Why Not Wait to Cast Your Absentee Ballot?/My Picks for Statewide CA Races Today

Delaine Eastin for Governor

Because I've been asked to, I'm going to post my picks and thinking for California Statewide contested seats in the June 2018 primary election.  But before/as I do so, I'd like to make a pitch for waiting until closer to the Tuesday June 5th election day.  Reasons why you might want to do so are as follow:

1.  Your ballot just has to be postmarked not received by June 5th (so as of today, that gives you 3 weeks).
2.  In the last 3 weeks of the election you could learn a lot about people:

a. For example, (former) Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin is believed to be the most progressive Democrat running for Governor.  She's also the high level female running for Governor and the only other candidate with statewide experience.   What if she had a real surge and a chance to make it into the run-off for the fall?  Might you want to support that?

b.  There are still more debates.  Like tonight UC Riverside is hosting a debate among the candidates for Attorney General.  Might you want to watch it or future debates before you decide? (some people say Delaine Eastin was great in the last gubernatorial debate)

c. Stuff may come to light about frontrunner for Governor Gavin Newsom.  How great would it be to have a choice between Delaine Eastin and him in November?  He doesn't want that of course.  He wants a choice between him and a far right Republican so its a cakewalk.

Okay, all this having been said, if the election were held today, who would I vote for in statewide races?  See below.  Feel free to educate me further in the next 3 weeks!

Kevin de Leon for US Senate

US Senator State Senator Kevin de Leon (D) every day of the week over incumbent Diane Feinstein (D).  Kevin is a progressive who has fought for the environment, labor, and women as leader of the state senate.  He will vote and work for a world that works for everyone.  Diane Feinstein has repeatedly supported conservatives for the judicial bench, is a hawk and is very fond of policies that benefit large corporations.  If Kevin can make it into the run-off in November, he can, at a minimum, push Diane from the left to better policies--if not, miracle, unseat her.

Governor: Former Superintendent of Public Education Delaine Eastin (D) (this is already a change--I posted yesterday on Facebook that I would vote for Gavin but was convinced by some others to go for Eastin.)  You know how the top two primary works, right?  The top 2 vote getters in June, regardless of party, face off in November.  That means that even though Eastin "doesn't have a chance" there's no reason really not to vote for her.  Newsom will run in November regardless--why not have a race between progressive and more progressive?

Lt Governor: Today I'd vote for Gayle McClaughlin (I), former Mayor of Richmond.  She is a progressive (Bernie Sanders fan) who ran a city.  I know state Senator Ed Hernandez pretty well as he was (still is) the chair of the Senate Health committee when I was representing SEIU in the legislature.  He is a nice enough guy, but he is no progressive and has been a bad vote on several key environmental and consumer issues.  I see no earthly reason to advance him to statewide office.

Secretary of State: incumbent Alex Padilla (D).

Controller, Incumbent Betty Yee (D); 

Treasurer, Vivek Viswanathan (D).  You might be tempted to vote for the leading Democrat, Fiona Ma--don't.  Just don't.

Attorney General: Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones (D). Appointed incumbent Xavier Becerra (D) would probably be pretty good but he's no Dave Jones. Dave, the current Insurance Commissioner, is one of the most aggressive progressive attorneys in this state and will make an OUTSTANDING Attorney General.  

Insurance Commissioner: undecided--anyone know who to vote for?