San Mateo's City Council District 5 race was shaping up as one of the closer local contests, with incumbent Adam Loraine holding a narrow early 54 vote lead over Dana Yates Sahae as of 10 p.m. on Tuesday. Dave Johnson was also in the running, but the contest was largely a two-candidate battle in the initial returns.
In District 1, Lisa Diaz Nash was ahead of Taso Zografos, while Seema Patel has the lead over Rob Newsom Jr. in District 3.
There is another close contest on the county ballot: the special election for San Mateo County Board of Supervisors District 5. Juslyn Cabrera Manalo was leading Mark Nagales in the early count, but the race remains competitive. The election will fill a vacancy on the five-member Board of Supervisors.
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As of September, the California Secretary of State reported that 23,164,977 Californians were registered to vote, which accounts for more than 85 percent of the state's eligible voting population.
Not surprisingly, there are far more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state, with 45 percent for the former and 25 percent for the latter.
In San Mateo County, the rate of voter registration is high. As of September, it was 85 percent — with 54 percent of voters registered as Democrats, 14 percent as Republicans.
Based on early voting, California is poised to see 60 percent of registered voters head to the polls, a record for a gubernatorial race, Paul Mitchell, of political data analysis firm Political Data told The San Francisco Chronicle.
While the governor's race was expected to be called early Tuesday, it's California's congressional races and ballot measures poised to offer the biggest upsets and surprises. Hanging in the balance is control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mitchell predicted that five key redrawn congressional districts appear poised to deliver Democratic victories driven, in part, by high turnout among Latino voters.
"I think the blue wave is on track," Mitchell told The Chronicle. "It seems to be on track that we're going to have a really strong turnout."
So far, voter turnout has been higher in competitive races such as the Central Valley's District 22 and the 48th Congressional District in San Diego — two districts Democrats hope to flip after their mid-decade gerrymander.
As of Oct. 29, Democratic voters represented 51 percent of ballots returned statewide compared to just 28 percent among Republican voters, according to the Political Data tracker.
Democratic Assemblymember Diane Papan is seeking another term representing California's 21st Assembly District against Republican challenger Jabra J. Muhawieh. The district includes communities on the Bayside of San Mateo County, including San Mateo, Redwood City and Pacifica. Papan was first elected to the Assembly in 2022.
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The 2026 election for San Mateo County Board of Supervisors District 5 is a special election to fill a vacancy. The candidates are Mark Nagales, a South San Francisco vice mayor, and Juslyn Cabrera Manalo, a Daly City councilmember. The district includes portions of northern and eastern San Mateo County.
Two candidates are running for San Mateo City Council's District 1 seat: Taso Zografos and Lisa Diaz Nash. The district is one of three San Mateo City Council districts holding elections in 2026.
Two candidates are running for San Mateo City Council's District 3 seat: incumbent Rob Newsom Jr. and Seema Patel. The district is one of three San Mateo City Council districts holding elections in 2026.
Three candidates are running for San Mateo City Council's District 5 seat: incumbent Adam Loraine, Dave Johnson and Dana Yates Sahae. The district is one of three San Mateo City Council districts holding elections in 2026.
Democratic Rep. Kevin Mullin is seeking another term in California's 15th Congressional District against Republican challenger Charles Hoelter. The district includes San Mateo County communities including San Mateo and Redwood City. Mullin, who previously served in the California State Assembly, was first elected to Congress in 2022. Hoelter is a Republican candidate challenging Mullin for the seat.
Measure L would amend the San Mateo County Charter to make long-term resilience to extreme weather events a county priority. The amendment specifically identifies threats including wildfire, flooding, wind, rain, heat, drought and sea-level rise and calls for the county to work with cities, districts and other public agencies on resilience efforts. It would not otherwise change the County Charter and requires a simple majority to pass.
Measure AA would amend the San Mateo County Charter to affirm the county's commitment to the dignity, civil rights and equal protection of all county residents. The amendment would add language supporting equity, fairness, inclusion, belonging, accessibility and opportunity. It would not change other provisions of the Charter and requires a simple majority to pass.
Measure J would change the county's rules for filling vacancies in elected offices other than the Board of Supervisors. It would give the Board of Supervisors up to 60 days, instead of 30, to either appoint someone or call a special election. Before making an appointment, the Board would also have to hold at least one noticed public meeting to receive public comment on the appointment and potential candidates. The measure requires a simple majority to pass.
Measure U would require San Mateo County's five supervisorial districts to be redrawn after each federal census by an independent redistricting commission rather than by the Board of Supervisors. The measure would not change other requirements for supervisors, including that they live in the district they represent, serve four-year terms and face a three-term limit. It requires a simple majority to pass.
Measure H would increase San Mateo's existing transactions and use tax, or sales tax, from 0.25 percent to 0.50 percent. The additional 0.25 percent would equal 25 cents for every $100 in taxable purchases and is estimated to generate about $7 million annually for city purposes, including streets, parks, infrastructure, police, fire, paramedic services, emergency response and traffic safety. The tax would remain in effect until voters end it. It requires a simple majority to pass and would be subject to annual audits and public oversight.
Measure F would make a series of changes to the San Mateo City Charter to reflect the city's current district-based election system and update other government procedures. Changes include formally recognizing district elections, providing for district boundaries to be redrawn after each federal census, extending the time to fill council vacancies from 30 to 60 days, changing rules concerning councilmember absences and updating the council meeting schedule. The measure would also change requirements involving emergency ordinances, candidate statements, publication of legal notices and certain city administrative procedures. It requires a simple majority to pass.
Measure V would authorize the San Mateo County Community College District to issue up to $848 million in bonds for facility and infrastructure improvements. Projects could include upgrades to buildings, HVAC, plumbing, electrical and utility systems; repairs to roofs and other aging facilities; safety and security improvements; technology upgrades; and improvements to classrooms, labs, roads, walkways and parking areas. The district estimates the highest annual tax rate would be $18 per $100,000 of assessed value, with bonds potentially lasting until June 2049. Bond proceeds could not be used for regular teacher or administrator salaries. The measure requires 55 percent approval.
Measure W would authorize the San Mateo-Foster City School District to issue up to $498 million in bonds for school facility improvements. Projects could include modernizing classrooms and science, technology, engineering and math labs; repairing roofs and windows; updating fire alarms and emergency communications; improving accessibility, safety and security; restoring career-technical education facilities; and acquiring or repairing school facilities and equipment. The district estimates an average annual tax rate of $29 per $100,000 of assessed value, with bond payments potentially continuing through fiscal year 2054-55. Bond proceeds could not be used for regular school operating expenses or salaries. The measure requires 55 percent approval.
For more information, visit smcacre.gov/elections.
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Gubernatorial Race
California voters headed to the polls Tuesday, facing high gas and grocery prices, the effects of climate change on wildfires and rising seas amid a shortage in insurance coverage and the ever-present housing affordability crisis.
The governor's race was somewhat anticlimactic following a chaotic primary with a crowded field of candidates roiled when the frontrunner was forced to step down amid sexual assault allegations. Since then, Becerra maintained a steady lead over Hilton in the polls.
In the final days of the election, a new SurveyUSA poll showed Becerra with a 22-point lead.
Click here for real-time results in the California Governor's races.
All 52 of California's Congressional seats were on the ballot.
Congressional races across California were under intense scrutiny following voter approval of Proposition 50, a partisan redistricting measure expected to reshape the state's political map. Thanks to the redistricting, only a handful of districts were truly competitive. Democrats hoped to flip as many as five Republican House seats in a bid to overturn the GOP's slim House majority.
Democrats think they can flip as many as five seats, with four seeming very much in reach, according to the polls. Both parties are spending like control of the House is on the line.
Click here for real-time results in California's Congressional races.
There were 14 statewide propositions on the ballot this week. Arguably, the most hot-button ballot initiatives involve taxation. Proposition 40 is the highly discussed billionaire tax, while Propositions 41 and 42 aim to counter the measure. Proposition 3 also addresses taxes on the state's highest earners.
Click here for real-time results for all of California's ballot measures.
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