Scenes from Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

 

Last county update: 12/2/2025 12 p.m.

B – Workforce Housing And Climate Protection Act – Majority to pass

Vote Total
Yes 3,109 (12.98%)
No 20,842 (87.02%)

C – Workforce Housing Affordability Act – Majority to pass

Vote Total
Yes 13,575 (56.14%)
No 10,604 (43.86%)

SANTA CRUZ >> Measure C led with 54.23% of the vote in early results updated at 4 p.m. Monday The initiative would pose two new taxes to fund affordable housing development in the City of Santa Cruz. Measure B trailed with 11.97% of the vote.

The measures need more than 50% voter approval to be adopted.

Early results were first reported at 8:05 p.m. Tuesday, and will continue to be updated as ballots are processed. More than 23,000 votes were cast for or against the two measures in the most recent vote count. There were about 37,000 registered voters in the City of Santa Cruz as of 2023.

The county must submit the final results by Dec. 5.

The rival ballot initiatives both propose new taxes in the city of Santa Cruz to fund affordable housing, but the revenue from Measure B could be spent on projects unrelated to housing. Measure B was proposed in response to Measure C by its opponents.

“Prior to the numbers, I was cautiously optimistic,” said Elaine Johnson, executive director of Housing Santa Cruz County, one of the organizations that has pushed Measure C. “Since seeing the numbers, I’m extremely hopeful.”

Measure C is supported by affordable housing nonprofits, for-profit developers and Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley. It proposes a $96 annual parcel tax, plus a graduated tax on property sales over $1.8 million, and would raise about $2.5 million annually for 20 years, according to a city analysis.

Keeley’s 2022 campaign for mayor included a promise to advance a tax for affordable housing, and he was part of a two-year process with community leaders to draft Measure C.

The tax initiative represents “a greater investment of public sector dollars into a market that won’t cure itself only through private sector investment,” he said. “I’m very, very proud of the community’s product.”

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Measure B, drafted and supported by real estate agent groups, proposes a smaller $50 parcel tax and a property transfer tax on sales over $4 million. It would raise an estimated $750,000 annually for 10 years. Groups that authored Measure B did not mount a campaign in support of the initiative, instead campaigning against Measure C. 

Under Measure B, the tax revenue could go towards affordable housing or other projects, including fixing roads and repairing the Santa Cruz Wharf while Measure C would set aside the bulk of the money for building and preserving affordable housing. 

The authors of Measure B acknowledged that the measure doesn’t appear to be headed for a victory. Early results showed that voters “wanted to support what we consider to be a very aggressive tax in Measure C,” or were “saying no to any tax being proposed on the ballot,” said Victor Gomez, governor affairs director for the Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors.

“At this point, we remain optimistic” that Measure C will fail, he said at 8:40 p.m. 

Both measures would dedicate:

  • 10% of money for supportive housing for disabled homeless people, homeless shelters, and rental assistance.
  • Up to 3% of money for oversight and administration. 

A ‘Yes on Measure C’ watch party on Election night at the Democratic Central Committee office on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz, center, celebrating the win for Prop 50. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

California Proposition 50

California voters approved Prop 50, a plan to redistrict the Congressional maps to favor Democrats in some districts and counteract Republican-led redistricting in Texas. The proposition had 63.8% approval in early results updated at 4:20 a.m. Wednesday, and news outlets across the nation reported the proposition had passed.

Santa Cruz County voters came out in strong support for Prop 50 with county voters more than 77% in favor in early results.

Santa Cruz County spans two congressional districts — 18 and 19.

Under Prop 50, District 19, which includes most of the county and is represented by U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Santa Cruz, would remain unchanged. District 18, represented by U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San José, would see minor adjustments and add a portion of the Central Valley to its district.

Before the election, Santa Cruz County leaders said failing to pass the measure could harm county residents by maintaining a Republican-led Congress that would further pursue cuts to health care, food assistance programs and the broader social safety net.

Final results are expected from the Secretary of State by Dec. 12.

Santa Cruz County Clerk Tricia Webber breaks down the polling station at the end of Election Day at the county clerk’s office on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

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Jesse Kathan is a staff reporter for Santa Cruz Local. They hold a master's degree in science communications from UC Santa Cruz.

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Nik Altenberg is a bilingual reporter and assistant editor at Santa Cruz Local. Nik Altenberg es reportera bilingüe y editora asistente para Santa Cruz Local.