California’s Early Primary Creates Opportunity for Presidential Hopefuls
California’s Presidential primary will take place on March 5, 2024, three months earlier than the 2022 statewide primary. That change along with the CAGOP’s return to a system known as winner-take-all-by congressional-district gives candidates an opportunity to build campaign momentum even if they don’t win the statewide vote.
In the California Republican Presidential primary, the candidate who receives the most Republican votes in each of California’s 52 congressional districts is awarded three delegates. Ten delegates are awarded to the candidate who receives the most Republican votes statewide. The CAGOP Chairwoman, National Committeeman and National Committeewoman are automatic delegates to the Republican National Convention. That brings the total number of California Delegates to the Republican National Convention to 169, three less than in 2020, but still the largest delegation in the country.
The result of this system is that Presidential candidates could target their campaigns in areas where they have the best chance of winning specific congressional districts.
Republicans in blue areas like the San Francisco and Monterey Bay regions will choose a substantial number of Presidential delegates. There are twelve congressional districts that include portions of the counties that make up the San Francisco and Monterey Bay region. This means 36 delegates will be selected by GOP voters in this area. That is more delegates than are selected in many states. Hopefully, this will attract Presidential candidates to campaign in our region.
California Republicans will once again participate in a closed Presidential primary. Each party that selects delegates to a national nominating convention must decide if No Party Preference voters will have the opportunity to request a party ballot and participate in that party’s presidential primary. In both 2016 and 2020, the Democratic Party, American Independent Party and Libertarian Party chose to allow NPP voters to participate in their presidential primaries. Since 2010, The California Republican Party has not allowed NPP’s to vote in their partisan primaries.
In previous elections, the California Secretary of State has sent a letter to NPP voters inviting them to request a ballot for those parties who allow them to participate in their primaries. NPP voters often ask why the Republican Party is not listed. Currently, in order to vote in the Republican Presidential primary voters must be registered Republicans.
California Republicans will have an opportunity to decide if they wish to allow NPP’s to participate in their primary when the CAGOP convention meets this September. However, it is not clear whether a decision allowing NPP’s to request a Republican ballot would run afoul of the rules of the Republican National Committee.
In 2020, California Republicans changed their Presidential primary rules to award delegates based on the statewide vote rather than by Congressional district. However, those rules applied only to the 2020 ballot and are no longer in effect.
California’s Early Primary Creates Opportunity for Presidential Hopefuls
California’s Presidential primary will take place on March 5, 2024, three months earlier than the 2022 statewide primary. That change along with the CAGOP’s return to a system known as winner-take-all-by congressional-district gives candidates an opportunity to build campaign momentum even if they don’t win the statewide vote.
In the California Republican Presidential primary, the candidate who receives the most Republican votes in each of California’s 52 congressional districts is awarded three delegates. Ten delegates are awarded to the candidate who receives the most Republican votes statewide. The CAGOP Chairwoman, National Committeeman and National Committeewoman are automatic delegates to the Republican National Convention. That brings the total number of California Delegates to the Republican National Convention to 169, three less than in 2020, but still the largest delegation in the country.
The result of this system is that Presidential candidates could target their campaigns in areas where they have the best chance of winning specific congressional districts.
Republicans in blue areas like the San Francisco and Monterey Bay regions will choose a substantial number of Presidential delegates. There are twelve congressional districts that include portions of the counties that make up the San Francisco and Monterey Bay region. This means 36 delegates will be selected by GOP voters in this area. That is more delegates than are selected in many states. Hopefully, this will attract Presidential candidates to campaign in our region.
California Republicans will once again participate in a closed Presidential primary. Each party that selects delegates to a national nominating convention must decide if No Party Preference voters will have the opportunity to request a party ballot and participate in that party’s presidential primary. In both 2016 and 2020, the Democratic Party, American Independent Party and Libertarian Party chose to allow NPP voters to participate in their presidential primaries. Since 2010, The California Republican Party has not allowed NPP’s to vote in their partisan primaries.
In previous elections, the California Secretary of State has sent a letter to NPP voters inviting them to request a ballot for those parties who allow them to participate in their primaries. NPP voters often ask why the Republican Party is not listed. Currently, in order to vote in the Republican Presidential primary voters must be registered Republicans.
California Republicans will have an opportunity to decide if they wish to allow NPP’s to participate in their primary when the CAGOP convention meets this September. However, it is not clear whether a decision allowing NPP’s to request a Republican ballot would run afoul of the rules of the Republican National Committee.
In 2020, California Republicans changed their Presidential primary rules to award delegates based on the statewide vote rather than by Congressional district. However, those rules applied only to the 2020 ballot and are no longer in effect.
LIST OF UPCOMING GOP EVENTS
- Tri-Valley Republicans: California: Not A Lost Cause featuring Brian Eschen
Thursday, June 8, 2023 / 5:30 pm – Location Provided Prior to Event, , Pleasanton
- San Francisco GOP: Summer Dinner featuring Michael Shellenberger and Harmeet Dhillion
Thursday, June 8, 2023 / 6:30 pm – Marines’ Memorial Club, 609 Sutter Street, San Francisco
- Republican Club at the Villages: Electricity – Which Choice Is Right For You? Featuring Richard Zahner
Saturday, June 10, 2023 / 10:00 am – Foothill Center, Villages Fairway, San Jose
- East Bay Republican Club: Making a Difference in the Fight Against Human Trafficking featuring Vanessa Russell
Saturday, June 10, 2023 / 4:00 pm – Location Provided Upon Registration, , Piedmont
- Novato RWF: Lady in Red Fashion Show Fundraiser
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 / 11:00 am – Marin Country Club, 500 Country Club Drive, Novato
- PARWF: June Speaker Series featuring Bill Wiltschko
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 / 11:30 am – Baylands Golf Links Café, 1875 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto
- The Liberty Forum of Silicon Valley: The Patriot Parallel Economy featuring Wayne Allyn Root
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 / 6:15 pm – IFES Portuguese Hall, 432 Stierlin Road, Mountain View
- Marin Republican Women Federated: Election Integrity in the Courts and What I Bring to the U.S. Congress featuring Christine Bish
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 / 11:30 am – The Club at McInnis, 350 Smith Ranch Rd, San Rafael
- West Valley RWF: June Meeting featuring Daniel S. Reid
Thursday, June 15, 2023 / 11:30 am – Holders Cupertino Country Inn, , Cupertino
- Santa Cruz Republican Party: Pancakes and Patriotism! Featuring Hon. Tom Lorentzen and Gail Huff
Saturday, June 17, 2023 / 10:00 am – Corralitos Grange, 165 Little Corral Way, Watsonville
- SPARC and CCR: Innovation and Opportunity – Republican Strategies for a Better California featuring Assemblyman James Gallagher
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 / 6:30 pm – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Kristie Bruce-Lane for State Assembly 76: VIP Event featuring Assemblyman James Gallagher
Thursday, June 22, 2023 / 6:00 pm – Jelly Belly Factory, 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield
- Leadership Institute: California Conservative Candidate Development School
Saturday, June 24, 2023 / 9:00 am – Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel, 609 Sutter Street, San Francisco
- Marin GOP: Sunset Cruise
Saturday, June 24, 2023 / 6:45 pm – The Dock in Tiburon, , Tiburon
- Mark Turner Roast
Sunday, June 25, 2023 / 4:30 pm – Cinnabar Winery, 3200 Dryden Avenue , Gilroy
- Tony Virrueta (Candidate for State Senate District 17): Campaign Kickoff
Tuesday, June 27, 2023 / 10:30 am – Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 North Main, Salinas
- SVARW: We’re Rapidly Being Drive Toward a Single Global Currency – What steps should you take now? Featuring Victor Reed
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 / 8:45 am – Three Flames, 1547 Meridian Ave, San Jose
- Lamorinda Republican Women Federated: Wednesday Wine Socials
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 / 5:00 pm – Location Provided Upon RSVP, , Walnut Creek
- SF Log Cabin Republicans: Top Shot Chris Cheng – SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 / 6:30 pm – Sausage Factory, , San Francisco
- Association of Monterey Bay Conservatives: The Truth of J6 featuring David Sumrall
Thursday, July 6, 2023 / 6:00 pm – Bayonet & Black Horse, 1 McClure Way, Seaside
- Liberty Forum of Silicon Valley: Riley Gaines
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 / 6:15 pm – IFES Portuguese Hall, 432 Stierlin Rd, Mountain View
- John Coffee Hays Club: Annual Round Up! Featuring David Goodwin
Saturday, July 15, 2023 / 4:00 pm – Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill
- Lamorinda Republican Women Federated: Wednesday Wine Socials
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 / 5:00 pm – Location Provided Upon RSVP, , Walnut Creek
- SF Log Cabin Republicans: Tani Cantil-Sakauye – SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 / 6:30 pm – Sausage Factory, , San Francisco
- Santa Cruz Republican Party: Annual Family BBQ
Saturday, August 19, 2023 / N/A – Estrada Deer Camp, 140 Hazel Dell Rd, Watsonville
- SVGOP and SPARC: Annual Summer Picnic featuring Congressman John Duarte – SAVE THE DATE
Sunday, August 20, 2023 / 4:00 pm – Linda Vista Park, , Cupertino
- East Bay Republican Club: Michael Shellenberger – SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, September 9, 2023 / 4:00 pm – Location Provided Upon Registration, , Piedmont
- CAGOP Fall 2023 Convention – Anaheim
Friday, September 29, 2023 / N/A – Anaheim Marriott, 700 W Convention Way, Anaheim
Mayor Marie Blankley Leads Gilroy Forward
By Roger Riffenburgh
It was a challenging time for the City of Gilroy in December 2020 when Marie Blankley took office as the newly elected mayor. The Covid pandemic was approaching its peak and stressing city finances, the city was still recovering from the tragic Garlic Festival shooting of 2019, and several key city jobs were staffed with interim managers as a result of departures.
Today Gilroy’s situation is much more positive. Mayor Blankley is proud of the successful effort to fill vacancies and rebuild the city’s executive team into a group that works together like a family. Beyond that, much of her work has been focused on economic development and improving the city’s financial stability. She has worked with the council and staff to push several projects forward.
Construction is starting this year on two NHL sized hockey rinks at the Gilroy Sports Park, largely “funded by a revenue bond for which the San Jose Sharks are responsible,” says Blankley. This arrangement should bring both financial benefits from visitors, as well as local recreational opportunities. The city is also renovating two alleys parallel to Monterey Street, called Gourmet Alley and Railroad Alley. The project provides better lighting and makes the alleys more pedestrian friendly, attracting people to downtown restaurants and shopping. Gilroy won a $3.9 million grant through the CalTrans Clean California program to fund it.
Data showed that Gilroy’s streets were deteriorating rapidly. Blankley realized that street maintenance is often neglected in difficult budget times, but following a pavement management plan can save money in the long term. So she pushed for consistent funding through a 5-Year Street Repair Program.
Other efforts that Blankley is working on include building a 10th Street bridge across Uvas Creek, improving fire department response times with a temporary fourth firehouse, and planning for a community center. She devoted her February Spotlight message to affordable housing issues. She is a member of the Valley Transportation Authority board and has been raising the visibility of Gilroy there. Gilroy is likely to be a High Speed Rail stop if the line makes it to the Bay Area.
Professionally, Marie Blankley is a CPA, which is no doubt valuable to the city in these times. She was raised in Gilroy, earned her bachelor’s in accounting at Santa Clara University, and later a master’s in taxation at Golden Gate University. She worked as an accountant and has run her own CPA business in Gilroy for 27 years.
Over the years, Blankley has been active with Rotary, the Gilroy Foundation, the Gilroy Youth Task Force, and St. Mary’s Church. She was appointed to the council in 2018 and won election later that year. She was elected mayor in November of 2020 with over 68% of the vote.
For fun Marie enjoys listening to music and hiking with her husband Steve and the dogs. She and her husband have a son and daughter, both engineers. She says “With faith in yourself and the strength to make yourself proud, we can improve communities and move mountains together. Moving Gilroy forward, together. Love Gilroy!”
California Citizens Redistricting Commission – District Viewer
The Commission has developed a district viewer that allows you to more easily navigate visualizations and zoom in and out of geographic areas while layering congressional, State Senate and Assembly boundaries.
Mayor Marie Blankley Leads Gilroy Forward
By Roger Riffenburgh
It was a challenging time for the City of Gilroy in December 2020 when Marie Blankley took office as the newly elected mayor. The Covid pandemic was approaching its peak and stressing city finances, the city was still recovering from the tragic Garlic Festival shooting of 2019, and several key city jobs were staffed with interim managers as a result of departures.
Today Gilroy’s situation is much more positive. Mayor Blankley is proud of the successful effort to fill vacancies and rebuild the city’s executive team into a group that works together like a family. Beyond that, much of her work has been focused on economic development and improving the city’s financial stability. She has worked with the council and staff to push several projects forward.
Construction is starting this year on two NHL sized hockey rinks at the Gilroy Sports Park, largely “funded by a revenue bond for which the San Jose Sharks are responsible,” says Blankley. This arrangement should bring both financial benefits from visitors, as well as local recreational opportunities. The city is also renovating two alleys parallel to Monterey Street, called Gourmet Alley and Railroad Alley. The project provides better lighting and makes the alleys more pedestrian friendly, attracting people to downtown restaurants and shopping. Gilroy won a $3.9 million grant through the CalTrans Clean California program to fund it.
Data showed that Gilroy’s streets were deteriorating rapidly. Blankley realized that street maintenance is often neglected in difficult budget times, but following a pavement management plan can save money in the long term. So she pushed for consistent funding through a 5-Year Street Repair Program.
Other efforts that Blankley is working on include building a 10th Street bridge across Uvas Creek, improving fire department response times with a temporary fourth firehouse, and planning for a community center. She devoted her February Spotlight message to affordable housing issues. She is a member of the Valley Transportation Authority board and has been raising the visibility of Gilroy there. Gilroy is likely to be a High Speed Rail stop if the line makes it to the Bay Area.
Professionally, Marie Blankley is a CPA, which is no doubt valuable to the city in these times. She was raised in Gilroy, earned her bachelor’s in accounting at Santa Clara University, and later a master’s in taxation at Golden Gate University. She worked as an accountant and has run her own CPA business in Gilroy for 27 years.
Over the years, Blankley has been active with Rotary, the Gilroy Foundation, the Gilroy Youth Task Force, and St. Mary’s Church. She was appointed to the council in 2018 and won election later that year. She was elected mayor in November of 2020 with over 68% of the vote.
For fun Marie enjoys listening to music and hiking with her husband Steve and the dogs. She and her husband have a son and daughter, both engineers. She says “With faith in yourself and the strength to make yourself proud, we can improve communities and move mountains together. Moving Gilroy forward, together. Love Gilroy!”
California Citizens Redistricting Commission – District Viewer
The Commission has developed a district viewer that allows you to more easily navigate visualizations and zoom in and out of geographic areas while layering congressional, State Senate and Assembly boundaries.
LIST OF UPCOMING GOP EVENTS
- Tri-Valley Republicans: California: Not A Lost Cause featuring Brian Eschen
Thursday, June 8, 2023 / 5:30 pm – Location Provided Prior to Event, , Pleasanton
- San Francisco GOP: Summer Dinner featuring Michael Shellenberger and Harmeet Dhillion
Thursday, June 8, 2023 / 6:30 pm – Marines’ Memorial Club, 609 Sutter Street, San Francisco
- Republican Club at the Villages: Electricity – Which Choice Is Right For You? Featuring Richard Zahner
Saturday, June 10, 2023 / 10:00 am – Foothill Center, Villages Fairway, San Jose
- East Bay Republican Club: Making a Difference in the Fight Against Human Trafficking featuring Vanessa Russell
Saturday, June 10, 2023 / 4:00 pm – Location Provided Upon Registration, , Piedmont
- Novato RWF: Lady in Red Fashion Show Fundraiser
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 / 11:00 am – Marin Country Club, 500 Country Club Drive, Novato
- PARWF: June Speaker Series featuring Bill Wiltschko
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 / 11:30 am – Baylands Golf Links Café, 1875 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto
- The Liberty Forum of Silicon Valley: The Patriot Parallel Economy featuring Wayne Allyn Root
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 / 6:15 pm – IFES Portuguese Hall, 432 Stierlin Road, Mountain View
- Marin Republican Women Federated: Election Integrity in the Courts and What I Bring to the U.S. Congress featuring Christine Bish
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 / 11:30 am – The Club at McInnis, 350 Smith Ranch Rd, San Rafael
- West Valley RWF: June Meeting featuring Daniel S. Reid
Thursday, June 15, 2023 / 11:30 am – Holders Cupertino Country Inn, , Cupertino
- Santa Cruz Republican Party: Pancakes and Patriotism! Featuring Hon. Tom Lorentzen and Gail Huff
Saturday, June 17, 2023 / 10:00 am – Corralitos Grange, 165 Little Corral Way, Watsonville
- SPARC and CCR: Innovation and Opportunity – Republican Strategies for a Better California featuring Assemblyman James Gallagher
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 / 6:30 pm – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Kristie Bruce-Lane for State Assembly 76: VIP Event featuring Assemblyman James Gallagher
Thursday, June 22, 2023 / 6:00 pm – Jelly Belly Factory, 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield
- Leadership Institute: California Conservative Candidate Development School
Saturday, June 24, 2023 / 9:00 am – Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel, 609 Sutter Street, San Francisco
- Marin GOP: Sunset Cruise
Saturday, June 24, 2023 / 6:45 pm – The Dock in Tiburon, , Tiburon
- Mark Turner Roast
Sunday, June 25, 2023 / 4:30 pm – Cinnabar Winery, 3200 Dryden Avenue , Gilroy
- Tony Virrueta (Candidate for State Senate District 17): Campaign Kickoff
Tuesday, June 27, 2023 / 10:30 am – Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 North Main, Salinas
- SVARW: We’re Rapidly Being Drive Toward a Single Global Currency – What steps should you take now? Featuring Victor Reed
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 / 8:45 am – Three Flames, 1547 Meridian Ave, San Jose
- Lamorinda Republican Women Federated: Wednesday Wine Socials
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 / 5:00 pm – Location Provided Upon RSVP, , Walnut Creek
- SF Log Cabin Republicans: Top Shot Chris Cheng – SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 / 6:30 pm – Sausage Factory, , San Francisco
- Association of Monterey Bay Conservatives: The Truth of J6 featuring David Sumrall
Thursday, July 6, 2023 / 6:00 pm – Bayonet & Black Horse, 1 McClure Way, Seaside
- Liberty Forum of Silicon Valley: Riley Gaines
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 / 6:15 pm – IFES Portuguese Hall, 432 Stierlin Rd, Mountain View
- John Coffee Hays Club: Annual Round Up! Featuring David Goodwin
Saturday, July 15, 2023 / 4:00 pm – Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill
- Lamorinda Republican Women Federated: Wednesday Wine Socials
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 / 5:00 pm – Location Provided Upon RSVP, , Walnut Creek
- SF Log Cabin Republicans: Tani Cantil-Sakauye – SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 / 6:30 pm – Sausage Factory, , San Francisco
- Santa Cruz Republican Party: Annual Family BBQ
Saturday, August 19, 2023 / N/A – Estrada Deer Camp, 140 Hazel Dell Rd, Watsonville
- SVGOP and SPARC: Annual Summer Picnic featuring Congressman John Duarte – SAVE THE DATE
Sunday, August 20, 2023 / 4:00 pm – Linda Vista Park, , Cupertino
- East Bay Republican Club: Michael Shellenberger – SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, September 9, 2023 / 4:00 pm – Location Provided Upon Registration, , Piedmont
- CAGOP Fall 2023 Convention – Anaheim
Friday, September 29, 2023 / N/A – Anaheim Marriott, 700 W Convention Way, Anaheim