Semi-official election results shows razor thin margin in SB City Council District 1 race
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - An upset is brewing as new election result numbers show a narrow lead for a candidate challenging the incumbent city councilor in Santa Barbara's 1st District.
Alejandra Gutierrez has a ten-vote lead over incumbent Jason Dominguez in the closely contested race. Gutierrez has received 939 votes - 47.54% of ballots counted thus far - just edging out Dominguez at 46.94% of the vote. Cruzito Herrera Cruz received 4.9% of the total vote.
Dominguez sent the following statement to our newsroom:
"Votes are still being counted and this is an incredibly close race. I am deeply appreciative of all the support I have received and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished over the last four years. I am proud to have helped secure more funding to address homelessness, championed policies to combat climate change, and revitalized our local parks and city services. I look forward to continuing to serve our region in whatever ways I can."
District 1 Incumbent Councilmember Jason Dominguez
Mike Jordan continues to hold a strong lead in the 2nd District results. He received 1495 votes - 36.94% of ballots cast. The closest candidate to Jordan is Brian Campbell, who received 1118 votes, or 27.63%.
Results of the election, which was held on Tuesday, are coming from the Los Angeles County election offices as the city decided to outsource ballot counting for this election cycle. Friday's numbers include ballots received up to and including Election Day and those received in the mail on Nov. 6, 7, and postmarked for Election Day.
The semi-official results from the Nov. 8 tally are available on the City of Santa Barbara’s election website.
Additional ballots need to be counted, including ballots postmarked on Election Day but received in the mail on Friday, provisional ballots and ballots without signatures or signatures that do not match the voter name.
The City of Santa Barbara is sending letters and calling voters who need to fix their ballots because of a signature error. Those voters have until Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. to do so.
Two additional updates are expected next week, on Tuesday and Thursday. The Los Angeles County election office is expected to certify the election on Friday.
