Supervisor, District 4
Board of Supervisors, District 4
Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.
Lisa Gauthier45.5%
10,358 votes
Antonio Lopez25.2%
5,730 votes
Maggie Cornejo15.2%
3,460 votes
Updated at 6:56 PM PT on April 4, 2024
San Mateo County
San Mateo County
Why does this race matter?
Whoever wins the District 4 race will have the opportunity to shape policy across San Mateo County, from policing to jobs to flooding. The county is dealing with significant development, the growing impacts of climate change and the need for more attention on public safety issues.
What does a county supervisor do?
Supervisors govern county programs and departments and approve the county budget. Their largest area of spending is traditionally health care and human services. Supervisors are also responsible for local jails and elections, and they make decisions on law enforcement and housing in unincorporated areas of the county. If a supervisor candidate receives over 50% of the vote in the primary, they take office for a four-year term. Otherwise, the top two candidates face off in the November general election.
Candidates
Antonio LópezMayor, East Palo Alto
Lisa GauthierCity Council Member, East Palo Alto
Celeste BrevardProject Manager
Paul BocanegraNonprofit Manager/Counselor
Maggie CornejoYouth Nonprofit Director
Key Supporters
This list represents notable organizations and individuals who have taken a position on the ballot measure or candidate, or who are funding campaigns in support or opposition. This list is not exhaustive, and may be updated.
For López
- Ro Khanna, U.S. representative
- Aisha Wahab, state senator
- David Canepa, supervisor, San Mateo County
- Noelia Corzo, supervisor, San Mateo County
- Housing Action Coalition
For Gauthier
- Warren Slocum, supervisor, San Mateo County
- Diane Papan, state Assembly member
- Ray Mueller, supervisor, San Mateo County
- Josh Becker, state senator
- Martha Barragan, City Council member, East Palo Alto
For Brevard
- N/A
For Bocanegra
- David Canepa, supervisor, San Mateo County
- Satvik Nori, San Mateo County Board of Trustees
- Local SEIU 521
- John Pimental, trustee, San Mateo
- Community College District
- Lissette Garnica-Espinoza, vice mayor, Redwood City
For Cornejo
- Christina Corpus, sheriff, San Mateo County
- Noelia Corzo, supervisor, San Mateo
- Ruben Abrica, City Council member, East Palo Alto
- Hugo Torres, trustee, San Mateo County Board of Education
- Elmer Martínez Saballos, City Council member, Redwood City
Positions on Key IssuesCandidate summaries are based on interviews with the candidates, questionnaires, statements made at debates and public events, and past news coverage.
Candidate summaries are based on interviews with the candidates, questionnaires, statements made at debates and public events, and past news coverage.
San Mateo County is the most at-risk California county to sea level rise, with your district at the heart of flooding issues. If elected, how will you push to prepare for the looming crisis?
López says with more than $150 million in needed infrastructure improvements in communities like East Palo Alto, “It is critical that the county be a frontline defense, not only in terms of the purse strings but also on the political connections necessary to be able to once again get these projects done.” López also worked to get housing and payments to tenants whose homes flooded during the 2023 storms.
Gauthier says as a longtime District 4 resident, she has witnessed the effects of flooding multiple times. She is a founding member of the county’s flood and sea level rise resiliency district and has spearheaded climate projects, including one on raising levees. “It is important for me to be a part of that solution,” she says. Gauthier also served on the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority, which aims to protect East Palo Alto from flooding.
Brevard says the effects of climate change on San Mateo County are a big part of why she’s running. She says since climate change is a global issue, leaders need to think of climate effects regionally and locally. When it comes to the rise of the sea level, she says, “We can't just build the walls and hope that the sea level moves around it.”
Bocanegra says the county needs to do more to prevent future sea level rise impacts. This could include seawalls or a series of gates that create a temporary lagoon in the bay, protecting the city when tides are high. He is worried that solutions could have detrimental effects on the environment. “In one of the most incarcerated populations, climate injustice seems to be number one on all of the issues,” he says.
Cornejo grew up with flooding in North Fair Oaks. As a county legislative aide, she remembers mobile home parks and neighborhoods underwater. “It's important that we create buffer zones and analyze where they would be best placed,” she says. As a supervisor, she would help the county invest in education and emergency preparedness to minimize damage.
San Mateo County is home to tech giants like Meta. The company is near lower-income communities like East Palo Alto and North Fair Oaks. As a leader who will work in both parts of the economy, what is your plan for economic development and creating job opportunities?
López says as a mega-regional and hyper-local issue, it is vital to balance the needs of residents with those of tech companies. “At the end of the day, their biggest asset and weakness is their location; the proximity to Silicon Valley puts an enormous economic burden on the most low-income residents. As supervisors, we have to be able to leverage the appetite for development,” he says.
Gauthier says creating equal career opportunities for all starts with education and partnerships with regional companies and colleges to develop internships, trade unions and job placement opportunities. “We must ensure that the economic benefits of businesses locating here are enjoyed by the broadest number of people possible,” she says.
Brevard would like to work with businesses and nonprofits to provide job and career pathways for District 4 residents. “We could work with companies like Meta to provide programs like internships, apprenticeships and job training initiatives,” she says. But more significantly, Brevard says she would like to make sure big tech companies are paying their share of property taxes compared to what residents pay.
Bocanegra is aware not all residents are prepared to enter the tech industry, and the county needs to provide career opportunities to the working class. “Blue-collar jobs need to come with prevailing wages,” he says. Bocanegra says the county needs to incentivize companies to provide sustainable and equitable transportation for workers. “I believe in sustainability for these workers, and that's what I will fight for,” he says.
Cornejo says she would invest in job training and education. “Training opportunities will help our community grow, but also help establish a living wage.” Cornejo wants to thoroughly analyze the local cost of living “with a focus on implementing a competitive wage floor.” She says the minimum wage should be “no less than $25 an hour.”
Affordable housing is an issue across the Bay Area, but specifically on the Peninsula, it’s growing with development pressures. How will you endeavor to create housing opportunities for all? What work have you done on this issue in the past?
López says housing is one of the top issues in San Mateo County and that housing units for all incomes are needed to address the crisis. “That way, a tech worker isn’t going to displace a low-income undocumented worker.” López touts his experience working with affordable housing developers and says that during his time on the East Palo Alto City Council, around 200 affordable housing units have been built.
Gauthier says that during her time on the city council and as a former mayor, she supported policies for new accessory dwelling units, adopted an inclusive housing ordinance, and worked on the city’s housing element update. She says public and nonprofit partnerships are needed to create affordable housing; and as a council member, she helped establish a new apartment complex in her town with 185 affordable homes. “I will seek such opportunities,” she says.
Brevard says the county “needs to start regulating to innovate.” That could include limiting vacant units, implementing housing price regulations, and considering the best use of empty land. She imagines creating a database and “hub for people to find a place to live” that prioritizes affordable housing.
Bocanegra calls affordable housing a “word of the past.” He advocates for a social housing model where people of all incomes can live in the same neighborhoods. He also thinks the county could turn vacant properties into livable spaces for unhoused people.
Cornejo supports zoning regulations allowing additional housing units in vacant spaces and buildings that the county can transform into housing. She would also like to simplify the ADU process. In a previous county job, Cornejo worked on a tenant protection ordinance and would like to continue that type of work.
What is your plan to make sure public safety applies to residents of all means in your district?
López says in 1992, East Palo Alto was labeled the murder capital of the world, but last year, the city recorded zero homicides. López would like to expand that trend to the rest of the county. He says this was partly due to council decisions to increase the salaries of police officers because the department was underfunded. He would like other steps, like rehabilitation for at-risk youth, to be better funded across the district.
Gauthier says public safety is every citizen's fundamental right and responsibility. For her, successful public safety includes prevention, intervention and accountability. She applauds the San Mateo County pilot program for de-escalating 911 responses while providing “appropriate, compassionate care for non-violent individuals.” She believes investing in data tracking, community policy and transparent communication is vital to supporting a public safety approach that improves interactions with residents and law enforcement.
Brevard says the district’s high crime rates are due “to a lack of resources and productive outlets for the community.” She says the county could solve crime through community-centered job programs and fixing transportation issues. Brevard is also in favor of community policing focused on relationship building instead of solely on police presence.
Bocanegra says he is “a firm believer in strengthening public safety, advocating for victims, as well as advocating for rehabilitation and prevention for our youth.” He believes law enforcement could benefit from a civilian oversight model. He also says “smash-and-grabs” won’t disappear until the county “gets in front of the issue” by providing housing, fair wages and safe transportation.
Cornejo says public safety is a top priority because she repeatedly hears that “people want to feel safe” in their communities. She supports working closely with the sheriff’s office on educational initiatives, leveraging the expertise of the sheriff's office to create impactful programs that focus on community building, crime prevention and emergency response.
San Mateo County is the wealthiest county in California, while yet a third of the population of your county lives below the self-sufficiency standard. What are your plans and experiences in addressing poverty?
López says addressing poverty starts with education. That’s why he plans to work with community colleges to create pathways for a free education. “I don't just want to see us as a janitor or as people cleaning up the trash,” he says. “I want to see us inside the cubicles and executive positions.”
Gauthier believes addressing poverty comes down to housing. “Homeownership is where families can create generational wealth.” She says job training and transportation to work need further development in the county. She applauds the county’s minimum wage ordinance but says the county can better provide access to high-paying jobs “that will sustain them in this region as prices continue to go up.”
Brevard says to help close the poverty gap, the county needs “to tackle it head-on by providing job training programs for all levels of employment.” She would like to establish groups where people can learn English and other skills. She supports more job training opportunities, including rigorous programs that provide apprenticeships and internships with regional businesses.
Bocanegra says the idea of equity in the district seems to be “slipping further and further away.” He says gentrification of marginalized communities will only occur by “creating programs that allow them to be able to stay intergenerational in the place they call home.” He supports programs for homeownership and universal child care and believes they can only benefit the community.
Cornejo has witnessed the extreme wealth gaps between neighborhoods. “It's really important to foster economic mobility and job creation,” she says. Cornejo would also like the county to invest in affordable housing. “Almost everyone's income goes to housing, so if we can alleviate some of that stress, that would go a long way,” she adds.
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More San Mateo County Results
U.S. House of Representatives, District 15
Top two candidates advance to general election.
Anna Kramer (R)
Kevin Mullin (D)(incumbent)
Race called at 8:00 PM PT on March 5, 2024
Associated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
Associated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
U.S. House of Representatives, District 16
Top two candidates advance to general election.
Sam Liccardo (D)21.1%
38,489 votes
Evan Low (D)16.6%
30,249 votes
Joe Simitian (D)16.6%
30,249 votes
Race called at 5:32 PM PT on March 11, 2024
99% of votes countedAssociated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
99% of votes countedAssociated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
State Senate, District 11
Top two candidates advance to general election.
Scott Wiener (D)(incumbent)72.9%
166,592 votes
Yvette Corkrean (R)15%
34,438 votes
Cynthia Cravens (D)8.1%
18,513 votes
Race called at 7:01 PM PT on March 11, 2024
99% of votes countedAssociated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
99% of votes countedAssociated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
State Senate, District 13
Top two candidates advance to general election.
Josh Becker (D)(incumbent)73.5%
167,127 votes
Alexander Glew (R)18.8%
42,788 votes
Christina Laskowski (R)7.6%
17,276 votes
Race called at 6:56 PM PT on March 11, 2024
99% of votes countedAssociated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
99% of votes countedAssociated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
State Assembly, District 19
Top two candidates advance to general election.
Catherine Stefani (D)57%
64,960 votes
David Lee (D)28.9%
33,035 votes
Nadia Flamenco (R)7.3%
8,335 votes
Race called at 4:50 PM PT on March 11, 2024
99% of votes countedAssociated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
99% of votes countedAssociated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
State Assembly, District 21
Top two candidates advance to general election.
Mark Gilham (R)
Diane Papan (D)(incumbent)
Race called at 8:00 PM PT on March 5, 2024
Associated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
Associated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
Marc Berman (D)(incumbent)57.3%
67,106 votes
Lydia Kou (D)20.2%
23,699 votes
Gus Mattammal (R)11.3%
13,277 votes
Race called at 6:13 PM PT on March 11, 2024
99% of votes countedAssociated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
99% of votes countedAssociated PressThis percentage is an Associated Press estimate of how much of the vote in an election has been counted. It is informed by turnout in recent elections, details on votes cast in advance and – after polls close – early returns. The estimate may fluctuate as election officials report additional results and AP learns more about how many voters have cast a ballot.
Superior Court Judge, Office 4
Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.
Sarah Burdick100%
108,919 votes
Updated at 6:56 PM PT on April 4, 2024
San Mateo County
San Mateo County
Board of Supervisors, District 1
Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.
Jackie Speier68.6%
20,353 votes
Ann Schneider31.3%
9,297 votes
Updated at 6:56 PM PT on April 4, 2024
San Mateo County
San Mateo County
Board of Supervisors, District 4
Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.
Lisa Gauthier45.5%
10,358 votes
Antonio Lopez25.2%
5,730 votes
Maggie Cornejo15.2%
3,460 votes
Updated at 6:56 PM PT on April 4, 2024
San Mateo County
San Mateo County
Board of Supervisors, District 5
Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.
David Canepa(incumbent)100%
19,937 votes
Updated at 6:56 PM PT on April 4, 2024
San Mateo County
San Mateo County
Measure B
County Service Area #1 (Highlands). Special tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.
Yes87.7%
1,360 votes
No12.2%
189 votes
Updated at 6:56 PM PT on April 4, 2024
San Mateo County
San Mateo County
Measure C
Jefferson Elementary School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote
Yes69.8%
8,543 votes
No30.1%
3,691 votes
Updated at 6:56 PM PT on April 4, 2024
San Mateo County
San Mateo County
Measure E
Woodside Elementary School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.
Yes65.3%
910 votes
No34.6%
482 votes
Updated at 6:56 PM PT on April 4, 2024
San Mateo County
San Mateo County
Measure G
Pacifica School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.
Yes61.1%
7,067 votes
No38.8%
4,481 votes
Updated at 6:56 PM PT on April 4, 2024
San Mateo County
San Mateo County
Measure H
San Carlos School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.
Yes63.2%
6,283 votes
No36.7%
3,655 votes
Updated at 6:56 PM PT on April 4, 2024
San Mateo County
San Mateo County