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HomeEducationWhy Are Some East Bay Voters Receiving 2 Election Ballots?

Why Are Some East Bay Voters Receiving 2 Election Ballots?

However on account of California’s monthlong window of early voting, there will likely be two weeks of overlap between voting within the major election and particular election — which means 1000’s of voters on this district could be juggling two completely different ballots throughout that point.

Right here’s a information to assist East Bay voters type via the surprising election wrinkle.

Soar straight to:

Why is there a particular election for Congress within the 14th District?

Swalwell determined final yr to run for governor as a substitute of searching for one other time period in Congress. A crowded area of candidates jumped into the first to succeed him in representing the 14th District — with the highest two finishers within the June 2 major, no matter social gathering, advancing to the November normal election.

However on April 10, Swalwell was accused of sexual assault by a former employees member in experiences printed by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. Since then, extra girls have come ahead with sexual assault and misconduct allegations, which Swalwell has denied.

Eric Swalwell is interviewed on Political Breakdown by Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer at KQED in San Francisco on April 6, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)

On April 12, Swalwell suspended his marketing campaign for governor. A day later, he introduced he was resigning from Congress — a place he’d have in any other case continued to serve in for the remainder of the yr.

Swalwell’s departure leaves a emptiness in a district that features Castro Valley, Hayward, Livermore, Pleasanton and Union Metropolis, and components of Dublin, Fremont, and San Leandro.

On April 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom known as a particular election to fill the seat as quickly as doable in the course of the few months between Swalwell’s resignation and when his East Bay seat would change arms.

Why isn’t this particular election being held with the June major?

First off, combining the particular election vote with the June 2 major wouldn’t have been authorized.

However with an election already underway to succeed Swalwell, Newsom might have chosen to depart the seat open till January.

Former Rep. Eric Swalwell addresses the press in Hayward on March 9, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)

As a substitute, he known as the particular election inside hours of Swalwell’s resignation and scheduled it for Aug. 18, the earliest date allowed below state legislation, which requires no less than 126 days between the governor’s proclamation and an election.

However this vote to switch Swalwell within the 14th District first wanted a major election. And since California election guidelines require a major to be held 9 Tuesdays earlier than the particular election, this has resulted within the June 16 major particular election date.

With management of the Home of Representatives separated by only a handful of votes, Newsom moved rapidly to get a consultant within the safely Democratic 14th District. For comparability, when Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa died in January, Newsom waited 10 days earlier than calling a particular election.

Who’s working within the particular election to switch Swalwell in his East Bay congressional district?

Eleven candidates are on the particular election poll. State Sen. Aisha Wahab, former BART Director Melissa Hernandez and educator Rakhi Israni are probably the most notable Democrats within the race.

Additionally on the poll: Democrats Alisha Cordes, a enterprise administrator, administrative legislation decide Sheriene Ridenour and businessman Jot Thiara.

The Republicans working are actual property investor Wendy Huang, florist Dena Maldonado, businessman Tom Wong and educator Jack Wu. Victor Zevallos, a monetary enterprise strategist, is working as an unbiased.


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