An election worker prints a ballot in Boulder Creek on Nov. 3. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/Report for America)

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY >> As early election results start rolling in just after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Santa Cruz Local is covering every race in Santa Cruz County.

Santa Cruz Local spoke with hundreds of residents across the county to listen to their top concerns. Then, we pressed candidates on these issues to create our comprehensive, nonpartisan election guide.

But our coverage doesn’t stop with the election. We will continue to press elected leaders on their promises to voters, scrutinize how public money is spent and investigate the most important problems facing our county. 

To stay on top of the news, subscribe to our free Sunday newsletter.

Last county update: 11/3/2026 8:00:00 PM

Cabrillo College, Trustee Area 6 (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
KAREN COGSWELL5,719 (61.01%)
MILISSA ALES-BARNICOAT1,757 (18.74%)
BENJAMIN A FINKE1,837 (19.60%)
Unqualified Write In61 (0.65%)

San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District, Trustee Area 4 (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
ASHLEIGH HOPKINS1,561 (29.63%)
GAIL D LEVINE3,676 (69.77%)
Unqualified Write In32 (0.61%)

Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Trustee Area 1 (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
MEILIN OBINATA1,414 (34.97%)
ROBIN SUKOW812 (20.08%)
ANDREW GOLDENKRANZ1,802 (44.56%)
Unqualified Write In16 (0.40%)

Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Trustee Area 4 (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
DANIEL DODGE, JR425 (33.70%)
ERIBERTO ESTRADA, IV831 (65.90%)
Unqualified Write In4 (0.32%)
Margarita Carrillo1 (0.08%)

Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Trustee Area 5 (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
CURT S WILCOX82 (5.81%)
ALICIA G JIMÉNEZ1,145 (81.09%)
JENNIFER SCHACHER164 (11.61%)
Unqualified Write In21 (1.49%)

Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Trustee Area 7 (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
MISTY NAVARRO2,237 (50.86%)
MADS STOCKWELL REALMUTO2,132 (48.48%)
Unqualified Write In29 (0.66%)

Soquel Union Elementary School District, Trustee Area 4 (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
ANDREA LOCKE425 (34.27%)
ARIEL GRAY813 (65.56%)
Unqualified Write In2 (0.16%)

Capitola City Council (vote for 3)

CandidateTotal
PETER WILK786 (13.17%)
TROY "TJ" WELCH1,362 (22.81%)
CAMI CORVIN1,110 (18.59%)
JOE CLARKE1,235 (20.69%)
TORY DEL FAVERO1,437 (24.07%)
Unqualified Write In 130 (0.50%)
Unqualified Write In 26 (0.10%)
Unqualified Write In 34 (0.07%)

Santa Cruz City Council, Mayor (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
RYAN COONERTY7,355 (58.08%)
AMI CHEN MILLS5,206 (41.11%)
Unqualified Write In102 (0.81%)

Scotts Valley City Council (vote for 2)

CandidateTotal
GREG WIMP2,048 (39.49%)
MICHAEL ZELLER1,747 (33.69%)
DANNY REBER1,360 (26.22%)
Unqualified Write In 129 (0.56%)
Unqualified Write In 22 (0.04%)

City of Watsonville Councilmember - Dist 3 (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
MARIA OROZCO724 (97.44%)
Unqualified Write In19 (2.56%)

City of Watsonville Councilmember - Dist 4 (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
KRISTAL SALCIDO605 (97.58%)
Unqualified Write In15 (2.42%)

City of Watsonville Councilmember - Dist 5 (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
CASEY CLARK325 (51.51%)
ANGEL ZUNIGA299 (47.39%)
Unqualified Write In7 (1.11%)

City of Watsonville Councilmember - Dist 7 (vote for 1)

CandidateTotal
ED ACOSTA701 (52.47%)
NANCY A BILICICH631 (47.23%)
Unqualified Write In4 (0.30%)

Felton Fire Protection District, Director (vote for 2)

CandidateTotal
CRAIG WINTER971 (43.16%)
NORMAN CRANDELL634 (28.18%)
JAMES ANDERSON469 (20.84%)
BILL FINLAYSON152 (6.76%)
Unqualified Write In 119 (0.84%)
Unqualified Write In 25 (0.22%)

Scotts Valley Water District Director (vote for 3)

CandidateTotal
BRODY R KNUTSON1,621 (29.74%)
BILL JAGER1,036 (19.01%)
RUTH STILES1,827 (33.52%)
BRIAN YOUMANS954 (17.50%)
Unqualified Write In 111 (0.20%)
Unqualified Write In 21 (0.02%)
Unqualified Write In 31 (0.02%)

D - Offshore Drilling - Majority to pass

VoteTotal
YES48,961 (84.54%)
NO8,955 (15.46%)

E - Sales Tax - Majority to pass

VoteTotal
YES34,321 (59.37%)
NO23,488 (40.63%)

G - Scotts Valley TOT - Majority to pass

VoteTotal
YES2,196 (65.14%)
NO1,175 (34.86%)

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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.