Phil Matier: 40 Percent Of California Voters Polled Unaware Gov. Brown Seeking Re-Election
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— If didn't know Governor Jerry Brown is seeking to be re-elected Tuesday, you're not alone. A new poll finds four out of 10 likely voters in California are unaware the Governor is running for another term.
The Democratic incumbent hasn't been spending much money on his campaign. Instead he's focusing on Proposition 1, a $7.5 billion water-infrastructure bond and Proposition 2, a measure to supplement California's rainy-day fund.
It would be pretty hard to find a Vote for Jerry Brown bumper sticker or a re-elect Brown sign posted in any lawns or windows.
He's only had one debate with his GOP opponent Neel Kashkari and he really doesn't seem to be sweating it. It's pretty much been business as usual amongst Brown and his camp. He's in an interesting position in his career. He's known all over the state and with more than 40 years on the political scene, how couldn't he be?
A lot of people have decried this situation, and this poll is case in point, that not enough people know about this election and that it's a shame. People are saying there's not enough excitement and that apathy will result in a low turnout.
From another perspective, if you're second term in office, basically the constituents have to decide if they want to fire the incumbent candidate or not. If they want to fire you they're going to be looking out to see who the replacement is.
People seem to be relatively happy with the governor after the up and down, patchy rollercoaster that was the days of Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger's administrations. I think it's a good strategy on his part. He's spending less money than some of these mayoral or congressional races.
With Jerry Brown at the top and looking down the ballot at some of the other candidates like Gavin Newsom, and Kamala Harris; it looks like it's going to be a Democratic sweep.
In the Silicon Valley Congressional race between Mike Honda and Ro Khanna there's a lot of money being spent, but it's Democrat vs. Democrat. This is more a situation of who shows up at the voting polls. Will it be the young, techies or the more Social Security minded people? That remains to be seen. Either way you look at it, it's a lot of money being spent on a single candidate who will end up being one of 435 people in the House of Representatives. It's not like anything will be shaken up drastically one way or another.
I think the most important vote you can make is on the local level; including your city council and supervisors or who sits on your board of education. These types of candidates will have the most effect on your day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, people going in the booth on Tuesday won't know who any of these people are running for office.