Pressed for time but want to vote smart? Here’s The Bee’s endorsement roundup | Opinion
The Modesto Bee Editorial Board has made endorsements in local races ranging from Congress to school boards on the November ballot. Here are summaries of those endorsements plus links to the specific editorials that go into detail on the board’s views:
U.S. CONGRESS
District 13: One of the most watched races in the nation pits Republican incumbent John Duarte against Democratic challenger Adam Gray. Duarte’s campaign ads portray him as a moderate, yet he stayed loyal to his party’s goals in this Congress, such as the GOP-backed Parents Bill of Rights, which would out a transgender student to their parents against the student’s wishes. Gray, a former state Assemblymember, is a moderate Democrat who has worked to get water deliveries for Valley farmers. Here are The Bee’s endorsement.
STATE ASSEMBLY
District 8: Former congressman George Radanovich is hoping to re-enter politics with this seat. Running against him is David Tangipa of Fresno, a newcomer to elections. Both are Republicans. Radanovich wants to challenge Democratic control of the statehouse. Tangipa is more willing to work with Democrats. That will be the more successful strategy given that Democrats hold a supermajority in the Legislature. Here is The Bee’s endorsement.
District 27: First-term Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Joanna Garcia Rose. Soria, a former Fresno City Councilmember, teamed with state Sen. Anna Caballero to secure millions in funding to reopen the shuttered Madera Community Hospital. She has proven adept at winning state monies for other projects in her district as well. Here is The Bee’s endorsement.
CITY OF MODESTO
City Council: Incumbents Rosa Escutia-Braaton (District 1) and David Wright (District 6) have challengers. Escutia-Braaton is facing former candidate John Gunderson and state transportation worker Joel Gutierrez Campos. Wright is being challenged by Austin Grant, an emergency preparedness analyst with Stanislaus County. Incumbent Chris Ricci is running unopposed. Here are The Bee’s endorsements.
School board: Modesto City Schools District incumbents John Ervin III (Area 2), Abel Maestas (Area 4), Homero Mejía (Area 6) have challengers. Ervin is facing Roman Messick; Maestas is challenged by Emma Alonzo; and, Mejía is facing Rueth Velez-Langrock and Sebastian Jones. Here are The Bee’s endorsements.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS
The Sacramento Bee opinion team, in concert with McClatchy California opinion editors, offers endorsements in the many propositions on the ballot.
Proposition 2
The Bee’s Choice: “Prop. 2 would fund needed California school construction. Should voters say no again?”
Proposition 3
The Bee’s Choice: “California voters could protect gay marriage rights with Prop. 3”
Proposition 4
The Bee’s Choice: “California’s Prop. 4 tries to meet many resource needs. Is it worth $10 billion?”
Proposition 5
The Bee’s Choice: “California’s Prop. 5 would lower local property tax approvals to 55%. Is that fair?”
Proposition 6
The Bee’s Choice: “California voters could abolish the vestiges of slavery with Prop. 6”
Proposition 32
The Bee’s Choice: “Inflation has a massive lead over wages. Could California’s Prop 32 close the gap?”
Proposition 33
The Bee’s Choice: “Should local politicians control your rent? It’s Prop. 33’s question for California”
Proposition 34
The Bee’s Choice: “Prop. 34 says it is about drug purchasing reform, but is it really about rent control?”
Proposition 35
The Bee’s Choice: “Proposition 35 is confusing to California voters. Here is what you need to know”
Proposition 36
The Bee’s Choice: “Prop. 36 taps into California voter anger over crime. But is it a terrible idea?”