On March 5, 2024, California will hold its presidential primary. But many other offices also will be on the ballot that day. Many of these are for state or local positions such as the county’s board of education and supervisor.

The most obviously local position is the vacant seat on the Idyllwild Water District Board of Directors; however, an election is not needed to fill it.

The seat has been vacant since former Director Gene Schneider resigned in April. Filling it would have been on the March 5 ballot; however, according to the registrar’s preliminary list of candidates for the election, only one person filed candidacy papers and qualified. At the request of the registrar of voters, the board of supervisors will appoint R. Mitch Davis to fill the vacancy.

But plenty of other state and local offices on the ballot will directly or indirectly affect the Hill.

While there is no state Senate seat on the county ballot, two Assembly districts cover the Hill.

Eduardo Garcia, incumbent for the 36th Assembly District, has served five terms and is not seeking reelection. This district includes a large part of Garner Valley and portions of Anza and Aguanga.

“Next year will mark ten years of service in the State Assembly. Ten years of delivering for our constituents. Also, ten years of commuting to Sacramento Mondays through Thursdays or Fridays — away from my family. My son was ten, and my daughter was only a few months old as I held her in my arms to take my oath of office,” Garcia said in his press statement. “… I can’t count the number of basketball games and back-to-school nights I’ve missed in this vocation … Ultimately, I want to be present for more of these precious moments with them …

“Public service remains a passion of mine, and I will always seek opportunities to serve my community and apply my experience to make a difference in people’s lives as I transition to this next chapter,” he continued. “Our work, our mission continue. We have another year to finish strong.”

To replace Garcia, three people have qualified for the primary ballot. The Republican candidate is Jeff Gonzalez, who opposed and lost to Garcia in the 2018 election.

The two Democratic candidates are Joey Acuña and Waymond Fermon. Acuña is currently serving his fifth term on the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees. Fermon is an Indio City Council member and former mayor.

Assembly District 47, which includes Mountain Center, Idyllwild, Pine Cove and north into San Bernardino County, may see a rematch of the closest 2022 Assembly contest.

Republican incumbent Gregg Wallis is seeking reelection and there are two candidates for the Democratic nomination. Christy Holstege, who came within 85 votes out of nearly 170,000 ballots cast of beating Wallis in 2022, and Jamie Swain, a business owner and former candidate in the 2022 primary, are vying for the Democratic nomination.

In another possible rematch from 2022 is the U.S. Congressional seat for District 41. Incumbent Republican Ken Calvert is seeking reelection to his 17th term. His 2022 challenger, Will Rollins, is again seeking the Democratic nomination, but he has an opponent. Anna Nevenic, who has frequently sought elective nominations, including in 2022, also has qualified for the ballot.

While the term of the Hill’s representative on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors V. Manuel Perez, does not end in 2024, two other supervisory seats are on the ballot.

Board Chair Kevin Jeffries (1st District) is not seeking reelection. The registrar reports four candidates have qualified for the ballot. Jose Medina, educator, Grace Torres, a member of the Western Municipal Water District Board, Debbie Walsh, a business owner, and Richard Roth, currently in the state Senate representing western Riverside County’s Senate District 31, will compete for a place on the November ballot.

3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington is seeking reelection. He has two challengers — Jack Guerrero, an economist and the Republican candidate for state treasurer in 2022, and Jonathan Ingram, former Murrietta mayor.

One other local race will be for the trustee for Area 4 of the Riverside County Board of Education. This includes all of the Hill communities. The incumbent Bruce Dennis is seeking reelection and his opponent will be Sergei Vinkov.

Of course, there will be a multitude of judicial positions on the ballot as well the presidential candidates and U.S. Senate.