Special coverage: March 5 primary election in Solano County (2024)

A statewide primary election will be held on March 5, which could decide the winning candidates for three seats on the Solano County Board of Supervisors, will determine the fate of a Benicia school bond and two tax measures and will narrow the field of candidates for state senate and assembly seats for Solano County.

Nationally, the primary will allow voters to choose party candidates to run in the Nov. 8 presidential election, though with no contenders for the Democratic ticket other than President Joe Biden, turnout could be low. Californians will also vote on candidates to succeed late U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Vallejo, Benicia March 5 live election resultsWe’re tracking the Solano County Board of Supervisors races in Vallejo and Benicia, the primaries for state Senate District 3 and state Assembly District 11, the Solano County Superior Court judicial race, the U.S. Congress Representative District 8 race, and ballot measures in Benicia.The Vallejo SunScott Morris

Explore this page:

  • California State Senator District 3
  • California State Assembly District 11
  • Solano County Board of Supervisors
  • Solano County Superior Court Judge
  • U.S. Congress Representative District 8
  • Ballot measures
Special coverage: March 5 primary election in Solano County (3)

California State Senator

District 3

California’sthird state Senate district coversall of Solano County and portions of each surrounding county. Sen. Bill Dodd, who was first elected in 2016, isn’t eligible for another term. Five candidates are vying for the seat in what could be a close race.

The top two candidates will advance to the general election in November, regardless of party affiliation.

Meet the candidates:

California State Senate candidates present their case to represent Solano CountyThe candidates include Dixon City Councilmember Thomas Bogue, former West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, Rohnert Park City Councilmember Jackie Elward, Vallejo City Councilmember Rozzana Verder-Aliga and Republican candidate Jimih Jones.The Vallejo SunRyan Geller

Californa’sEleventh State Assembly district coversall of Solano County and small sections of Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. State Assembly members are elected for two-year terms and they can serve a total of 12 years in the state legislature.

The top two candidates will advance to the general election in November, regardless of party affiliation.

Meet the candidates:

Three challengers vie to unseat Solano County’s state Assembly representativeFormer business executive David Ennis, real estate agent Wanda Wallis and data and policy analyst Jeffrey Flack are challenging Assemblymember Lori Wilson.The Vallejo SunScott Morris

Board of Supervisors

Districts 1, 2 and 5

Click the map below to find your district:

Special coverage: March 5 primary election in Solano County (9)

District 5 District 2 District 1

Contests for county supervisors’ seats can be decided in the primary election if a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate surpasses 50%, the top two candidates will face off again in November’s general election.

Three of five supervisors' seats are up for election in 2024.

Who’s donating to Vallejo’s Solano Board of Supervisor candidates?Michael Wilson leads fundraising in Solano County supervisors races.The Vallejo SunZack Haber

District 1- Vallejo

The first supervisorial district of Solano County covers all of mainland Vallejo north of Georgia Street and Hiddenbrook. This race is very likely to be decided in the March 5 primary election because only two candidates are running.

Meet the candidates:

Cassandra James, Michael Wilson face off to represent northern Vallejo on Solano Board of SupervisorsSupervisor Erin Hannigan announced last year that she would not run for the seat again.The Vallejo SunRyan Geller

Candidate forums:

Vallejo supervisor candidates stake out positions on public safety, homelessness, Fairgrounds siteCandidates Cassandra James and Michael Wilson are running for the District 1 seat vacated by Supervisor Erin Hannigan.The Vallejo SunRyan Geller

District 2 - Vallejo, Benicia, Southern Fairfield

The second supervisorial district of Solano County includes residences in Vallejo south of Georgia Street, Mare Island, Benicia, Cordelia and Southern Fairfield.

Three candidates are vying for the seat, which could lead to a November runoff.

Meet the candidates:

Incumbent faces two challengers to represent Vallejo, Benicia on Solano Board of SupervisorsIncumbent Monica Brown is challenged by leadership consultant Rochelle Sherlock and Fairfield real estate broker Nora Dizon.The Vallejo SunRyan Geller

Candidate forums:

Solano Supervisor candidates for Vallejo, Benicia spar over committees, California ForeverThe candidates debated in a lively forum in Benicia moderated by the Solano County Black Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee.The Vallejo SunRyan Geller

District 5 - Fairfield, Rio Vista, Vacaville

Thefifth supervisorial district of Solano countycovers the Southeastern area of the county that contains large sections of rural land, the city of Rio Vista and portions of Fairfield, Suisun City and Vacaville.

Incumbent Mitch Mashburn won the seat in the 2020 primary by a narrow margin of 94 votes against Fairfield-Suisun School Board Trustee David Isom.

Mitch Mashburn (Incumbent)

Special coverage: March 5 primary election in Solano County (20)

Mitch Masburn is a former lieutenant corrections officer with the Solano County Sheriff's Office who retired after 32 years. Mashburn was elected to the Vacaville City Council for three terms, serving from 2010 until 2020 when he was elected to the Board of Supervisors. According to hiscampaign website, Mashburn is an advocate for farmers and has supported improvements to code enforcement to address fire danger, unsafe structures and contamination in unincorporated areas. He has also supported the needs of law enforcement in labor negotiations.

Endorsements:Solano County Sheriff’s Custody Association, Solano County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Solano County Probation and Peace Officer Association, Vacaville Mayor John Carli, Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara and Vallejo council member Mina Loera-Diaz.

Chadwick J. Ledoux

According to a candidate filing statement Ledoux is an electrician. Limited information is available about Ledoux’s experience.

Superior Court Judge

Department 15

California Superior Court judges serve 6 year terms. Judge Robert Bowers of Department 15 has chosen to retire at the end of his current term, so one of two candidates will be elected to replace him.

Meet the candidates:

Attorneys Bryan Kim, Micheal Thompson running to be Solano County’s newest judgeBryan Kim spent most of his career as a prosecutor and is a current court commissioner. Micheal Thompson has been practicing law for decades, mainly as a civil litigator.The Vallejo SunScott Morris

U.S. Congress Representative

District 8

John Garamendi (Democrat)

Special coverage: March 5 primary election in Solano County (23)

John Garamendi is serving his eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Previously he was state Insurance commissioner, lieutenant governor and U.S. deputy Secretary of the Interior. He is on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Throughout his years in Congress he has advocated for veterans and servicemembers and has worked to maintain Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Rudy Recile (Republican)

Special coverage: March 5 primary election in Solano County (24)

Rudy Recile is a retired U.S. Army major and holds a master’s degree in quality systems management. He has worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a data manager and now runs a small web design, hosting and internet service business.

Robert Ruana

Robert Rauna has filed campaign documents to appear on the ballot but limited information is available about his candidacy.

Benicia Ballot Measures

Hotel tax, sales tax, school bond

Measure A:Benicia hotel tax

Benicia’s proposed hotel tax will go toward police and fire services, parks, libraries and economic development. Voter approval of the measure would increase Benicia’s transient occupancy tax on hotels and vacation rentals from 9 to 13%. The measure would increase annual city revenues by approximately $250,000, which would be subject to review by a citizens oversight committee. The measure would require reauthorization from voters in 12 years.

The Solano County Taxpayer's Association argues that the measure would "make Benicia less attractive for visitors and travelers, who will choose to stay in nearby cities with lower tax rates."

Measure B: Benicia sales tax

A three-quarter-cent sales tax would raise $5.4 million for essential city services including police and fire, recreation services, maintenance of local parks, and libraries. The city of Beniciadeclared a fiscal emergencyand warned that this measure is necessary to prevent significant layoffs across all city departments. The measure also includes a citizens’ oversight committee and a sunset provision requiring voter reauthorization in 12 years. A similar three-quarter-cent sales tax failed by 294 votes in 2022.

The Solano County Taxpayer's Association argues that by making Benicia's sales tax one of the highest in the state, the measure would "hurt local businesses, especially small and independent ones, and drive away customers and tourists. If the hike passes, Benicia's 9.125% sales tax rate would still be lower than the 9.25% rate in Vallejo.

Benicia places sales tax measure on March 2024 ballot while warning of financial ruinCity Manager Mario Giuliani said that if the measure does not pass, the city would need to lay off a third of its staff.The Vallejo SunScott Morris

Measure C:Benicia Unified School District facilities bond

This measure would allow the Benicia Unified School district to issue up to $12.5 million in bonds to finance projects including roof repair of school buildings, upgrades and repairs of HVAC systems, improvements to career and technical classrooms and laboratories, electrical system upgrades, security and fire safety improvements, upgrades for playgrounds and modernization of classrooms. The measure requires approval from 55% of Benicia voters.

Special coverage: March 5 primary election in Solano County (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Eusebia Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 5770

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Eusebia Nader

Birthday: 1994-11-11

Address: Apt. 721 977 Ebert Meadows, Jereville, GA 73618-6603

Phone: +2316203969400

Job: International Farming Consultant

Hobby: Reading, Photography, Shooting, Singing, Magic, Kayaking, Mushroom hunting

Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.