Politics & Government
Lake Elsinore, Wildomar March 2024 Voter Guide: What's On The Ballot
Election day is March 5 but early voting has been underway since Feb. 24.
![The California Secretary of State now offers a Where’s My Ballot? so voters can track and receive notifications on the status of their vote-by-mail ballots.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/98363/20240220/075531/styles/patch_image/public/img-3339___20195243767.jpg)
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The 2024 Presidential Primary Election takes place March 5 in California, and some interesting races are on the ballot in Riverside County.
Key Riverside County races in communities covered by Patch include:
The race for the 25th Congressional District seat: The district includes all of Imperial County, parts of San Bernardino County, and the Riverside County communities of Coachella Valley and much of the San Gorgonio Pass Area, such as Banning and Beaumont. The seat is currently held by incumbent Raul Ruiz (D).
Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In addition to Ruiz, 25th Congressional District contenders on the ballot are:
- CECI "CECILIA" TRUMAN, Republican
- MIGUEL CHAPA, Republican
- RYAN DEAN BURKETT, No Party Preference
- IAN M. WEEKS, Republican
- OSCAR ORTIZ, Democratic
The 41st Congressional District race: The district stretches across Riverside County, from Wildomar and Lake Elsinore northward and eastward into Menifee and out into the Coachella Valley, including the cities of Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta and Indian Wells. The seat is currently held by incumbent Ken Calvert (R).
Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In addition to Calvert, contenders on the ballot in the 41st Congressional District are:
- ANNA NEVENIC, Democratic
- WILL ROLLINS, Democratic
The 48th Congressional District race: The district includes the Southwest Riverside County cities of Murrieta and Temecula, and it stretches over a wide swath of San Diego County. The seat is currently held by incumbent Darrell Issa (R).
In addition to Issa, contenders on the ballot in the 48th Congressional District are:
- STEPHEN HOULAHAN, Democratic
- LUCINDA KWH JAHN, No Party Preference
- WHITNEY SHANAHAN, Democratic
- MIKE SIMON, Democratic
- MATTHEW G. RASCON, Democratic
The 19th State Senate District contest: The district includes a big chunk of the Inland Empire, including the San Gorgonio Pass Area cities of Banning and Beaumont, as well as much of the Coachella Valley. Due to redistricting, there is no incumbent though Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R) has held the seat in what has been the 23rd State Senate District. She is running the 19th State Senate District against Lisa Middleton (D).
The 47th State Assembly District race: The district is a large area in the Inland Empire that includes the San Gorgonio Pass Area cities of Banning and Beaumont and most of the Coachella Valley. The seat is currently held by incumbent Greg Wallis (R).
In addition to Wallis, contenders on the ballot in the 47th Assembly District race are:
- CHRISTY HOLSTEGE, Democratic
- JAMIE SWAIN, Democratic
The 63rd State Assembly District race: The district includes the Riverside County cities of Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Norco as well as portions of Corona, Eastvale and Riverside. Bill Essayli (R) is the incumbent.
In addition to Essayli, contenders on the ballot in the 63rd Assembly District race are:
- CHRIS SHOULTS, Democratic
- ORLANDO MUNGUIA, No Party Preference
The 71st State Assembly District contest: The district covers the Southwest Riverside County cities of Murrieta, Temecula and Wildomar. The seat is currently held by Kate Sanchez (R).
In addition to Sanchez, contenders on the ballot in the 71st Assembly District race are:
- BABAR KHAN, Peace and Freedom
- GARY KEPHART, Democratic
The top two finishers in each of the above races for the California State Legislature and U.S. Congress — regardless of party — will move on to the November general election. The same goes for the hotly contested statewide U.S. Senate race that now features dozens of candidates.
The top-two rule does not apply to candidates running for county and local offices. Those races can be decided in the primary if a candidate takes a majority (50 percent + 1).
Races to watch include the contest for the nonpartisan Riverside County Supervisor 3rd Supervisorial District seat. The district includes the Southwest Riverside County cities of Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula and Wildomar. Chuck Washington is the incumbent. He faces challengers Jack M. Guerrero and Jonathan Ingram.
The March 5 primary will also decide which candidate for U.S. president gets California's 169 delegates — the largest haul of any state — to the Republican and Democratic national conventions, to be held in July and August, respectively.
For the first time in California, the Republican presidential primary will be winner-take-all, raising the stakes in that race.
All three top contenders in the presidential race have stumped in California. President Joe Biden and Republican contender Nikki Haley visited Southern California earlier this month. Biden is scheduled Feb. 20 for a series of campaign events in the Los Angeles area. GOP frontrunner Donald Trump campaigned in the Golden State days after skipping the Republican debate in September.
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