The 2022 primary elections are underway, and many are eagerly casting their votes at their local polling stations in California.
California’s two-party system allows for the top two contenders in the primaries to advance to the general election on Nov. 8. However, if a candidate receives 50 percent of the vote or more during the primaries, they win outright and won’t appear on the ballot in November.
Voters in California have the option to cast their ballots at polling locations as well as drop off a mailed-in ballot.
On Tuesday morning, Sacramento clerks recorded that over 163,000 people have turned in their ballots, or roughly 19 percent of voter turnout. Statewide, ballot returns were only at 15 percent prior to election day—a relatively low number compared to the historic voter turnout during the 2020 general election that saw 17.8 million ballots. In total, California has 21 million registered voters—the most in the United States.
Caroline Touchberry, 23, who cast her ballot in Sacramento, told The Epoch Times she’s “mostly thinking about the homelessness and the drug situation as well as energy-related issues” in the state.
She said she voted for mainly Republican candidates, including gubernatorial candidate Michael Shellenberger who is running on a platform to eradicate homelessness through psychiatric care.
Other top issues for California voters include rising crime, gun control, and abortion.
Touchberry said she thinks incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom “will probably win, but it does seem like Shellenberger might have a bit more traction in California as someone challenging Newsom since he’s not a Republican.”
Cole Buzdon, 37, also cast his vote in Sacramento County. He said he’s voted in every primary election since he was 18.
“I voted libertarian for years as I believe we need balance in our politics,” Buzdon told The Epoch Times. “Right now, it’s too polarized and I believe that for the most part, the masses all meet in the middle, except our leaders don’t see that.”
Buzdon said he’s hoping to get fresh new leaders in office, even though Newsom is likely to retain his seat after beating a recall effort last year.
Meanwhile, in Southern California, Democrats are vying to keep the state’s leadership blue. And with gun control being a hot topic in recent weeks, further gun control legislation is at the forefront of some voters’ minds.
Tustin resident Natasha Dressler, 39, is one of the 1.8 million active registered voters in Orange County who mailed in her ballot. Gun control is one of the main issues she’s concerned about this election.
“I do believe in the [Second Amendment], but fully support the ban on assault rifles and universal background checks,” Dressler told The Epoch Times. “I know the gun issue will not fully go away but I have small ones I want to protect, and after Uvalde, enough is enough.”
Dressler, who has voted in every election since she was 18, said she voted for Newsom, and Orange County District Attorney candidate Pete Hardin, who is challenging incumbent District Attorney Todd Spitzer. She also voted for challenger candidate Dr. Asif Mahmood for congressional district 40 to replace Congresswoman Young Kim.
Aaron Streate, 38, of Tustin, also voted to keep Newsom in office.
“With the increase of mass shootings in this country, gun control and mental healthcare are major issues for us right now,” Streate told The Epoch Times. Other issues that concern him are women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, mental healthcare, and judicial reform. He said he only voted for Democrat candidates this election.
Justin Stewart, 42, of Anaheim, a registered Democratic Socialist and a librarian at California State University, Fullerton, dropped off his ballot at an Anaheim polling station.
“In the past I always respected the Republican viewpoint and respected those voters that voted republican based on the viewpoints of their preferred candidates, there were policies although I didn’t agree with that seemed logical,” Stewart told The Epoch Times. “However, the GOP over the years has morphed into a power-grabbing organization that has no intent on bettering the lives of the population.”
Stewart said he voted for all Democrat candidates on his ballot.
San Juan Capistrano resident Hailey Gomez, 25, said gas prices and inflation in the state are her top issues.
“Orange County is kind of like this bubble,” Gomez told The Epoch Times. Outside of the county, “you have rising homelessness, you have rising crime rates, you have gas prices that are soaring, you have homes that are basically unaffordable for a single person.
“Anyone with an average amount of income that would make great money any in any other state is living paycheck to paycheck now in this state, because prices are so high.”
Gomez said she also voted for Shellenberger for governor to replace Newsom.
