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Breaking Down the California Candidate Filing Deadline

Unlike many other state, California uses an open primary system, where the top two candidates, which can be from the same party, advance to the general election.


House:
District 1:
Republican incumbent Doug LaMalfa (R) takes on three other challengers. Notable candidates include former defense and diplomacy policy analyst Max Steiner (D). The other two are unknowns.

District 2:
Democratic incumbent Jared Huffman (D) takes on five other challengers. All five are unknowns.

District 3:
District 3 has no incumbent and four candidates. Notable candidates include former Navy veteran Kermit Jones (D), Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones (R), California State Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R), and My-Representative.org founder David Peterson (D)

District 4:
Democratic incumbent Mike Thompson (D) takes on five other challengers. Notable candidates include Enterprise account executive Andrew Engdahl (D), and activist, homemaker, pharmacy technician, and former 2018 Green Party candidate for House Jason Kishineff (I).

District 5:
Republican incumbent Tom McClintock (R) takes on five other challengers. Notable candidates include former House candidate Mike Barkley (D), Fresno County Board of Supervisors member Nathan Magsig (R), and freelance writer -- and not the Apple founder -- Steve Wozniak (I).

District 6:
Democratic incumbent Ami Bera (D) takes on five other challengers. Notable candidates include realtor and financial investigator Chris Bish (R) and Air Force member Tamika Hamilton (R). The others are unknowns.

District 7:
Democratic incumbent Doris Matsui (D) takes on three unknown challengers.

District 8:
Democratic incumbent John Garamendi (D) takes on four challengers. Notable candidates include high school math teacher Christopher Riley (D) and former 2012 and 2014 House candidate Cheryl Sudduth (D).

District 9:
Democratic incumbent Josh Harder (D) takes on seven challengers. The notable candidate is real estate broker Karena Feng (D). The rest are unknowns.

District 10:
Democratic incumbent Mark DeSaulnier (D) takes on two challengers. The notable candidate is Founder of Our Revolution Contra Costa Michael Ernest Kerr (G)

District 11:
Everybody's favorite punching bag, Democratic incumbent and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D) takes on four challengers. Notable candidates include Director of Grassroots Advocacy for the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Shahid Buttar (D), graduate for the California Institute of Technology Jeffrey Phillips (D), and actress and systems engineer Bianca Von Krieg (D).

District 12:
Democratic incumbent Barbara Lee (D) takes on five challengers. The notable candidate is electrical engineer and contractor Stephen Slauson (R). The rest are unknowns.

District 13:
There is no incumbent and five candidates vying for the open seat. Notable candidates include Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board member Phil Arballo (D), California State Assembly member Adam Gray (D), and fugitive recover agent Diego Martinez (R).

District 14:
Democratic incumbent and Representative in favor of "passing the torch" Eric Swallwell (D) takes on six challengers. Notable candidates include former 2020 House candidate Alison Hayden (R), CEO of the Asian-Pacific region of European energy company Steve Iyer (R), waiter, actor, and bartender James Peters (D), and associate's degree holder from Skyline College Tom Wong, not to be confused with the former 2020 House candidate.

District 15:
There is no incumbent and seven candidates vying for the open seat. Notable candidates include director of a private tutoring group Gus Mattanmmal (R), California State Assembly member Kevin Mullin (D), and realtor, accountant, and small business owner Ferenc Pataki (I).

District 16:
Democratic incumbent Anna Eshoo (D) takes on seven candidates. Notable candidates include pediatrician Richard Fox (R), social science teacher John Karl Fredrich (I), California Democratic Party delegate Rishi Kumar (D), law school graduate from UCLA Ajwang Rading (D), and CEO and founder of AIR Models, Inc. Benjamin Solomon (R).

District 17:
Democratic incumbent Ro Khanna (D) takes on four candidates. The notable candidate is entrepreneur and business man Ritesh Tandon (R). The rest are unknowns.

District 18:
Democratic incumbent Zoe Lofgren (D) takes on unknowns Luis Acevedo-Arregun (I) and Peter Hernandez (R)

District 19:
Democratic incumbent Jimmy Panettta (D) takes on three candidates. Notable candidates include founder and CEO of Monterey Bay Conservancy Douglas Deitch (D), nurse at a mentally ill lockdown facility Dalila Epperson (R), and graduate from UC-Berkeley Jeff Gorman (R).

District 20:
Another favorite punching bag, Republican incumbent and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R) takes on four challengers. The notable candidate is chief meteorologist for WEATHERx Ben Dewell (D). The rest are unknowns.

District 21:
Democratic incumbent Jim Costa (D) takes on three other candidates. Notable candidates include former 2022 special election for House candidate Eric Garcia (D), former 2022 special election for House candidate Michael Maher (R), and former 2022 House special election candidate Matt Stoll (R).

District 22:
Republican incumbent David G. Valadao (R) takes on three challengers. Notable candidates include former 2018 New Mexico Regulation Commission District 5 candidate Chris Mathys (R), and California State Assembly member Rudy Salas (D).

District 23:
Republican incumbent Jay Obernolte (R) takes on public servant Blanca Game (D) and community organizer with the Bernie Sanders 2020 campaign Derek Marshall (D) .

District 24:
Democratic incumbent Salud Carbajal (D) takes on three challengers. The notable candidate is Michelle Weslander Quaid, who has a graduate degree from the University of Rochester. The other two are unknowns.

District 25:
Democratic incumbent Raul Ruiz (D) takes on six challengers, all from the Republican Party. Notable candidates include BA from California State University, Chico James Francis Gibson (R) and councilman for San Jacinto, CA Brian Hawkins (R). The other four Republicans are unknowns.

District 26:
Democratic incumbent Julia Brownley (D) takes on four challengers. The notable candidate is sports and music agent Fadde Mikhail (R). The rest are unknowns.

District 27:
Incumbent Republican Mike Garcia (R) takes on six challengers. The notable candidate is former California State Assemblywoman Christy Smith (D). This rest are unknowns.

District 28:
Incumbent Democrat Judy Chu (D) takes on three unknown challengers.

District 29:
Incumbent Democrat Tony Cárdenas (D) takes on four unknown challengers. If I were to go only by names of candidates, I would say this is primarily a Hispanic district.

District 30:
Incumbent Democrat Adam "Shifty" Schiff (D) takes on eight challengers. The notable candidate is former 2018 House candidate Johnny Nalbandian (R). The rest are unknowns.

District 31:
Incumbent Democrat Grace Napolitano (D) takes on unknown Daniel Bocic Martinez (R) and unknown Rocco Anthony De Luca (D).

District 32:
Incumbent Democrat Brad Sherman (D) takes on six challengers. Notable candidates include legislative director of the National Indian Health Board Shervin Aazami (D), esthetician Lucie Lapointe Volotzky (R), and elementary school teacher Aarika Rhodes (D).

District 33:
Incumbent Democrat Pete Aguilar (D) takes on three unknown Republican challengers.

District 34:
Incumbent Democrat Jimmy Gomez (D) takes on MacArthur Park Neighborhood Councilman David Kim (D) and unknown Republican Clifton Rio Torrado VonBuck (R).

District 35:
Incumbent Democrat Norma Torres (D) takes on four challengers. The notable candidate is veteran Mike Cargile (R) The other two are unknowns.

District 36:
Incumbent Democrat Ted Lieu takes on seven challengers. Notable candidates include owner of JT Acquisitions Joe Collins (R), software engineer Matthew Jesuele (I), and real estate broker Steve Williams (I). The rest are unknowns.

District 37:
Seven candidates vie for the open seat. Notable candidates include California State Senator Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D), former special election candidate for the House Sandra Mendoza (D), and former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry (D).

District 38:
Incumbent Democrat Linda Sánchez (D) takes on unknown Republicans Eric Ching (R) and John Sarega (R).

District 39:
Incumbent Democrat Mark Takano (D) takes on six Republicans. Notable candidates include former 2018 candidate for House in District 39 Aja Smith (R), and an associate degree holder from Chaffey Jr. College Emmanuel Suarez. The rest are unknowns.

District 40:
Incumbent Republican Young Kim (R) takes on three challengers. The notable candidate is former Mayor of Mission Viejo Greg Raths (R). The rest are unknowns.

District 41:
Incumbent Republican Ken Calvert (R) takes on four challengers. Notable candidates include Shrina Kurani (D), who has a BA from UC-Riverside, and assistant U.S. Attorney Will Rollins (D).

District 42:
8 challengers compete for an open seat. Notable candidates include Ocean View Board of Education at-large member John Briscoe (R), California State Assemblywoman and scandal-plagued Cristina Garcia (D), Mayor of Long Beach Robert Garcia (D), professor of political science and international relations at Cypress College Peter Matthews (D), and pastor and hospital and hospice chaplain Wiilliam Summerville (D).

District 43:
Incumbent Democrat and "Low IQ" politician Maxine Walters (D) takes on three challengers. The notable candidate is former 2018 District 43 House Republican nominee Omar Navarro (R). The others are unknowns.

District 44: Incumbent Democrat Nanette Barragán (D) takes on former 2016 District 44 House candidate Morris Griffin (D) and unknown Republican Paul Jones (R).

District 45:
Incumbent Republican Michelle Steel (R) takes on unknown Democrat Jay Chen (D) and 2014 House candidate for the 34th District Long Pham (R). Going by names and faces, I would guess this is a primarily Asian Congressional District.

District 46:
Incumbent Democrat Lou Correa (D) takes on five challengers. Notable candidates include biomedical engineer Michael Ortega (D), and failed 2018 candidate for the same seat Ed Rushman (I).

District 47:
Incumbent Democrat Katie Porter (D) takes on four Republican challengers. Notable candidates include business owner and lawyer Scott Baugh (R), information technology consulting company owner Brian Burley (R), Concerned Women for America (CWA) associate Amy Phan West (R), and cinematographer Errol Webber (R).

District 48:
Incumbent Republican Darrell "Benghazi" Issa (R) takes on three challengers. Notable candidates include 2003 graduate degree holder from the University of San Diego Stephen Houlahan (D) and entertainment industry professional Lucinda Jahn (I).

District 49:
Incumbent Democrat Mike Levin (D) takes on six challengers. Notable candidates include Orange County Board of Supervisors Lisa Bartlett, Oceanside City Councilman Christopher Rodriguez (R), Flintt, MI native Nadia Smalley (D), and former Sacramento Municipal Utility District representative Renee Taylor (R).

District 50:
Incumbent Democrat Scott Peters (D) takes on four challengers. Notable candidates include science and medical writer Adam Schindler (I) and co-founder and CEO of Code with Her Kylie Taitano (D).

District 51:
Incumbent Democrat Sara Jacobs (D) takes on three unknown challengers.

District 52:
Finally, we have incumbent Democrat Juan Vargas (D) taking on unknown Tyler Geffeney (R) and Obama administration public policy employee Joaquin Vazquez (D).


Special Congressional Elections:
Former Congressional District 22:
This is for the pre-2022 Congressional District 22, which is to replace Devin Nunes (R), who left to become CEO of Donald Trump's Trump Media and Technology Group.

The election is in the general election phase now, and we have operations manager and racial equity officer Lourin Hubbard (D) and former California State Assemblywoman Connie Conway (R).

Special Senate Election:
This is to replace Sen. Kamala Harris (D), who went on to become Vice President of the United States.

There is a 23-candidate primary in the Senate seat. In addition to incumbent Democrat Alex Padilla (D), notable candidates include Coast Guard veteran James P. Bradley (R), social worker, researcher, statistician, substitute teacher, and cook James Henry Conn (G), real estate broker and mortgage broker Sarah Sun Lieu (R), executive consultant Robert Lucero (R), former California State Senate candidate Mark P. Meuser (R), former veteran Chuck Smith (R), and former Marine Cordie Williams (R).

Governor:
Democratic incumbent Gavin Newsom (D) takes on 24 other challengers. Notable candidates include former 2022 House Candidate Shawn Collins (R), California State Senator Brian Dahle (R), small business owner and real estate broker Serge Fiankan (I), editor and host of The Open Door podcast James Hanink (I), business owner and strategic advisor Jenny Rae Le Roux (R), former 2020 House candidate David Lozano (R), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu professor Daniel Mercuri (R), director of operations Cristian Morales (R), farmer and clinical research psychologist Robert Newman (R), co-founder of the Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural and Bookstore Luis Rodriguez (G), San Francisco, CA native Reinette Senum (I), network engineer and sales director Anthony Trimino (R), aging specialist and safety security risk expert Joel Ventresca (D), founder of Major Kicks for Kids Major Williams (R), and support engineer and asset manager Bradley Zink (I).

(about the nicknames -- no I do not necessarily believe these, I'm just referring to other incidents -- I believe these are called "call backs." Feel free to add your own!)
 
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