State Senate District 2 takes in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino and Trinity counties and part of Sonoma, The Ark reports. Its senator for the past eight years, Democrat Mike McGuire, is termed out and running for Congress in the 1st District. The certified ballot lists Democrat Damon Connolly, California State Assemblymember, and Republican Tief Gibbs, Small Businesswoman.

Who they are

Connolly, of San Rafael, is a former Marin supervisor, San Rafael councilmember and state deputy attorney general who has represented Marin in the Assembly since 2022. Gibbs, of Novato, co-owns Vintage Vehicles, a shop restoring pre-1980 American cars, and is secretary of the Marin County Republican Central Committee. The Trinity Journal says she is running on lower taxes, limited government, immigration enforcement, energy independence and Second Amendment rights, while Connolly's pitch to Trinity County stresses wildfire prevention, wildfire insurance access, fighting illicit cannabis and protecting water rights.

Where they agree

At a Sept. 24 online forum hosted by the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, both said they would roll back or rewrite state housing laws that override local zoning, The Ark reported. Connolly voted against SB 79, the 2025 transit-area upzoning law, and did not vote on final passage of the 2025 budget bills that loosened environmental review for infill housing. Both said the state imposes housing mandates without funding the infrastructure they require.

Where they split

Gibbs wants cities to expand onto surrounding land with new infrastructure; Connolly supports urban growth boundaries and opposes sprawl. On Proposition 43, which would require two-thirds approval for citizen-initiated local special taxes starting in 2027, Gibbs is in favor and Connolly is opposed. They also split over Marin's Measure P childcare parcel tax, which Connolly said he signed the petition for.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.

More races and measures: our 2026 election hub.