Low turnout for 79th Assembly race

Tuesday was election day in the 79th California Assembly District, but at a polling station in La Mesa, you might have missed it.

A few signs indicated that the La Mesa Arts Academy campus was doubling as a polling station, and site manager John Kurko stood outside to greet voters. There was no line though; voters trickled in one or two at a time after work.

La Mesa Councilwoman Dr. Akilah Weber won the special primary election with a majority of almost 52 percent, avoiding a potential run-off in June. She will take the seat formerly held by her mother, Shirley Weber, who was appointed to serve as California Secretary of State.

Still, more eligible voters didn’t participate than those who did. Although the registrar mailed ballots to more than 300,000 registered voters in the district, only 64,119, or 21.2 percent, cast ballots. The overwhelming majority of those — 62,461 — were returned by mail, with just 1,658 votes cast in person.

The turnout is on par for special elections, which typically draw just 20 to 25 percent of voters, according to the registrar’s office. It’s in contrast to general elections, however, when most eligible voters weigh in.

In the 2018 governor’s race, 66.4 percent of San Diego voters cast their ballots, the registrar reported. San Diego turnout in last year’s presidential general election was a whopping 83.5 percent.

The race drew media coverage after political game of musical chairs, in which several prominent California officials rose to higher office, leaving a train of vacancies behind them. And Weber certainly captured the attention of donors, who contributed a total of nearly $1 million to her campaign and a PAC supporting her.

But the race proceeded swiftly, with little opportunity during the pandemic for live campaign events. Some voters said they didn’t have time to get to know the candidates. On Tuesday, just a handful of campaign signs could be seen around town.