Tiburon Councilmember Thier officially joins crowded race for state Assembly seat

Tiburon Town Councilmember Holli Thier has joined a six-candidate field vying for Damon Connolly’s seat in the state Assembly in the June 2 primary.

She filed her candidacy papers March 10, the day before the extended filing period closed March 11, joining Corte Madera Councilmember Eli Beckman, San Quentin correctional counselor Eryn Cervantes, Marin District 5 Supervisor Eric Lucan, Rohnert Park Councilmember Jackie Elward and Sebastopol farmer Steve Schwartz in the race for Assembly District 12, which includes Marin County and portions of Sonoma County. Cervantes is the only Republican in the field; the others are Democrats.

The top two vote-getters in the primary, regardless of political party, will advance to the general election Nov. 3.

Connolly, D-San Rafael, is termed out of the Assembly and is vying for the state Senate seat in District 2, which includes all of Marin, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Trinity counties and the majority of Sonoma County. He filed for the race March 4. Joining Connolly are small-business owner Tief Gibbs, secretary of the Marin County Republican Central Committee, and Republican Aaron Smith of Sonoma County.

District 2 state Sen. Mike McGuire, a Healdsburg Democrat who is also termed out, is running for U.S. Congress in the redrawn 1st District. The seat became vacant when Rep. Doug LaMalfa died Jan. 6.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, is seeking reelection in California’s 2nd Congressional District, which expanded after voters approved Proposition 50 redistricting in November. At least six candidates filed to challenge him by the March 11 deadline: San Rafael elder caregiver Gregory Burgess, Novato Democrat Kevin Eisele, Bolinas rancher and environmental attorney Nicolette Hahn Niman, Redding Republican Robin Littau, Shasta County Republican Paul Saulsbury and Shasta County Democrat Rose Penelope Yee. Burgess and Hahn Niman have no party affiliation.

Former Sausalito Mayor Janelle Kellman has filed for lieutenant governor. Term-limited Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis has filed for state treasurer, while term-limited state Treasurer Fiona Ma has filed for lieutenant governor.

Ten candidates — eight Democrats and two Republicans — are vying for governor, with Gov. Gavin Newsom ineligible to run due to term limits. Newsom appears poised to run for president in 2028 and led all potential Democratic candidates in a University of California-Politico poll released March 12.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, also termed out, is among the gubernatorial candidates.

The field also includes former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, former Fox News host and British Conservative strategist Steve Hilton, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former presidential candidate and billionaire Tom Steyer, U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former State Controller Betty Yee. The only two Republicans, Bianco and Hilton, are leading polls and positioned to advance as the large Democratic field is splitting the vote.

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 faces no opposition for county assessor-recorder-county clerk, nor does Marin Superintendent of Schools John Carroll, all but assuring reelection for both.

Five incumbent Superior Court judges whose terms are expiring — Kevin Murphy, Matthew Siroka, James Schurz, Mark Talamantes and Ahtossa Fullerton — will run unopposed after they were the only candidates to file 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 county 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.

Reach Francisco Martinez at 415-944-4634.