Santa Maria City Council Candidates Sit in Suspense Awaiting Initial Midterm Results

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – High stakes surround three critical open seats for Santa Maria City Council and local policy measures on this midterm election night.

Candidates are experiencing the nerve-wracking reality of waiting out the ballots in drastically different ways.

For the active council members, the night demanded a dual itinerary. Sitting officials like District 1's Richard Batalla and District 3's Gloria Soto spent the early part of the evening tending to business at the usual city council meeting before heading out to separate watch parties.

Once the council chambers cleared, the race dynamics diverted to localized hotspots.

The award for the quietest election night goes indisputably to District 4 candidate Tyler Barksdale.

A military retiree whose campaign has been famously elusive, Barksdale maintained his "phantom" status right through the finish line.

Runner-up awards for quiet midterm night scenes go to District 4 candidate Vince Martinez, and 1 of 2 challengers for District 1, Gary Janek Michaels.

Both opted to skip the public eye for the evening, choosing to watch the numbers shift from the comfort of home.

Appointed incumbent District 1 councilman Richard Batalla set up his official campaign headquarters at The Collective.

Meanwhile, downtown at The Garden restaurant, District 1 challenger Celest Mendoza and District 3 incumbent Gloria Soto anchored their own watch parties, additionally joined by Santa Barbara County District 5 candidate Ricardo Valencia.

Track all races and results with the New Channel 3-12 Voter Guide

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.