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Santa Cruz County Elections & Politics Articles



Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Kalantari-Johnson Concedes D3 Supervisor Race

Justin Cummings declares victory after unlikely comeback

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Cummings Takes Lead in Race for 3rd District

A victory would mark the Santa Cruz City Councilmember’s second unlikely comeback

Image caption: Felicia Gold casts her ballot at the California Museum on Nov. 8, 2022.
How California Could Count Every Vote Faster

California has expanded voting access and participation, but that can delay election results. Are there ways to count votes faster without undermining election security?

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Santa Cruz County Embraces More Diverse Leadership

Gail Pellerin, the favorite to win the 28th Assembly District race, will be the first woman from the county to be elected to state office

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
PVUSD: Updated results show Flores still ahead of Schacher

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Jennifer Schacher, who has held the Trustee Area 5 seat since she was elected in 2018, has closed the gap between herself and opponent Olivia Flores since early returns began to come in Tuesday …

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Hernandez extends lead on Dutra in race for 4th District

WATSONVILLE—Felipe Hernandez has increased his lead on Jimmy Dutra in the race for the 4th District seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, according to updated results released by the County Elections Department on Friday evening. Hernandez, the …

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Watsonville’s Measure R overwhelmingly supported in early results

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville’s half-cent sales tax increase had formidable support from voters in initial results released by the Santa Cruz County Elections Department. As of Wednesday morning, Measure R had amassed 64.67% of the 3,151 votes tallied. The general tax measure only …

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Incumbents Win Big On School District Boards, Measure T Likely Falling Short

Along with the Derek Timm-Allan Timms slate’s strong performance at the polls, Tuesday night, both of the school board candidates they supported appeared poised for victory, too. By Wednesday, teacher Lucia Rocha-Nestler had grabbed the largest share of the Scotts …

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Panetta Holds Commanding Lead

Incumbent Democrat Congressman will likely defeat Republican opponent Jeff Gordon

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Cruz Scores a Win on Hotel Tax

Early results show residents support higher taxes on overnight lodging

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Parker, Bilicich deadlocked for Watsonville City Council seat

WATSONVILLE—The race for the District 7 seat on the Watsonville City Council has been the tightest contest in all of Santa Cruz County this general election. Current District 7 representative Ari Parker and former Watsonville mayor Nancy Bilicich are separated …

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Early Results Signal Strong Support for Measures K and L

Bonds would help fund repairs and more for 10 Santa Cruz City Schools

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Nov. 8, 2022 election: Santa Cruz County school board early results

PVUSD trustee candidates Kimberly De Serpa, Olivia Flores lead in early results

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Timm-Timms Slate Rises Above Vice Mayor Reed In Early Results

At this time last year, Allan Timms wasn’t even an American. Now, in early voting results, he had risen above Scotts Valley’s Vice Mayor in his bid for a seat on Council. So, how did it feel to see some …

Good Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Golder, Newsome Lead Santa Cruz City Council Races

Santa Cruz City Council candidates Renee Golder and Scotts Newsome hold significant leads

The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Church gains early lead for Monterey County District 2 supervisor

MONTEREY COUNTY—Voters in Monterey County Supervisor District 2 are leaning toward Glenn Church, with 58.8% of voters choosing him over opponent Regina Gage.  Church is a lifelong resident of North Monterey County who owns and manages Church Christmas Tree Farms. …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Nov. 8, 2022 election: Santa Cruz City Council early results

Fred Keeley, Scott Newsome and Renee Golder lead in early results

Image caption: Don't get stomped.
Could Mastodon Become the New Twitter?

Following Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter, droves are fleeing the social network and joining Mastodon, an open-source federated service in the 'Fediverse.'

Featured

California cities switch to more inclusive, district-based elections system.
Voting Rights...the Final Frontier
Pushed by activists, cities move from at-large elections to district races.
There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained
Areas that the county overlooks can form their own local governments.
California continues to work on legislation that would make voting easier.
Voting Rites
And more bills are on the way to help you make your mark on Election Day.
The cycle of crime and homelessness is escalating, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Homelessness and Crime in California: Even More Complex Than You Think
What causes the cycle of homelessness and crime, and how to stop it.
The California Supreme Court has defined the state’s legal and political agenda for more than 170 years.
How the California Supreme Court Blazes Legal Trails
From its beginnings in the Gold Rush, the state Supreme Court continues to define the state today.
Translated from the Greek, “Democracy” means “people power.” How much power do the people have in California?
People Power! What Is Democracy, and How Does It Work in California?
The Goddess of Democracy is alive and well in California, but that hasn’t always been true.
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