Limeta Wins Supervisor Race In Marin County As Election Results Certified

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Novato's Magali Limeta has officially won the race for Marin County's District 5 Board of Supervisors seat, becoming the county's next supervisor after capturing just over 50 percent of the vote in a five-candidate race.

Marin County Registrar of Voters Natalie Adona certified the June 2 Statewide Direct Primary Election on Friday, finalizing results that showed Limeta receiving 8,539 votes, or 50.27 percent, enough to avoid a November runoff. Andy Podshadley finished second with 2,999 votes, followed by Curtis G. Aikens, Chris Carpiniello and Marc Hunter Lewis.

"Today, I am overwhelmed with gratitude," Limeta said after the results were certified."Marin County has completed its final tabulation of votes, and I am deeply honored to have earned your trust to serve as the next District 5 Supervisor."

The Novato native called the victory historic and thanked volunteers, donors and voters who backed her campaign.

"As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, born and raised in Novato, I am especially humbled by the opportunity to serve the community that raised me," Limeta said. "Today is a historic moment, but it is also a reminder that when people come together around shared values and a common purpose, remarkable things are possible."

She said her campaign focused on protecting essential county services, expanding affordable housing, safeguarding the environment and ensuring Marin County remains a place where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

"[I will] show up, listen carefully, make thoughtful decisions, and deliver results [for District 5 residents]," she said

Limeta entered Election Day as one of five candidates seeking to replace outgoing District 5 Supervisor Eric Lucan, who vacated the seat after winning election to the California State Assembly. The district represents Novato and surrounding communities.

The District 5 race was one of Marin County's few contested local elections. Because county supervisor races are nonpartisan, a candidate needed to receive more than 50 percent of the vote to win outright and avoid a November runoff.

The certification also confirmed the reelection of District 1 Supervisor Mary Sackett, who defeated challenger Mark Galperin 14,365 votes to 2,526.

Voters also decided races for governor, Congress, the Legislature and statewide constitutional offices, while approving several local funding measures. Marin voters overwhelmingly approved Measure B, extending the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit sales tax, along with local school bond and tax measures across the county.

Countywide, more than 105,000 ballots were cast, resulting in a 60.95 percent turnout — one of Marin's highest participation rates for a statewide primary in recent years. By comparison, turnout was 48 percent in the 2018 statewide primary and 56 percent in 2022.

Before certifying the results, election officials spent weeks processing vote-by-mail ballots that arrived after Election Day, verifying voter signatures, reviewing provisional ballots and allowing voters to cure missing or mismatched signatures. The county also completed a public manual tally on June 17, confirming that the hand count matched the machine-tabulated results.

"People should want to know how their votes are counted, and we want them to know," Adona said in a statement. "We've had observers in this building throughout the canvass. Every step of this process is open to the public because trust is built by showing them the work. Every eligible ballot cast by a Marin voter is in that final count, and we're ready to certify it."