The primary election is just 12 days away. Here are some key updates for voters

Jenny Huh
·2 min read

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — If you’re a registered voter, there are important election updates to catch up on.

The write-in candidate filing deadline has passed. Now, there are now even more candidates running in the March 5 Primary Election.

Write-in candidates aren’t like your typical candidates.

Get to know the candidates on Thursday’s debate stage: #CA20Debate

Their names aren’t actually on the ballot. To vote for them, voters have to manually write in their names onto the ballot and fill in a bubble.

In the race for California’s 20th Congressional District, formerly held by Bakersfield’s Kevin McCarthy, there is only one write-in candidate.

  • James V. Cardoza (no party preference). Cardoza is a real estate photographer who describes himself as “fiscally conservative and socially moderate.”

In the race for the 32nd Assembly District, held by Bakersfield Assemblymember Vince Fong, there are five write-in candidates.

  • Bakersfield Ward 3 Councilmember Ken Weir (R). Weir is endorsed by incumbent Asm. Fong.

  • Veterinarian Tom Willis (R)

  • Ian David Smith (R)

  • Business owner T.J. Esposito (no party preference). Esposito is also on the ballot for the CD-20 election, but he suspended his campaign just last week and is instead endorsing GOP candidate Tulare Sheriff Mike Boudreaux.

  • David Wood has no party designation

Keep in mind, this list is unofficial and must now be certified by the Secretary of State. Votes toward certified candidates only will count.

Again, to vote for any of these write-in candidates, voters have to mark a bubble and write in the candidate name of choice.

California has a way for you to track your ballot after you vote. Here’s how it works.

You can watch the video in this article to learn more.

In other election news, a reminder that if you’re a registered voter in the 20th Congressional District, you’ll be getting or may have already gotten another ballot in the mail this week.

That’s for a special election to fill out the remainder of Kevin McCarthy’s term, since he resigned mid-term.

This election is separate from the March 5 presidential primary.

Also keep in mind the return envelope for this special election will be orange, so be sure to put each ballot in the corresponding envelope.

Kern County Auditor-Controller-County Clerk Aimee Espinoza said voters should contact her office if they don’t receive a ballot by the end of the week.

Some key dates: the March 5 primary, for which voters should have already received a ballot; the primary special election two weeks later, on March 19; and there could be a runoff election on May 21, with the top two vote getters.

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