It’s that time again—election season. The California Primary is fast approaching. Here is the timeline:

• May 4: County election officials will be mailing ballots to registered voters for the June Primary

• May 18: The last day to register to vote

• June 2: Primary Election; Californians will decide the top contenders for Governor, Congress, State Assembly, and a handful of other elected offices. The June primary will determine which top two governor and congressional candidates will proceed to the November general election.

• November 3: General Election; the top two candidates from the primary races will face off and Californians will get to cast their votes for governor, Congress, and local elected offices such as city council, school board, and water district.

Typically, voter turnout during non-presidential elections is lower than usual. In 2024, despite it being a presidential election, voter turnout was unexpectedly low. For the first time in many election cycles, San Bernardino County formally flipped from blue to red with Republican Donald Trump winning over the majority of county voters against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Many voters cited rising costs and the economy as their reasons for supporting Republican candidates.

Now, two years into Trump’s second presidential term, with gas prices higher than average, continued inflationary concerns, and military conflicts in the Middle East between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, some are experiencing voter’s remorse.

Currently, Republicans hold 53 seats in the U.S. Senate with Democrats holding 47 seats. In the House of Representatives, Republicans hold a slim 217 seat majority, with Democrats occupying 214 seats out of the 435 with three vacancies.

Preliminary elections in historically Republican states such as Texas have shown both parties will have highly competitive races as November approaches. Citing the Republican presidential administration’s poor track record involving human rights violations with ICE, mass deportations among immigrant communities, war in the Middle East, and continued economic woes, many Democratic contenders are hoping—and banking—on this year’s midterm elections to flip some districts.

State of California

Gubernatorial Race

The State of California has a two-term limit on governors. Gavin Newsom will term out in 2027, making 2026 a contentious election for leader of the world’s fifth largest economy. Per a March 23rd poll conducted by Evitarus, the top two emerging front runners are both members of the California Republican Party— Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco. The last Republican to be elected governor of California was Arnold Schwarzenegger who served from 2003 to 2011.

Given the state’s top-two primary system, meaning the top two candidates in the primary will advance to a run off race in the general election regardless of party affiliation, this means that California voters could be left with two Republican candidate options for the November ticket.

One name in particular has sparked more headlines—and controversy— than others. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announced his candidacy for the Republican ticket in early 2025. Bianco made headlines in March 2026 when, using his role as Sheriff of Riverside County, he seized approximately 650,000 ballots as part of an investigation into what he alleged was voter fraud regarding California’s Proposition 50 election, which was a successful redistricting measure proposed by the California Democratic Party that sought to offset Republican gerrymandering in Texas. Prop 50 passed in November 2025 by nearly two-to-one margins, winning over 64% of voters.

As for Democratic candidates, the California Secretary of State website lists 24 individuals seeking the governor’s position with no sign of backing down despite calls from Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks for candidates to drop or risk forfeiting the November ticket to two Republicans.

Out of those, recent polling shows three candidates are emerging frontrunners for the Democratic ticket— Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter, and Tom Steyer. The question remains if the California Democratic Party can rally behind a single candidate in time for the June primary.

House of Representatives— Prop 50 Divides the Morongo Basin

Following publication of U.S. Census results, most states redraw their election districts every ten years. In California, this decade-long map process is conducted via an independent redistricting commission. In response to mid-decade redistricting efforts in Texas, California’s Prop 50, known as the “Election Rigging Response Act,” passed in November 2025. Prop 50 temporarily suspended that tradition, triggering a mid-decade redraw of California’s Congressional maps.

Prior to Prop 50’s passage, the Morongo Basin fell under Congressional District 23, currently represented by Congressman Jay Obernolte. Prop 50’s new map redraws local Congressional districts for the 2027 session and splits the Morongo Basin between District 23 and 25, meaning Obernolte will not be on the upcoming ballot for the majority of Twentynine Palms or Wonder Valley residents.

Areas east of Joshua Tree, including Twentynine Palms and Wonder Valley, now fall under District 25 which is currently represented by Congressman Raul Ruiz. Residents in Desert Heights and Joshua Tree still fall within District 23 under Obernolte.

Candidates vying for District 23 include Republican incumbent Jay Obernolte, of Big Bear, and three Democratic candidates— Tessa Lynn Hodge of Apple Valley, Karsten Nicholson of Crestline, and Pat Wallis of Yucca Valley. One independent candidate is also running in District 23— Dr. Karen Leigh Matthews of Loma Linda.

District 25 candidates include Democrat incumbent, Dr. Raul Ruiz of Coachella, and three Republicans— Ceci Truman of Menifee, Ronald Huffman of Beaumont, and Joe Males of Hemet.

State Assembly District 34

Assembly District 34 is currently represented by Republican Tom Lackey. AD34 covers Twentynine Palms, portions of Big Bear Lake, Johnson Valley, Lucerne Valley, Barstow, and part of Lancaster. A current map of AD34 is available here.

Vying for Assembly District 34 is Republican Charles Hughes of Antelope Valley and Democrat Randall Putz of Big Bear Lake.

State Assembly District 47

A current map of California Assembly District 47 is linked here, which covers large portions of the Coachella Valley, including Palm Springs, Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley.

Running against Republican and incumbent Greg Wallis in Assembly District 47 is Democrat Leila Namvar of La Quinta, and Democrat Jason Byors of Palm Springs.

Previous Desert Trumpet coverage of Assembly Districts 34 and 47 is linked here.

Morongo Basin Elections

Twentynine Palms City Council

The City of Twentynine Palms will have three City Council seats up for election in November—Districts 3, 4, and 5. District 3 is currently represented by Mayor Daniel Mintz, District 4 is represented by Mayor Pro Tem Octavious Scott, and District 5 is represented by McArthur Wright. Councilmembers serve four-year terms and meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. The City has yet to post this year’s election information.

Yucca Valley Town Council

Yucca Valley Town Council will have three seats featured on the November ballot. Those are Districts 1, 3, and 5. District 1 is currently represented by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Schooler, District 3 represented by Mayor Merl Abel, and District 5 is represented by Rick Denison. Members of the YVTC meet every first and third Tuesday of the month at 5 pm. A district map of Yucca Valley is available here. In 2024 Jeff Drozd and Robert Lombardo ran unopposed.

School Boards

Morongo Basin Unified School District Board of Education

Three seats out of five will be represented on the November ballot, with terms set to expire in December 2026 in Trustee Areas 1, 4, and 5.

Trustee Area 1 is currently represented by Missy Bond, who was appointed to District 1 in June 2025 following the resignation of Board of Trustee member Karalee Hargrove. Area 1 generally covers Twentynine Palms. Trustee Area 4, which represents the areas of Yucca Valley east of Kickapoo Trail and west of La Contenta, is represented by Board President Christopher Claire. Area 5, which covers Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, Desert Heights, and areas east of Airway Drive and as north as Giant Rock Road, is represented by Board Clerk Roberta Myers.

A district look-up tool is available here to see which Trustee Area you live in.

Copper Mountain College

At Copper Mountain College, Areas 4 and 5 have terms set to expire in 2026. Representatives on the 5-member Board of Trustees serve two-year terms. Area 4 is currently represented by Chuck Uyeda and Area 5 is represented by Anna Stump.

Local Water Districts

Joshua Basin Water District

At the Joshua Basin Water District, two of five divisions will be on the November ballot— Division 1 is currently represented by Tyler Short, and David Fick, Director of JBWD is representative of Division 2 with both terms set to expire in 2026. A map of JBWD is available here, and a link on “How To Become A Board Member” with pertinent Registrar of Voter information can be found on the JBWD website.

Twentynine Palms Water District

Three members of the Twentynine Palms Water District have terms expiring in December 2026—President Bob Coghill Jr., Vice President Randy Leazer, and Director Amy Woods. These are open seats, which means TPWD board members are not divided by area with the only requirement to run being residency within the district lines. Board members meet every 4th Wednesday of the month. A map of TPWD is available here, with pertinent election information available here.

Hi-Desert Water District

Three of five Board of Director seats will be up for election at the Hi-Desert Water District—District 1, currently represented by President Sue Tsuda, District 3, represented by Roger Mayes, and District 5, represented by Sheldon Hough. The district transitioned from open seats to districts in 2022—a district map is available here.

San Bernardino County Supervisor

The 5-member County Board of Supervisors will have two seats up for election this cycle. District 2, currently represented by Republican Jesse Armendarez III of Fontana, and District 4, represented by Republican Curtis Hagman of Chino Hills, will be featured on November ballots. Running against Armendarez is Democrat Jesus “Jesse” Sandoval, Fontana City Councilmember, and running against Hagman is Democrat Christina Gagnier. District 3, which covers the Morongo Basin, is currently represented by Dawn Rowe.

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