Election roundup: Tiburon’s Thier concedes, Lucan leads in Assembly field; Steyer has edge among local voters

Updated June 9.

Tiburon Councilmember Holli Thier has conceded the race to succeed Assemblymember Damon Connolly in the 12th Assembly District, running fourth in the six-candidate field in preliminary returns from the June 2 primary.

Thier, a Democrat, had 14.2% of the districtwide vote as of June 8.

“I’m proud of the strong campaign we built and to be running second among all Democratic candidates in election-night returns for Marin County. I want to thank my supporters for your time, your talent, your contributions, but most importantly your belief in me to implement our shared vision for a better California. I’ll always be grateful for your support and that and our work has just begun.”

Thier is running second among Democrats in Marin but third among Democrats across the full district, which also includes parts of Sonoma County.

With five candidates registered as Democrats, the split field on the left appears to have opened a pathway for Eryn Cervantes, the lone Republican on the ballot, to reach the Nov. 3 general election. The top two vote-getters in the primary, regardless of party, qualify for November’s race.

Marin Supervisor Eric Lucan, D-Novato, leads the field with 27.7% of the vote. Cervantes, a corrections counselor at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, is second at 22.2%. Rohnert Park Councilmember Jackie Elward, a Democrat, is third at 20.5%, with Thier fourth at 14.2%. Corte Madera Councilmember Eli Beckman, a Democrat, has 8.6% and Sebastopol nonprofit executive Steve Schwartz, a Democrat, 6.8%.

The district extends into Sonoma County, including Rohnert Park and parts of Petaluma. Connolly is termed out of office and running for state Senate in District 2.

The next update is expected June 10, after The Ark’s print deadline.

Lucan’s lead rested on Marin, where he took 34.3% of the county’s vote. In Sonoma County, Elward led with 28.2%, Cervantes was second at 27% and Lucan third at 17.9%. Marin leaned more Democratic, giving the five Democrats a combined 81.1% to Cervantes’ 18.9%; in Sonoma, Democrats drew 73% to Cervantes’ 27%. Across the district, the five Democrats took 77.8% of the vote, reflecting the party’s strength in the district.

On the Tiburon Peninsula, the top of the race was tight. Lucan led with 28.7% of the 4,712 votes cast, followed by Thier at 23.6% and Cervantes at 22.8%.

Thier ran strongest close to home. In Tiburon, she led with 596 votes to Lucan’s and Cervantes’ 556 apiece, or 26.9% to 25.1%. In Belvedere, Cervantes led with 32.2%, followed by Lucan at 29.1% and Thier at 24.9%. In Strawberry, Lucan led with 32.4%, ahead of Thier at 19.8% and Cervantes at 18.3%.

Across the peninsula, the five Democrats drew a combined 77.2% to Cervantes’ 22.8%.

Governor’s race

In Marin, billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer narrowly led the governor’s primary with 31.7% of the county’s vote, about 140 votes ahead of fellow Democrat and former California Attorney General and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra at 31.5%.

Republican former Fox News host and U.K. Conservative Party adviser Steve Hilton was third at 16.2%, followed by Democratic former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter at 7.6%, Democratic San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan at 5.9% and Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at 3.7%.

On the Tiburon Peninsula, Steyer led with 31.2% of the 5,305 votes cast, followed by Becerra at 28.4% and Hilton at 20.6%. Steyer carried Tiburon at 30%, ahead of Becerra at 27.1% and Hilton at 23.7%. He also led Belvedere at 31.6%, ahead of Hilton at 29.8%. In Strawberry, Steyer led with 32.3%, with Becerra close behind at 32.1%.

Statewide, Becerra led with 27.6%, followed by Hilton at 25%, with the two poised to advance to the Nov. 3 general election. Steyer followed at 22.3%, with Bianco at 10.2%.

U.S. House of Representatives

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, will advance to November’s general election after leading the 2nd Congressional District primary with 49.2% of the districtwide vote.

It’s the first election since Proposition 50 passed in November 2025. The voter initiative keeps the Tiburon Peninsula in the district but expands its boundaries to include Republican strongholds near the Oregon and Nevada borders for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.

Republican Robin Littau, a board member of the Enterprise Elementary School District in Redding, was second districtwide at 14.8%, putting her in position to advance. Republicans Angelita Valles and Tim Geist followed at 7.7% each.

Huffman ran far stronger in Marin, where he led with 74% of the county’s vote.

On the Tiburon Peninsula, Huffman drew 72.1% of the 4,901 votes cast, taking 69.4% in Tiburon, 62.6% in Belvedere and 77% in Strawberry. Valles was the next-strongest on the peninsula at 6.3%.

Statewide and county offices

Connolly, a San Rafael Democrat and Marin’s current assemblymember, qualified for the November general election, leading the District 2 Senate primary with 70.2% of the districtwide vote, in a district that spans coastal counties from Marin to Del Norte County.

Republican Tief Gibbs was second at 18.4% and Republican Aaron Smith third at 11.4%.

In Marin, Connolly drew 79.3% of the county’s vote.

On the Tiburon Peninsula, Connolly drew 75.2% of the 4,847 votes cast, taking 71.9% in Tiburon, 64.7% in Belvedere and 80.7% in Strawberry. Gibbs followed at 18.4%, with Smith at 6.4%.

Statewide and county offices

For lieutenant governor, Marin and the state parted ways. Democrat Josh Fryday led in Marin with 30%, ahead of fellow Democrat Fiona Ma at 26.2%. But statewide Fryday ran third at 14.5%, behind Ma at 19.3% and Republican Gloria Romero at 18%, the two positioned to advance. Marin’s top choice would miss the November runoff.

In the secretary of state race, incumbent Democrat Shirley Weber led with 74% in Marin and 58.2% statewide, ahead of Republican Donald Wagner, who had 37.3% statewide.

For controller, incumbent Democrat Malia Cohen led with 74.2% in Marin and 56.4% statewide, ahead of Republican Herb Morgan at 38.1% statewide.

In the treasurer’s race, Democratic Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis led with 60.8% in Marin and 36.6% statewide. Republican Jennifer Hawks was second statewide at 24.4%.

For attorney general, incumbent Democrat Rob Bonta led with 73.9% in Marin and 56.3% statewide, ahead of Republican Michael Gates at 38.5% statewide.

In the insurance commissioner race, Democrat Ben Allen led in Marin with 32.7%, followed by Democrat Jane Kim at 24.5%. Statewide, Kim led with 26.7% and Allen was second at 19.7%, the two positioned to advance.

For the 2nd District seat on the state Board of Equalization, Democrat Sally Lieber led with 63.8% in Marin and 56.7% statewide, ahead of Democrat John Pimentel, who had 15.5% statewide.

In the nonpartisan race for state superintendent of public instruction, Richard Barrera led in Marin with 29.5%, ahead of Sonja Shaw at 14.4%. Statewide, Shaw led with 22.9% and Barrera was second at 20%, the two advancing to November.

Two Marin County offices drew lone candidates: John Carroll ran unopposed for county superintendent of schools and Shelly Scott ran unopposed for assessor-recorder-clerk.

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