California June 2018 Elections, part I: State Wide Elective Offices

In the California governor's race, it is shaping up to be a North vs. South race of the Democrats.

Newson, former SF mayor holds a slim lead in the polls over Villaraigosa, former LA mayor.

Not surprisingly, the SF Chronicle has endorsed Newson while the LA Times has endorsed Villaraigosa.

The two Republicans, Cox and Allen are behind in the Top Two primary system.

UPDATE (6/5): When I posted this originally (5/22), Cox and Allen were somewhat behind but Cox has picked up some ground and Villaraigosa has lost ground while Newson seems to be holding steady. 

UPDATE (6/8): Newsom (D) 34% Cox (R) 26% Villaraigosa (D) 13%

The respective state parties did not offer any endorsements for governor.

For Lt. Governor, SF Chronicle has backed Jeff Bleich. I didn't see an endorsement in the LA Times as of yet. The California Democratic party did not endorse while the Cal GOP endorsed Cole Harris.

UPDATE (6/8): Kounalakis (D) 24% Hernandez (D) 21% Harris (R) 18%

In the Secretary of State race, the Democratic party and the SF Chronicle backs the current SofS, Alex Padilla. The California Republicans back Mark Meuser.

UPDATE (6/8): Padilla (D) 52% Meuser (R) 32%

In the Controller contest, the Republicans are supporting Konstantinos Roditis. The SF Chronicle and the Cal Democrats are endorsing current controller Betty Yee.

UPDATE (6/8): Yee (D) 61% Roditis (R) 35%

For Treasurer, the SF Chronicle backs Fiona Ma as does the California Democratic Party. The Cal GOP did not endorse.

UPDATE (6/8): Ma (D) 43% Conlon (R) 22% Guerrero (R) 20%

The Attorney General election includes the current office holder Xavier Becerra and is endorsed by the SF Chronicle. Interestingly, the Democratic state party did not make an endorsement. The Cal GOP supports Steven Bailey.

UPDATE (6/8): Becerra (D) 45% Bailey (R) 25%

Previous Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner received the endorsement of the SF Chronicle. The California Democrats back Ricardo Lara.

UPDATE (6/8): Poizner (NPP) 41% Lara (D) 40%

In the State School Superintendent race, the Cal Democrats are backing Tony Thurmond who has also received the endorsement of the LA Times. The SF Chronicle is supporting Marshall Tuck. Suffice to say this is a "non-partisan" race but there candidates are clearly marked and labeled in terms of who is backing them as described in this Sacramento Bee op-ed. Excerpt:

Marshall Tuck, supported by the school reform crowd with such familiar names as Eli Broad among them, nonetheless says he’d put a sharp eye on charter schools and press to close those that aren’t performing. Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, the CTA’s candidate, says he would prohibit school districts from using the funding that’s specifically targeted for at-risk students on across-the-board teacher raises. Those aren’t the usual stances for those parties. 

UPDATE (6/8): Tuck 37% Thurmond 34%

Finally, in the Senate race, current Senator Feinstein is leading in the polls. However, in a shocker, the California Democratic party made no endorsement revealing the strength of the faction growing dissatisfied with the establishment part of the party. The LA Times and the SF Chronicle have backed Feinstein.

UPDATE (6/8): Feinstein (D) 44% De Leon (D) 11%