Your Santa Monica Common Sense (California State) Voting Guide

October 20 - Votes by mail can start immediately and in-person voting centers will open on October 29. Here's how to cast your ballot in a way to best help our larger community. Or, in the case of our insane California legislature and the largely dysfunctional County Board of Supervisors, do the least damage possible. Here are our recommendations.

US SENATE PARTIAL TERM

Mark P. Meuser (R)

US SENATE FULL TERM

Mark P. Meuser (R)

It's about time California had some political balance in our representation in congress. Appointed incumbent Alex Padilla is not just Democrat; he's a radical leftist who scores 80% left on govtrack's ideology chart.

US ASSEMBLYMEMBER DISTRICT 36

Joe Collins III(R)

Incumbent Ted Lieu is an out-of-touch, extreme ideologue who will vote for any radical leftist baloney. Let's put some common sense in our congress.

GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA

Brian Dahle (Republican)

Dahle understands what California needs: solutions to our energy, water, and crime problems. Incumbent Newsom presided over one of the most draconian Covid-19 "emergency" lockdowns in the world - while yucking it up with his friends at the French Laundry. As an example of his lunacy, he thinks abolishing gas-powered cars is going to stop wildfires.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Angela Underwood Jacobs (R)

Nearly every Democrat politician in this state is radical, exaggerates legislation's impact on climate change, and coddles criminals. We need conservative voices to pull us back from the brink on which we sit.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Nathan Hochman (R)

Incumbent Rob Bonta applauds the criminal-enabling, law-ignoring policies of the disastrous LA County District Attorney George Gascon. Hochman has promised to take over criminal cases Gascon refuses to prosecute. We'll have a chance at law and order again.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Rob Bernosky

CONTROLLER

Lanhee Chen (R)

TREASURER

Jack Guerrero (R)

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Robert Howell (R)

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

Lance Christensen

Incumbent Thurmond has presided over an attempt to radicalize and racialize curriculum for both lower and higher education. Throw him out.

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS

MEASURE 1 to amend state constitution to protect abortion rights

These rights are already protected by state law, so a vote is largely symbolic.

MEASURE 26 to allow certain in-person gambling games on tribal lands

NO

We do not support any gambling in the state and opposed the current lottery system, which has provided little of the promised financial suport to schools.

MEASURE 27 to allow Indian tribes to operate online gaming

NO

This is even opposed by the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations

MEASURE 28 to increase portion of General Fund going to public arts education

NO

We all want art education in our schools, but this measure will obviously raise taxes, since the money taken from the General Fund will have to be replaced. The Legislative Analyst estimates a cost of $1 billion annually.

MEASURE 29 to further regulate dialysis clinics

NO

This could close clinics and raise costs, both to patients and state taxpayers.

MEASURE 30 to increase personal income tax and give rebate to electric car owners

NO

No new taxes. No boons for the wealthy who can afford electric cars, which are impractical and do not help the environment or slow global warming.

MEASURE 31 to confirm law that bans flavored tobacco products

NO

The place to keep kids from buying tobacco products is at the point of sale, not by prohibiting adults from enjoying the products they might want.

STATE-WIDE JUDGES RETENTION ELECTION

Of the justices up for retention on the California Supreme Court and in the Courts of Appeal, only two are recommended for a YES vote:

ASSOCIATE JUSTICE, COURT OF APPEAL, SECOND DISTRICT, DIVISION 2

Judith M. Ashmann - YES

ASSOCIATE JUSTICE, COURT OF APPEAL, SECOND DISTRICT, DIVISION 8

Elizabeth Annette Grimes - YES