Candidates have through March 6 to enter federal, state, local races

Marin County’s filing period for the June 2 statewide direct primary is open, and candidates can run for seats ranging from Congress to governor and local offices.

The deadline is 5 p.m. March 6, extended to March 11 for any position where the incumbent has not filed.

The race for the District 12 state Assembly seat is likely to feature Tiburon Town Councilmember Holli Thier, who declared her candidacy last year. Those who have taken out papers but not yet filed include Marin County Supervisor Eric Lucan of Novato, Rohnert Park Councilmember Jackie Elward and Eryn Cervantes, a Republican San Quentin Rehabilitation Center officer. Corte Madera Town Councilmember Eli Beckman and Sebastopol resident Steve Schwartz have also announced candidacies.

All are seeking to replace Assembly­member Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, who has taken out papers for the District 2 state Senate seat, where Healdsburg Democrat Mike McGuire is termed out and running for Congress in District 1; the seat is currently vacant due to the death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa. Tief Gibbs, secretary of the Marin County Republican Central Committee, has also taken out papers locally for the state Senate seat.

Incumbent Rep. Jared Huffman, a San Rafael Democrat, has filed for re-election in California’s 2nd Congressional District, which expanded after voters approved Proposition 50 redistricting in November. Marin resident Gregory Burgess, who has no party affiliation, has also filed, while Kevin Eisele, a Novato Democrat, has taken out papers.

Former Sausalito Mayor Janelle Kellman has taken out papers for lieutenant governor but not yet filed. Term-limited Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and state Treasurer Fiona Ma are seeking to swap jobs in November. Robert Howell, a longtime president of a cybersecurity equipment manufacturer, has taken out papers for insurance commissioner; incumbent Ricardo Lara is termed out.

Also termed out are Gov. Gavin Newsom and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who’s running to replace Newsom. The crowded field of Democrats is currently splitting voters in polls, putting the two Republicans in the top two spots to advance to November.

Several incumbents are seeking to retain their seats, including Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Controller Malia Cohen and Attorney General Rob Bonta.

For Marin seats, Shelly Scott has filed to seek re-election as county assessor-recorder-county clerk, with no challengers yet. Marin Superintendent of Schools John Carroll has not yet taken out papers, and no challengers have emerged.

Five Superior Court judges whose terms are expiring — Kevin Murphy, Matthew Siroka, James Schurz, Mark Talamantes and Ahtossa Fullerton — will run unopposed after only the incumbents filed declarations of intent by the Feb. 4 judicial deadline.

For most partisan state and federal offices, California’s top-two open primary system sends the top two vote-getters — regardless of party — to the November general election. For nonpartisan offices, including state superintendent of public instruction, county superintendent of schools and assessor-recorder-county clerk, a majority vote in June decides the race outright; if no candidate reaches a majority, the top two advance to November.

For more information or a candidate application form, visit marinvotes.org or contact elections official Dan Miller at dan.miller@marincounty.gov or 415-473-6437.

Reach Executive Editor Kevin Hessel at 415-435-2652.