North County election results
North County election results
Oceanside mayoral race too close to call as Keim holds razor-thin lead over Sanchez; massive swing in Encinitas; 3 sales tax measure on their way to victory
NORTH COUNTY — There was no shortage of drama on Tuesday and for some, it will continue for days.
The election has come as Republican Donald Trump won a second term as president of the United States, while Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) won his bid to the U.S. Senate.
Locally, new faces are entering the political arena across North County, along with familiar faces who won re-election. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors appears set, while the mayoral races in Encinitas and Oceanside, respectively, are far from over.
Also, North County’s congressional delegation remains mostly unchanged as the balance of power in Congress is still too close to call. Democrat incumbent Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) is in a close race with Republican challenger Matt Gunderson leading by nearly two points.
As for state propositions, Prop. 36, which reforms Prop. 47 and address retail theft, homelessness and substance abuse, is winning easily. Local measures, such as Measure G, a one-half-cent sales tax increase countywide, is failing, as is Measure K, a one-cent sales tax increase in Encinitas.
According to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, there are 590,000 outstanding ballots. Voter turnout for the county is at 49.2% as of this morning with 975,373 ballots cast. There are 1.9 million registered voters.
The next update will be by 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and by 6 p.m. from Nov. 11 through Nov. 15, according to the ROV.
The following results are as of this morning:
Congressional races
Three congressional races feature North County ties. In the 48th District, incumbent Darrell Issa (R-Vista) cruised to victory over Democrat Stephen Houlahan 60-40. In the 49th, Levin is locked in a tight race with Orange County Republican Matt Gunderson, 51-49. Also, incumbent Scott Peters (D-San Diego) sailed to re-election over Republican Peter Bono, 63-37, in the 50th District.
State races
The most high-profile race of this cycle is the 75th Assembly District in San Diego County is between conservative firebrand Carl DeMaio and Republican Andrew Hayes. DeMaio, no stranger to controversy, is at odds with the local San Diego County Republican Party.
However, DeMaio is on his way to victory with a 60-40 lead over Hayes.
In the 74th District, incumbent Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel) has pulled ahead of San Clemente Mayor and Democrat Chris Duncan, 53-47, in a rematch of two years ago.
In the 76th District, Democrat Darshana Patel holds a 52-48 lead over Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane. The two battled over the seat formerly held by Brian Maienschein, who is termed out and losing his race for San Diego City Attorney.
The 77th District saw Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) win a fourth term as she beat Republican James Brown, 59-41.
State measures
The most high-profile measure was Proposition 36, which reforms the controversial Prop. 47, and addresses retail theft, drug crimes, homelessness and substance abuse. Prop. 36 won in a landslide with 70.4% and every county in the state voting to pass the measure.
Props. 5 (bonds for affordable housing), 6 (forcing inmates to work), 32 (raising the minimum wage) and 33 (rent control), were all failing. Prop. 32 was the closest as of this morning with 52% voting no.
San Diego County Board of Supervisors
The most high-profile race in the county this cycle, outside of the San Diego mayoral contest, is between incumbent Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Despite a brutal and intense campaign, Lawson-Remer is handling Faulconer, 56-44.
The District 1 race saw embattled incumbent Chairwoman Nora Vargas defeat Alejandro Galicia, 62-38, while in District 2, Republican Joel Anderson cruised to victory over Gina Jacobs, 61-39.
Also on the county ballot was the controversial Measure G, a half-cent sales tax funding the San Diego Association of Governments regional transportation plan. The measure was put on the ballot by a coalition of labor unions, environmental groups and one SANDAG contractor, and is failing, 52-48.
Bonsall
In the Bonsall Unified School District Governing Board race, Eric Ortega holds a 55-45 lead over Lindsay Jones. The BUSD bond, Measure V, is currently failing, 54-46. If approved, the district will issue $59 million in bonds for upgrades at 4 cents per $100 assessed value.
Carlsbad
The top race saw incumbent Teresa Acosta and Greg Day square off in District 4. Acosta holds a 55-44 lead and appears headed for re-election. In D2, Kevin Shin has a comfortable 57-43 lead over Tyler Collins.
As for City Treasurer, Christian Peacox (28%) has a three-point lead over Gregorio Kahn (26), followed by Thomas Krouse Jr. (24%) and Michael Williams (22%).
Measure B is currently winning, 53-47. The measure was put on the ballot by the City Council to increase the expenditure limit for using city funds to acquire or improve real property from $1 million to $3.09 million and exempt public safety facilities. The increase to $3.09 million was adjusted for inflation after the passage of Proposition H in the 1980s.
As for the Carlsbad Unified School District races, school board races have become highly politicized over the past several years and this one saw its share of controversy. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Mission Church flouted IRS rules on nonprofits donating to political campaigns with $1,900 to Jen Belnap and Laura Siaosi.
Both returned the money, although social media was abuzz with debates and attacks on the candidates and the church, which for some critics, has taken controversial positions on LGBTQ policies.
Regardless, Alison Emery holds a 61-39 over Belnap in the Area 2 race, while the Area 3 race has Siaosi leading 53-47 over Ejehan Turker.
Del Mar
All City Council candidates ran unopposed. Tracy Martinez, Dan Quirk and John Spelich were all elected. Spelich is the newcomer after Dwight Worden retired.
The city had two ballot measures — A and M — which XX. Measure A increases City Council salaries to $950 per month and allows the council to adjust within the limits of state law.
Measure M approves a transient occupancy tax for short-term rentals (30 days or less). The city estimates it will raise $775,000 per year.
In the Del Mar Union School races, the short-term contest has incumbent Alan Kholos holding a 68-31 lead over Genevieve Goldstone. In the other race for a full term, voters could select up to two candidates. Gee Mok and Bill Porter lead, 34% and 30%, respectively, followed by Danielle Roybal (21%) and Helen Doyle (15%).
As for the city’s two measures — A and M — both are winning. Measure A increases the City Council’s monthly salary to $950 per month, while Measure M will establish a transient occupancy tax on short-term rentals. Measure A leads 66-34, while Measure M cruised to victory with 72% in support.
Encinitas
Perhaps the most shocking result of Election Night came in the mayoral and City Council races in Encinitas. The high-profile mayoral race between incumbent Tony Kranz and City Councilman Bruce Ehlers Kranz has Ehlers with a 52-48 lead but appears too close to call at this point.
Meanwhile, newcomers Luke Shaffer and Jim O’Hara hold 13- and 12-point leads over appointed incumbent Allison Blackwell and Destiny Preston, respectively, in D1 and D2.
Measure K, the city’s one-cent sales tax increase is currently failing in tight race with 52% voting against the measure.
The Cardiff School District Governing Board race has all three candidates within 113 votes of each other. Two of the three candidates will be elected and currently incumbent Rhea Stewart has just a five-vote lead over Nancy Orr (2.160-2,155), followed by Richard Brocchini at 2,047.
Voters chose two of the three candidates for the Encinitas Union School District Board of Trustees and the results as of this morning have Monica Lee leading with 35% followed by incumbent Marlon Taylor (33%) and Jillian Cocayne (32%). For the short term on the board, appointed incumbent Tom Morton holds a two-point lead over Aimee Sproul.
The district’s school bond, Measure Z, is winning, 56-44 and would allow the district to authorize $158.3 million in bonds at a rate of $19 per $100,000.
The race for the Area 4 seat on the San Dieguito Union High School District Board of Trustees was a vicious battle and one of the most expensive in the county. The race pitted incumbent Mike Allman against Kevin Sabellico as the two spent more than $130,000 on the race, which has Allman holding a 53-47 lead over Sabellico.
The Area 2 race, incumbent Jodie Williams holds a narrow lead over Kelly Friis by 112 votes.
Escondido
The city had two seats up in D3 and D4. In D3, appointed incumbent Christian Garcia has a big lead over Veronica Cigarroa, 62-25, while Christine Spencer has 12%. In D4, Judy Fitzegerald took out Roderick Howell, 69-31.
As for the City Treasurer, Douglas Shultz ran unopposed.
Financial relief appears headed to the city as Measure I is winning, 60-40. The measure is the city’s one-cent sales tax increase, and the city estimates it will generate $28 million per year for the next 20 years.
In Area 3 of the Escondido Union High School Board of Trustees, Christi Knight has a commanding 67-33 lead over Clay Brown, while in Area 4, Ryan Williams holds a big lead over Dara Czerwonka, 65-35.
In Area 1 of the Escondido Union School Board of Trustees, incumbent Doug Paulson ran unopposed, while in Area 3, incumbent Mark Olson holds a 56-44 lead over Juan Vargas.
Fallbrook
The Fallbrook Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees have several seats open.
In Area 1 (short term), appointed incumbent Frank Golbeck ran unopposed, while Area 3 incumbent Ricardo Favela also ran unopposed. In Area 4 (short term), challenger Maria Moran holds a 37-vote lead over appointed incumbent Constance Fish, while Area 2 (full term) saw Lief Hansen defeat Leslie Sommers, 68-32.
Fallbrook Union High School Board of Trustee races saw Lewis Haskell in Area 2 and Eddie Jones in Area 5 both ran unopposed in their respective races and will serve on the board. In Area 4, Oscar Caralampio holds a 16-point lead over Joshua Tiller.
The district’s bond, Measure BB, is failing, 53-47. If approved, the district would authorize $56 million in bonds at a rate of $24 per $100,000.
Oceanside
The city featured five races including the mayoral contest between incumbent Esther Sanchez and City Councilman Ryan Keim. Keim holds an early and slim lead over Sanchez by just 729 votes. Keim has been on the City Council since 2020, while Sanchez has been a prominent figure on the council for more than 20 years.
In the D3 council race, Jimmy Figueroa is locked in a close race with Laura Bassett, although Figueroa holds a four-point lead. Tom DeMody and Austin Sorensen combined for 11% of the vote in D3.
In D4, incumbent Peter Weiss is headed to victory with 48% of the vote, followed by Amber Niuatoa (28%) and Omar Hashimi (25%).
As for City Treasurer, embattled incumbent Victor Roy has a narrow lead of 126 votes (34.81%-34.55%) over Phyllis Dominguez, while Jack Fernandes has about 31% of the vote. Zeb Navarro was re-elected as City Clerk as he ran unopposed.
Measure X, an extension of the proposition passed in 2018 as a one-half-cent sales tax increase, has resoundingly passed with 69% of the vote. The city estimates it will generate $19 million per year for the next 10 years.
As for the Oceanside Unified School District Board of Trustees, Eleanor Evans holds a three-point lead over Emily Wichmann in Area 2, while in Area 5, Mike Blessing has a 10-point lead over Rosie Higuera.
San Marcos
There were two City Council races open featuring incumbent Ed Musgrove cruising to a 65-35 win over Natasha Hilmes in D4, while newcomer Danielle LeBlang holds a 15-point lead over Alan Geraci in D3. As for the city’s one-cent sales tax increase, Measure Q, the measure is winning with 59% of the vote.
The city estimates it will generate $20 million per year for 10 years.
As for the San Marcos Unified School District Board of Trustees races, Heidi Herrick has an 11-point lead over Carlos Ulloa in Area A. In Area B, Sarah Ahmad is up by 17 points over Brittany Bower, while in Area D, Lena Meum also has a 17-point lead over Jaime Chamberlin.
The SMUSD bond, Measure JJ, holds a 56-44 lead and would authorize the district to raise $324 million in bonds at a rate of 4 cents per $100.
Valley Center
The Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District put up Measure SS for $84.6 million in bonds. The measure is failing, 55-45.
Vista
Just two City Council races for Vista with the featured contest between incumbent Katie Melendez and challenger Denisse Barragan in D3. Melendez holds a six-point lead (less than 300 votes) over Barragan. In D2, Jeff Fox appears headed to victory with a 65-35 lead over Anthony White. Fox would replace outgoing Councilman Joe Green, who did not run for re-election.
In the Vista Unified School District Board of Trustees races, incumbent Cipriano Vargas trails challenger Frank Nunez by eight votes, while Zulema Gomez is in third and more than 700 votes behind. In Area 1, Mike Markov holds a 53-47 lead over Amanda Remmen, while in Area 5, Sue Martin leads Anthony Crossman, 60-40.
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