Gail Lightfoot

Gail Lightfoot

Libertarian Party

Candidate, U.S. Senate California

Elections and appointments

Next election

March 5, 2024

Contact

Personal website

Gail Lightfoot (Libertarian Party) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent California. She is on the ballot in the primary on March 5, 2024.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Lightfoot is widowed and has three children.

Elections

2024

See also: United States Senate election in California, 2024

General election

The primary will occur on March 5, 2024. The general election will occur on November 5, 2024. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. Senate California

The following candidates are running in the primary for U.S. Senate California on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate
		Sharleta Bassett (R)
		James P. Bradley (R)
		Eric Early (R)
		Steve Garvey (R)
		Denice Gary-Pandol (R)
		Laura Garza (No party preference)
		Sepi Gilani (D)
		Don Grundmann (No party preference)
		Forrest Jones (American Independent Party of California)
		Harmesh Kumar (D)
		Barbara Lee (D)
		Sarah Sun Liew (R)
		Gail Lightfoot (L)
		James Macauley (R)
		Christina Pascucci (D)
		David Peterson (D)
		Douglas Howard Pierce (D)
		Katie Porter (D)
		Perry Pound (D)
		Raji Rab (D)
		Jonathan Reiss (R)
		John Rose (D)
		Mark Ruzon (No party preference)
		Adam Schiff (D)
		Stefan Simchowitz (R)
		Major Singh (No party preference)
		Martin Veprauskas (R)
		Eduardo Berdugo (Independent) (Write-in)
		Danny Fabricant (R) (Write-in)

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Paul Anderson (G)
• Carson Franklin Jr. (D)
• Barack Obama Mandela (R)
• Zafar Inam (D)
• Renee Martinez (Independent)
• Lexi Reese (D)
• Peter Yuan Liu (R)
• Joe Sosinski (Independent)
• Roxanne Lawler (R)
• James Shuster (R)
• Frank Ferreira (Independent)
• Rommell Montenegro (D)
• Jeremy Fennell (D)
• Zakaria Kortam (R)
• John Pappenheim (R)
• Jacob Farmos (D)
• Joshua Bocanegra (D)
• Alexander Norbash (D)
• Dominick Dorothy (D)
• Jehu Hand (R)
• Dana Bobbitt (Independent)
• Fepbrina Keivaulqe Autiameineire (Vienmerisce Veittemeignzce USA)
• Jessica Resendez (D)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2018

See also: California Secretary of State election, 2018

General election

General election for California Secretary of State

Incumbent Alex Padilla defeated Mark Meuser in the general election for California Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Alex Padilla (D)	64.5	7,909,521
		Mark Meuser (R)	35.5	4,362,545

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,272,066 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California Secretary of State

The following candidates ran in the primary for California Secretary of State on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Alex Padilla (D)	52.6	3,475,633
✔		Mark Meuser (R)	31.0	2,047,903
		Ruben Major (D)	5.4	355,036
		Raul Rodriguez Jr. (R)	5.0	330,460
		Gail Lightfoot (L)	2.4	155,879
		Michael Feinstein (G)	2.1	136,725
		C.T. Weber (Peace and Freedom Party)	0.9	61,375
		Erik Rydberg (G)	0.7	48,705

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 6,611,716
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: United States Senate election in California, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated California's U.S. Senate race as safely Democratic. California's U.S. Senate seat was open following the retirement of incumbent Barbara Boxer (D). Thirty-four candidates filed to run to replace Boxer, including seven Democrats, 12 Republicans, and 15 third-party candidates. Two Democrats, Kamala Harris and Loretta Sanchez, defeated the other 32 candidates to advance to the general election. Harris won the general election.

U.S. Senate, California General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Kamala Harris	61.6%	7,542,753
	Democratic	Loretta Sanchez	38.4%	4,710,417
Total Votes				12,253,170
Source: California Secretary of State

U.S. Senate, California Primary, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Kamala Harris	40.2%	3,000,689
	Democratic	Loretta Sanchez	19%	1,416,203
	Republican	Duf Sundheim	7.8%	584,251
	Republican	Phil Wyman	4.7%	352,821
	Republican	Tom Del Beccaro	4.3%	323,614
	Republican	Greg Conlon	3.1%	230,944
	Democratic	Steve Stokes	2.3%	168,805
	Republican	George Yang	1.5%	112,055
	Republican	Karen Roseberry	1.5%	110,557
	Republican	Tom Palzer	1.2%	93,263
	Libertarian	Gail Lightfoot	1.3%	99,761
	Republican	Ron Unz	1.2%	92,325
	Democratic	Massie Munroe	0.8%	61,271
	Green	Pamela Elizondo	1.3%	95,677
	Republican	Don Krampe	0.9%	69,635
	Republican	Jarrell Williamson	0.9%	64,120
	Independent	Elanor Garcia	0.9%	65,084
	Republican	Von Hougo	0.9%	63,609
	Democratic	President Cristina Grappo	0.8%	63,330
	Republican	Jerry Laws	0.7%	53,023
	Libertarian	Mark Matthew Herd	0.6%	41,344
	Independent	Ling Ling Shi	0.5%	35,196
	Peace and Freedom	John Parker	0.3%	22,374
	Democratic	Herbert Peters	0.4%	32,638
	Democratic	Emory Rodgers	0.4%	31,485
	Independent	Mike Beitiks	0.4%	31,450
	Independent	Clive Grey	0.4%	29,418
	Independent	Jason Hanania	0.4%	27,715
	Independent	Paul Merritt	0.3%	24,031
	Independent	Jason Kraus	0.3%	19,318
	Independent	Don Grundmann	0.2%	15,317
	Independent	Scott Vineberg	0.2%	11,843
	Independent	Tim Gildersleeve	0.1%	9,798
	Independent	Gar Myers	0.1%	8,726
Total Votes				7,461,690
Source: California Secretary of State

2014

See also: California's 23rd Congressional District elections, 2014

Lightfoot ran as a write-in candidate in the 2014 election for the U.S. House, representing California's 23rd District. Lightfoot was defeated in the blanket primary on June 3, 2014.

U.S. House, California District 23 Primary, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Kevin McCarthy Incumbent	99.1%	58,334
	Democratic	Raul Garcia (Write-in)	0.5%	313
	Republican	Mike Biglay (Write-in)	0.3%	157
	Independent	Ronald L. Porter (Write-in)	0.1%	36
	Libertarian	Gail Lightfoot (Write-in)	0.1%	31
Total Votes				58,871
Source: California Secretary of State

2012

See also: United States Senate elections in California, 2012

Lightfoot ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. Senate, representing California. She was defeated in the June 5, 2012, open primary.

U.S. Senate, California General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Dianne Feinstein Incumbent	62.5%	7,864,624
	Republican	Elizabeth Emken	37.5%	4,713,887
Total Votes				12,578,511
Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010

Lightfoot ran in the 2010 election for the U.S. Senate, representing California. On November 2, 2010, Barbara Boxer won re-election to the United States Senate. She defeated Carly Fiorina (R), Gail Lightfoot (L), Marsha Feinland (P&F), Duane Roberts (G), Edward Noonan (American Independent), and several write-in candidates in the general election.

U.S. Senate, California General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Barbara Boxer incumbent	52.2%	5,218,441
	Republican	Carly Fiorina	42.2%	4,217,366
	Libertarian	Gail Lightfoot	1.8%	175,242
	Peace and Freedom	Marsha Feinland	1.4%	135,093
	Green	Duane Roberts	1.3%	128,510
	American Independent	Edward Noonan	1.3%	125,441
	Write-in	James Harris	0%	41
	Write-in	Connor Vlakancic	0%	11
	Write-in	Jerry Leon Carroll	0%	10
	Write-in	Hans Kugler	0%	5
Total Votes				10,000,160

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Gail Lightfoot has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Gail Lightfoot, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

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2018

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys

Gail Lightfoot participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on May 16, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Gail Lightfoot's responses follow below.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

“

1. Stop top Two, the voter nomination of candidates restoring all ballot qualified political parties to the November ballot. 2. Provide photos, biographies and a short statement to all candidates in the state and county voter pamphlet at not cost to the candidates just like the Propositions. 3. Reform the initiative process so volunteer efforts can qualify an Initiative for the ballot.

”

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

“

1. Individual Liberty to live as you please so long as you are peaceful. 2. Fully informed voters who will vote according to solid information instead of advertising. 3. Fully informed Jurors who understand they can nullify the law if it is unreasonable.

”

Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Gail Lightfoot answered the following:

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?

“

Ron Paul and Barry Goldwater

”

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else that best describes your political philosophy?

“

Libertarianism in One Lesson by David Bergland

”

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

“

Honest, trustworthy with real concern for the individual's right to live as they wish so long as they are peaceful.

”

What qualities do you possess that would make you a successful officeholder?

“

A long career in nursing that kept me at the bedside and in the forefront of new developments making critical decisions regarding the lives of my patient's and their families. Service within the Libertarian Party as a local and statewide leader and local and partisan candidate since 1980.

”

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

“

ensuring that votes are fully informed regarding elections and the candidates. Minding the record keeping for the state.

”

What legacy would you like to leave?

“

A more proactive electorate -Voters - able to make decisions without being influenced by big money advertising that distorts the information pertaining to candidates and issues.

”

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at that time?

“

Mahatma Gandhi in the newsreels at the movie theater in 1947. I was 9 years old.

”

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

“

Selling tickets in a Kiddyland at the beach for two summers when I was in high school.

”

What happened on your most awkward date?

“

Don't recall any awkward dates.

”

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

“

4th of July because it celebrates the Individual Rights to Life, Liberty, Property and the Pursuit of Happiness and that government are created by men to protect those Rights.

”

What is your favorite book? Why?

“

Atlas Shrugged because Ayn Rand's ideas echo by own.

”

If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?

“

Dagny Taggert in Atlas Shrugged.

”

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

“

My book collections especially those pertaining to American history and Western Culture including historical fiction.

”

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

“

I listen to music all day every day so there is always a new song playing. Nothing gets stuck,

”

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

“

Being more outgoing.

”

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government?

“

The election process.

”

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

“

No. Americans believe our government of of, by an for the People therefore any individual should be able to serve in government at any level. If it has grown so complex for any individuals to serve that is a clear indication government is too big. There was a time when anyone could be a Judge, now it is only lawyers. Sheriff are cops first. This creates a bias towards a rigged system. Now our representatives in Washington are career politicians who end up plundering rather than serving.

”

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

“

Concern for the democratic process and the understanding that America is not a democracy, it is a republic with a Constitution that protects individual rights so no level of government can ignore or trample on those rights.

”

2016

The following issues were listed on Lightfoot's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“	War on Drugs: A failed policy asserting control over the personal, non-violent, choices of individuals. End it now. War for Profit and Treason: The wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere were carried out for the profit of the oil companies and other participants in the Military-Industrial Complex. Assisting them in these crimes were agencies of the United States government, including the CIA. There must be accountability and restitution made - not by the American people, who are also victims, but by the corporations and individuals within government who abused the power entrusted to them. ISIS and Slavery: The acts of those who brought ISIS into being, funded what is actually a war machine disguised behind a misstatement of Islam are crimes. Those who planned these acts or have participated are guilty of war crimes and must be prosecuted as such. National Security: Our security as a nation and our rights as individuals are both threatened by the criminal actions of those who have converted government and war as tools for their own profits. Our focus for National Security must be the prosecution of those responsible. Ratify the Equal Rights Amendment: Women are people, individuals holding inherent rights not granted by the Constitution or mankind. These must be ratified, reflected in our law at the highest level of government immediately.	”
—Gail Lightfoot's campaign website

2012

Lightfoot's campaign website listed the following issues:

• The Constitution

Excerpt: "Restore it. The Constitution grants certain carefully ‘enumerated powers’ to the federal government. The purpose is to limit the federal government to just those listed powers and no others. All other non-enumerated ‘powers’ are “reserved to the states . . . or to the people."

• Foreign Policy

Excerpt: "Notify the world that the U.S. is not their policeman. Bring our troops home. Return control of Iraq to the people of Iraq and responsibility for peace in the Middle East and everywhere else to each country's citizens. They have more to lose than we do."

• The Economy

Excerpt: "Let the private sector work its wonders. If we respect private property, reduce government control by agencies, licenses, regulations and subsidies everyone can work towards the goals they think are most important."

• Environment And Safety

Excerpt: "Reform the legal system for easier access by individuals. Set up user friendly web sites and make them available in Kiosks or at the local library so anyone can sue for damages to their person or property. If polluters had to pay, they would think more carefully about what they do. "

• Healthcare

Excerpt: "Pass the “Health Freedom Protection Act,” to deregulate the health care industry. Leave all medical decisions, including abortions, to individuals, families and physicians. Let individuals shop for the health insurance they need. When we individually select heath insurance, it can follow us from job to job and state to state."

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Footnotes

[show]

California's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Laphonza Butler (D)

Alex Padilla (D)

Representatives

District 1

Doug LaMalfa (R)

District 2

Jared Huffman (D)

District 3

Kevin Kiley (R)

District 4

Mike Thompson (D)

District 5

Tom McClintock (R)

District 6

Ami Bera (D)

District 7

Doris Matsui (D)

District 8

John Garamendi (D)

District 9

Josh Harder (D)

District 10

Mark DeSaulnier (D)

District 11

Nancy Pelosi (D)

District 12

Barbara Lee (D)

District 13

John Duarte (R)

District 14

Eric Swalwell (D)

District 15

Kevin Mullin (D)

District 16

Anna Eshoo (D)

District 17

Ro Khanna (D)

District 18

Zoe Lofgren (D)

District 19

Jimmy Panetta (D)

District 20

Vacant

District 21

Jim Costa (D)

District 22

David Valadao (R)

District 23

Jay Obernolte (R)

District 24

Salud Carbajal (D)

District 25

Raul Ruiz (D)

District 26

Julia Brownley (D)

District 27

Mike Garcia (R)

District 28

Judy Chu (D)

District 29

Tony Cárdenas (D)

District 30

Adam Schiff (D)

District 31

Grace Napolitano (D)

District 32

Brad Sherman (D)

District 33

Pete Aguilar (D)

District 34

Jimmy Gomez (D)

District 35

Norma Torres (D)

District 36

Ted Lieu (D)

District 37

Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D)

District 38

Linda Sánchez (D)

District 39

Mark Takano (D)

District 40

Young Kim (R)

District 41

Ken Calvert (R)

District 42

Robert Garcia (D)

District 43

Maxine Waters (D)

District 44

Nanette Barragán (D)

District 45

Michelle Steel (R)

District 46

Lou Correa (D)

District 47

Katie Porter (D)

District 48

Darrell Issa (R)

District 49

Mike Levin (D)

District 50

Scott Peters (D)

District 51

Sara Jacobs (D)

District 52

Juan Vargas (D)

Democratic Party (42)

Republican Party (11)

Vacancies (1)