Certified Contra Costa County election results: Solid Dem lean despite gerrymandered outlier

Nine days ahead of the July 7 deadline, Contra Costa County’s clerk-recorder certified final primary election results. The outcome of most races were unsurprising, but one in particular reflects the glaring impact of gerrymandering.

In a press release issued Tuesday, Clerk-Recorder Debi Cooper said:

“Our elections team has been preparing for and administering elections nonstop since early 2021. We’ve conducted several special elections that overlapped with preparations for the primary election.”

Cooper added:

“I am proud of the incredible effort of our team and thankful for our temporary workers and volunteers who dedicated their time during a continuing pandemic to provide excellent service to our constituents. It is an honor to certify this well-run, transparent, and fair election.”

Results of most races were as expected, with the area’s Democrat majority indicating in the primary that most incumbents will retain their seats by comfortable margins.

County voters went for Gov. Gavin Newsom by more than 65 percent, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis by about 62 percent, Secretary of State Shirley Weber by more than 68 percent, Treasurer Fiona Ma by more than 67 percent, Attorney General Rob Bonta by just less than 64 percent and Senator Alex Padilla for the full term by 62 percent.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is poised to retain his role with 56 percent approval from Contra Costa voters and nearly 46 percent in preliminary state-level results. Thurmond is a Richmond resident who previously served on the West Contra Costa Unified School Board.

Ricardo Lara, the incumbent insurance commissioner, netted just shy of 37 percent, ahead of fellow Democrat challenger Mark Levine by about 10 points and Republican Robert Howell by nearly 22 points. However, it appears state-level results will pit Lara against Howell in the general election, though California is not expected to certify until July 15.

Lara facing substantial challenge should come as no surprise after it was discovered he received campaign donations from the industry he is responsible for regulating.

Contra Costa residents able to weigh in on the 9th Congressional District election leaned heavily Republican with nearly 43 percent of voters choosing Tom Patti, though results from the entire district gave Democrat Josh Harder the lead by almost 10 points. The gerrymandered map that came out of the 2020 redistricting cycle cuts out a large portion of the county to the west, including entire populations of Brentwood and Oakley, and a large chunk of Antioch.

The push toward more conservative Contra Costa voters in the easternmost region is reflected in this election’s results as compared to elections past. The incumbent Democrat Jerry McNerney won every election since 2012 with well over 50 percent. The overall district still leans Democrat, but the party lead compared to 2020 narrowed by about 20 percent with gerrymandered redistricting implemented in this cycle.

Races for U.S. representatives in all other Contra Costa districts heavily favored Democrats: John Garamendi in District 8 by nearly 65 percent, Mark DeSaulnier in District 10 by a whopping 84 percent, Lori Wilson in District 11 by about 54 percent, Buffy Wicks in District 14 nearly 100 percent, Tim Grayson in District 15 by more than 68 percent and Rebecca Bauer-Kahan in District 16 by just more than 67 percent.

On the county level, incumbent District 1 Supervisor John Gioia was handed more than 85 percent of the vote. The far more contested District 4 supervisor election saw less than a 3-point difference between the top three candidates — Ken Carlson and Debora Allen advance to the November ballot.

Gus Kramer keeps his job as the county’s assessor with 56.34 percent approval. Kristin Braun Connelly and Vicki Gordon face a runoff in November as the top two candidates — neither received a majority vote, though Connelly finished more than 10 points ahead.

Interestingly, county voters chose to keep both District Attorney Diana Becton and Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston. It’s no secret that there has been heightened tension between the two, especially since the prosecution and conviction of former Contra Costa sheriff’s deputy Andrew Hall. Livingston has been criticized for praising Hall’s character and coming to his defense after he was sentenced to six years for fatally shooting unarmed Laudemer Arboleda in 2018.

Measure G, an extension of the county’s vehicle abatement program, and Measure F, which establishes a parcel tax that allows the city to purchase open space, both passed by about 67 and 69 percent, respectively.