Still undecided in the primary? Here's help

I finally filled out the eight pages of my June 2 ballot. The process took longer than it had in past elections when I had the deeply reported recommendations from my trusted colleagues on the L.A. Times editorial board to guide me.

Instead, this year I relied on a cobbled-together list of endorsements and candidate profiles and background from a variety of sources, including interviews by the Golden State crew and endorsements and guides put together by respectable news outlets. Read my guide to voting guides here.

Today, I am sharing a handful of additional sources for those still struggling with their ballot choices.

But first, a plea

If you are voting in the California primary, may I suggest getting it done this weekend? Los Angeles County will have 646 voting centers open this weekend, where you can drop off marked ballots or fill one out. This means you can skip the last-minute crush and any potential delivery problems from the U.S. Postal Service — and possibly help county elections officials get results out quicker by avoiding prolonged counting from a flood of last-minute ballots.

Also: Stop worrying about casting a strategic vote in the governor’s race. Select the candidate you think would be the best leader of California. Even political experts now say a Democratic shutout in the governor’s race is not going to happen.

A screen shot of a note that appeared in the Los Angeles Times’ May 28 edition on page A14. What the Editor’s Note failed to point out is that the reason there are no endorsements is that there is no longer a board to interview candidates and write recommendations.

Ok, back to that list

Progressives voters in Los Angeles County may find the recommendations at Knock-LA.com helpful. This news outlet was created and is funded by Ground Game L.A., a lefty political advocacy group.

Conservative voters who don’t always align with more staid state GOP could check out the Reform California website. The organization, started by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego), has recommendations in federal, state and local races for all 58 counties. Be prepared to see “You’re doomed” in races that don’t have a candidate the organization likes.

Environmentally concerned voters will find similarly inclined candidates in this guide put together by California Environmental Voters, a political and lobbying group focused on climate policy.

Voters on L.A.’s Eastside will find information about the city and school board races for their neighborhoods in The Eastsider LA’s election guide.

Voters who want more bike lanes and buses could check out the guide put out by the advocacy organization Streets for All. That group endorses selectively in state, city and federal races.

For voters with more time to listen than read, Mike Bonin, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State L.A., has interviewed many candidates for state and local offices. Many of his subjects have received little coverage, including Michael Tubbs, the former Stockton mayor running for lieutenant governor, and the candidates in 26th state Senate race. Check out the interviews here.

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Still stuck on the mayor’s race?

If so, here’s my extremely quick take on what you get with each of the top five candidates:

Mayor Karen Bass is for those who are generally satisfied with the direction of city government — or if not entirely satisfied, uncomfortable gambling on someone new and untried.

City Councilmember Nithya Raman is for voters who want new city leadership and a slight policy shift to the left, but no dramatic changes.

Rae Huang, a housing advocate, is for Angelenos who want the city to shift decisively toward progressive policies, such as a reduction in the police force, free busses and stronger renter protections.

Adam Miller, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, is the candidate for voters deeply unhappy with the mayor and the city’s dysfunction — but not angry enough to elect a Republican. Miller’s a Democrat, but his policies skew more conservative than those of the mayor.

Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV personality, is the candidate for L.A.'s Republican voters (they do exist) or people so over-the-top furious about the direction of City Hall that they want someone to burn it down. Metaphorically, of course.

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