SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, California — November 5, 2026. The county’s official election-night results page, timestamped 1:53 a.m. November 4, displays 71,658 ballots from an electorate of 172,525 registered voters, for a preliminary reported participation rate of 41.53%. The tally includes 56,159 vote-by-mail ballots and 15,499 ballots cast in person. These are counted-ballot categories in that snapshot, not an assertion that every eligible ballot has reached the final canvass.

Mail voting accounts for most ballots in the first tally

Of the 71,658 counted ballots in the election-night report, 56,159 were vote-by-mail, or approximately 78.4% of the snapshot. The remaining 15,499 were in-person ballots, approximately 21.6%. These proportions describe the reporting snapshot rather than the eventual method mix of all ballots received. Additional valid mailed or provisional ballots may change both the vote totals and proportions.

Governor vote in Santa Cruz County

In the governor race, the county reported Xavier Becerra, Democrat, 55,866 votes (78.94%) and Steve Hilton, Republican, 14,903 (21.06%). These percentages are among valid votes cast for governor in Santa Cruz County; they are not statewide percentages. The results should not be added to published statewide totals because statewide tabulations already incorporate reporting counties.

The mayoral race in the city of Santa Cruz

The same report lists Ryan Coonerty at 8,349 votes (54.93%) versus Ami Chen Mills at 6,722 (44.22%), plus 129 unqualified write-in votes in the mayoral contest. The first-count margin between the named candidates is 1,627 votes. Read California58’s separate Santa Cruz mayor report for the city-specific contest; countywide gubernatorial votes cannot be used to infer mayoral preferences.

Watsonville’s District 5 remains particularly close

In Watsonville’s District 5 City Council contest, Angel Zuniga had 396 votes to Casey Clark’s 382, a 14-vote difference in the November 4 snapshot. District 7 shows Ed Acosta at 783 and Nancy Bilicich at 708. Read the California58 Watsonville District 5 and 7 report; those district numbers represent a very different electorate from the countywide tally and will require further canvassing.

Scotts Valley, Capitola and other communities

The county also reports separate city-council, school, fire and water-board contests for communities across its territory. For example, the Scotts Valley council election has two seats, while a separate water-district board has a different number of seats and a different ballot population. Reports that ignore these district boundaries risk misleading readers.

What to check next

Readers should compare fresh entries on the Santa Cruz County official results page against these time-stamped November 4 figures. Election-night numbers are unofficial and subject to correction as canvassing proceeds. The reported participation rate may rise as more valid ballots enter the count. California58’s earlier countywide election-night roundup remains available for comparison.

Source: Santa Cruz County Registrar, election-night results dated November 4, 2026 at 1:53 a.m. PT. Article prepared November 5. Results not certified.

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