California Direct Primary Election Voting is this Tuesday (6/2)
This story was updated to show Sheriff Shannon Dicus is running against Retired Sheriff’s Sergeant Joe Silva.
California voters have an opportunity to weigh in on local elections and primaries on Tuesday (June 2), as our state holds our Direct Primary Elections.
This election sees some shifts in district lines. In the November 2025 election, Californians voted in favor of State Proposition 50, which authorizes State officials to redraw the district map in 2026. The initiative was designed to counteract at a federal level similar redistricting efforts in other states.
The Morongo Basin is currently represented on a federal Congressional level as part of District 23, which encompasses areas north of the Riverside County Line up through Victorville and Barstow. The 23rd Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Congressman Jay Obernolte.
As redrawn and voted upon this year and moving forward for 2027, the city of Twentynine Palms will now be included in District 25, which will include Cathedral City, Indio, and areas as far south as El Centro reaching to the Mexican border. This new district is currently represented by Democratic Congressman Raul Ruiz.
In both of these Congressional Districts, challengers are facing both incumbents. In both races, the two candidates with the highest vote-count will face off in November.
In District 23, incumbent Congressional Representative Obernolte will face off against Pat Wallis, Karen Matthews, Tessa Hodge, and Eli Owens.
In District 25, incumbent Congressional Representative Ruiz will face off against Ceci Truman and Joe Males.
California State Assembly District 47, which includes Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, and parts of the Coachella Valley and the Inland Empires, will see a primary challenge. Incumbent Republican Greg Wallis currently represents the area in California’s State Assembly. He will face primary challenge from Jason Byors.
California State Assembly District 34, which includes Twentynine Palms, Wonder Valley, Landers, and Johnson Valley, sees four new candidates. Incumbent Republican Tom Lackey currently represents the area in California’s State Assembly. Lackey is not running in this next election. Primary candidates include Charles Frederick Hughes, Manny Line, Steve Fox, and Randall Putz.
UPDATE: An earlier version of this story suggested that Tom Lackey was running for office again. He is not. Z1077 regrets the error.
There are 24 candidates running to serve as California’s Governor. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary will head to the November ballot.
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus is running against retired Sheriff’s Sergeant Joe Silva in June’s primary. There are salso primaries for County Superintendent of Schools and County Auditor-Controller.
Ballots have been delivered and early voting has begun in San Bernardino County. Early voting has already begun and will continue until 6 p.m. today. Voters may cast a ballot in person or drop off their completed mail ballot at at our local early voting site at the Joshua Tree Community Center.
Election Day is Tuesday, June 2 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
You can find your local polling place and ballot drop-off locations at Elections.SBCounty.gov or call (909) 387-8300.
