Results of March 5 primary election show nearly 23 percent SCC voters turn

Low turnout is typical in primary elections

By Staff Report

Voters in Santa Clara County turned out March 5 to cast their ballots in the 2024 primary election, with more than 232,035 votes counted as of March 8, representing a turnout of 22.64 percent of registered voters.

A ballot box outside the Gilroy City Hall

With some mail-in ballots and provisional votes still to be counted, the percentages may shift slightly. However, the current leaders seem to have commanding positions that will hold up as they head toward the November general election. The Registrar of Voters office has by California law 28 days after the election to finalize the votes.

While turnout so far is fairly low, that is typical for a primary election. Contested races in November and the presidential election are likely to generate much higher voter participation in Santa Clara County as well as statewide and nationally.

In races representing South Valley, State Sen. Dave Cortese cruised to a first-place finish in District 15 with 67.81 percent of the vote against two Republican opponents. It appears Cortese will face in November Republican Robert Paul Howell who got 20.15 percent.

The 28th Assembly District seat will likely be between incumbent Democrat Gail Pellerin who won 63.51 percent and Republican Liz Lawler, the only opponent, who garnered 36.49 percent in the primary.

In the closely watched presidential primaries, President Joseph R. Biden won a commanding 90.70 percent of Democratic votes in the county. His closest competitor, Marianne Williamson, garnered just 2.93 percent. On the Republican side, former President Donald J. Trump received 68.61 percent support compared to 26.19 percent for his main challenger Nikki Haley.

The race for U.S. Senate saw Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff take a substantial early lead with 39.82 percent of the vote for the full term and 37.98 percent for the partial/unexpired term of Dianne Feinstein, who died in September at age 90. Congresswoman Katie Porter came in third behind Republican Steve Garvey, a former Los Angeles Dodger legend. In the full term contest, Schiff and Garvey seem poised to advance to the general election in November. On statewide results, the two candidates were one percent of each other, with Schiff receiving 33.3 percent of the vote and Garvey receiving 32.2 percent.

Locally, the seat in California’s 18th Congressional District appears likely to be a November match-up between longtime Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, who got 55.98 percent, and Republican Peter Hernandez of Hollister who won 30.45 percent. Morgan Hill resident and Democrat Charlene Nijmeh came a distant third with 9.20 percent.

In the 19th District, incumbent Democrat Jimmy Panetta easily outpaced the field with 61.94 percent in Santa Clara County. Jason Michael Anderson was the only Republican in the race and took 31.89 percent, setting up a Panetta-Anderson general election contest.