San Diego voters decide 11 state legislative seats Tuesday
Four Senate and seven Assembly contests in the county feature incumbents seeking re-election and challengers focusing on housing and taxes.
By Aiko Soto ·
San Diego County voters will determine the outcomes of four state Senate and seven state Assembly races on Tuesday.
The contests span a wide geographic area, from the South Bay to the East County backcountry. Many of these seats were previously held by the party facing the incumbent, or they are being contested by candidates with no prior legislative experience.
In the 18th Senate District, which includes Chula Vista and parts of three other counties, Democrat Steve Padilla runs against Republican Art Hodges. Padilla won 64 percent of the vote in the June primary. He previously served as Chula Vista mayor. His campaign emphasizes the Tijuana River Valley pollution crisis and data center electricity costs. Hodges, a Pentecostal bishop, cites parental rights and religious freedom as key issues.
The 32nd Senate District features Republican incumbent Kelly Seyarto against Democrat Tiffanie Tate. Seyarto secured 58 percent of the primary vote. He is a retired firefighter and former Murrieta mayor. Tate, a Navy veteran and medical doctor, proposes increasing funding for CalWORKs and SNAP to address healthcare access. In the 38th District, Democrat Catherine Blakespear faces Republican Laura Bassett. Blakespear won 55 percent in June. Bassett, a licensed professional fiduciary, argues that state government spending is wasteful.
The 40th Senate District pits Democrat Mara Elliott against Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane. Elliott, the former San Diego City Attorney, received 48 percent of the primary vote. Bruce-Lane narrowly defeated Ed Musgrove in the Republican primary. Both candidates focus on housing and healthcare costs, with Elliott citing her prosecutorial background for public safety priorities.
Assembly races include the 74th District, where Republican Laurie Davies seeks a fourth term against Democrat Sergio Farias. Davies won 52.3 percent of the primary vote. Farias, a San Juan Capistrano City Councilmember, focuses on streamlining home building. In the 75th District, Republican Carl DeMaio challenges Democrat Gerald Boursiquot. DeMaio won 60 percent of the primary vote and founded the Reform California PAC.
The 76th District features Democrat Darshana Patel against Republican Carrie Espinoza Villanueva. Patel won 56 percent in the primary and authored legislation on mass shootings. Villanueva, a businesswoman, criticizes state taxes and regulations. The 77th District sees Democrat Tasha Boerner running for a fifth term against Trinity Hannaway. Boerner won 61 percent of the primary vote. Hannaway is the executive director of Reform California.
The 78th District contest involves Democrat Chris Ward and Republican Payton Galvez. Ward won 68 percent of the primary vote. The 79th District features Democrat LaShae Sharp-Collins against Republican Andrew Lawson. Sharp-Collins won 65 percent in the primary. Lawson, an accountant, proposes streamlining housing permits. The 80th District sees Democrat David Alvarez face Republican Alejandro Galicia. Alvarez won 60 percent of the primary vote and prioritizes the Tijuana River pollution crisis.
