SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A newly-released poll shows key San Diego County races are undecided ahead of the June 5 primary election.
Many of the 1,100 voters questioned in the scientific 10News/Union-Tribune poll showed no clear preference for non-partisan positions including District Attorney, Sheriff, and County Assessor.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Summer Stephan, the interim San Diego County District Attorney, held 35 percent of the vote to Genevieve Jones-Wright’s 22 percent. Stephan led among Republicans, white voters, and those over 35 years old. Jones-Wright led among Democrats, and Latino and younger voters.
43 percent of voters were undecided in the race.
Stephan was appointed by the Board of Supervisors last year to fill the remainder for Bonnie Dumanis’ term. Jones-Wright is a Deputy Public Defender. The two have met in several public forums.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF
Incumbent Sheriff Bill Gore led Sheriff’s Department commander Dave Meyers by 10 percent in the poll. However, 33 percent of voters were undecided.
Gore had stronger support from senior citizens, white voters and conservatives.
COUNTY ASSESSOR/RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK
The countywide election pitting incumbent Ernest Dronenburg Jr. against ethics attorney Matt Strabone shows voters were essentially tied, with a 6.3 percent margin of error. Dronenburg held 20 percent of the vote to Strabone’s 17 percent.
An overwhelming 63 percent of voters were undecided.
VOTER BREAKDOWN
84 percent of those surveyed said they were registered to vote in California. 14 percent were not, and 2 percent were not sure.
About half of San Diegans said they would definitely vote in the June 5 election. About a fourth said they would likely vote. A combined 11 percent said they were unlikely or certain not to vote.
According to the Registrar of Voters, 75 percent of those eligible to vote in the county are registered. Of those registered, 37 percent are registered Democrats, 29 percent are registered Republicans and another 29 percent are Independent.
As far as voter turnout for the June Primary, over the last 30 years, the highest number of voters to turn out was 40 percent in 1990.
DO POLITICAL PARTIES MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
The Survey USA pollsters asked San Diegans if political parties impacted how they planned to vote in the elections. About a third said party affiliation had a lot to do with their decision.
BIG ISSUES
As San Diegans head to the polls, they’ll be weighing different issues. The cost of living and housing affordability topped the list of concerns facing most voters. Crime and homelessness were also in the top five.
