About the vote count
As you watch these results, keep in mind:
- As of Friday, Nov. 15, Orange County voters had returned nearly 1.4 million ballots and 1.36 million had been tallied.
- The county has about 1.9 million voters considered to be active.
Get full results:
Keep in mind that in tight races the winner may not be determined for days or weeks after Election Day. This is normal. Here's why.
In Orange County vote updates will the released each weekday by 5 p.m. until the last official results are posted.
In California, ballots postmarked on or before Nov. 5 are counted toward the results as long as they arrive within seven days of the election. The California Secretary of State's Office is scheduled to certify the final vote on Dec. 13.
What is at stake in this race
There are three seats up for grabs on the Santa Ana City Council. The city, with more than 300,000 residents, is Orange County’s second most populated city and home of the county seat.
Why this race mattered
Pay raises for city council members. Rent control. Noncitizen voting rights. These are just a few of the topics the Santa Ana City Council must tackle. Additionally, the city is facing a possible budget cliff.
The voter-approved Measure X sales tax is set for a reduction in 2029, from 1.5% to 1%. City staff warn that expenses already are increasing faster than money is coming in, and Santa Ana could face a budget deficit as soon as next year. Currently, the sales tax is responsible for 22% of the general fund budget.
Three of the council’s progressive voices — Jessie Lopez, Johnathan Ryan, and Thai Viet Phan — were up for reelection. They have advocated for a rent-control ordinance, and approved the creation of a police oversight commission. They also voted to put Measure DD on the Nov. 5 ballot: It would allow Santa Ana residents who are not citizens to vote in local municipal elections.
Go deeper on the issues
- Los Angeles Times: A failed recall heralds a new era for Latino politics in Orange County
- Voice of Orange County: Santa Ana Police Get $27M Contract Amid Looming Revenue Cliff
- Voice of Orange County: Will Santa Ana Officials Minimize Photographer Restrictions at City Hall?
