 Under that system, the top two primary vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.In the June primary election, Stark finished first with 41.8 percent of the vote, Swalwell placed second with 36 percent of the vote, and independent candidate Chris Pareja finished third with 22.2 percent of the vote.In the November 2012 general election, Swalwell was endorsed by the "San Francisco Chronicle".