about Vazquez more.

Rob Bonta for Attorney General

Incumbent who seems to be doing fine.

Jane Kim for Insurance Commissioner

This is a contest that should be boring but it's not. Given climate change, more devastating fire seasons, and more extreme weather, this one is important. Jane Kim has bold proposals, backing from a huge coalition of labor organizations, and the endorsement of the Working Families Party. Indeed, she is a previous director of the California Working Families Party!

Sally Lieber for Member, State Board of Equalization 2nd District, maybe?

Incumbent who seems to be doing fine. I'm intrigued by her challenger, John Pimentel, but don't know enough. I'd love to hear what other people think!

Jared Huffman for US Representative 2nd District

Incumbent who is doing fine. There's a lot I like about him!

Mike Thompson for US Representative 4th District

Incumbent who seems to be doing fine. He's a blue dog Democrat but he can be pressured. And his challenger Eric Jones raises too many concerns for me.

Damon Connolly for State Senator 2nd District

Damon Connolly is the only left-of-center candidate on the ballot and has done a good job while in the Assembly. I remain grumpy about him voting NO on SB79, and I hope someone on the left gives him a run for his money next time.

Jackie Elward for State Assembly 12th District

Jackie Elward is the preferred candidate of working people, as indicated by her endorsements from labor organizations and the Working Families Party. She works hard, shows up, and will do a great job in the Assembly.

I also like Eli Beckman, but all things being equal I run with labor. Critically, Eric Lucan is seen as the front-runner in this race and he is a candidate I find deeply problematic — his support of a notoriously bigoted religious sect included — and it's important that progressives not split our vote.

Chris Rogers for State Assembly 2nd District

Chris Rogers is an incumbent who is doing great work. I'm annoyed about who he is supporting in the Sonoma County Supervisor 4th District race, but by and large: he supports good people and good policy, and he shows up.

I had the pleasure of joining ACLU Northern California in a spring session lobbying meeting with Rogers and he supported our priorities, was open to learning about other issues of concern, and I'm thrilled at his introduction of AB1984 (to overturn Citizens United in California) even if it was a long shot.

Frank Lara for Superintendent of Public Instruction

This is an open seat and Frank Lara both has the background in education and a solid labor and leftist track record that I think we need to see more of among our elected officials.

Joanna Paun for Sonoma County Supervisor 2nd District

Joanna Paun is the only left-of-center candidate running for the Board of Supervisors in the 2nd District who is not taking money from the same big money establishment donors who have held our county hostage for too long.

Further, Joanna Paun has great experience from her time on the Petaluma City Schools board of trustees, is a member of the Sonoma County Democratic Socialists of America, and she — rightly — earned our chapter's endorsement.

It's important that people understand that 4 of the 5 Supervisors have the same political consultant, Rob Muelrath, who reliably delivers the support of law enforcement, winery owners, big developers, and realtors. Rob Muelrath is also a government affairs consultant who works for clients like Walmart, Dutra, and PG&E. If you've ever wondered why the Board of Supervisors is such a conservative governing body despite us living in a county that voted for Bernie Sanders for President, now you know. Follow the big money, and vote against it. We need to pay closer attention to local politics than we have been.

Melanie Bagby for Sonoma County Supervisor 4th District

Melanie Bagby is the only left-of-center candidate running for the Board of Supervisors in the 4th District, period. She, like Joanna Paun, is not beholden to big money and the right-wing power structure that's been holding Sonoma County back.

Magali Limeta for Marin County Supervisor 5th District

Magali Limeta has the overwhelming support of labor and left-of-center players in Marin County, and she deserves your support too!

Yes on Measure B for SMART tax extension

Let's keep investing in public transit to get more cars off the road! SMART may not be everything we want it to be, it may have problems, but there's no path into a future with fewer traffic deaths, less pollution, and faster transportation without investing more in public transit.