SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, California — November 5, 2026. A countywide election can attract attention to mayors, city council members and state races, yet special-district board elections also determine decisions over water and irrigation. In the latest accessible San Joaquin County election-night results, the Stockton East Water District Division 7 contest is separated by 190 votes — a much smaller difference than in some of the county’s other water board races.
Stockton East Water District, Division 7
The official county election-night dashboard reports Mary Elizabeth with 21,917 votes (50.22%) and Thomas McGurk with 21,727 (49.78%), for a 190-vote reported lead. The totals are substantial because this particular division has a different voting geography from a single municipal council district. Neither the raw vote total nor a contest name should be treated as proof that every voter in Stockton, Manteca or all of San Joaquin County voted in the same contest.
Stockton East divisions 2 and 3
In a separate Stockton East Water District Division 2 contest, Matt Gandolfo has 25,718 votes (58.74%) and Andrew Watkins 18,064 (41.26%), a difference of 7,654. In the Division 3 short-term race, Wayne S. Watanabe has 26,436 (61.17%) and Ryan G. Hansen 16,779 (38.83%). The division names and separate term length matter: these are not three stages of one election.
South San Joaquin Irrigation District
For the South San Joaquin Irrigation District Division 2 seat, the county shows Mike Sonke 2,600 votes (55.64%) against Glenn Spyksma 2,073 (44.36%), a 527-vote difference. This board’s election is separate from Stockton East and from the city of Manteca’s council election, even though area residents may care about all those institutions.
Why water district directors matter
Public water and irrigation districts are local government institutions that may address water delivery, infrastructure, capital spending, utility rates and long-term resource management within their statutory jurisdictions. Their boundaries need not follow city lines. The practical effect of a board election depends on the district’s legal authority, not just the candidate lead reported on election night.
Can the close Division 7 vote move?
Yes, the reported totals are still unofficial. The county has not yet completed its legally required canvass, and the number and distribution of lawful uncounted Division 7 ballots is not established by the election-night webpage alone. Reporting an exact probability of reversal would require district-specific outstanding-ballot information not provided in this snapshot. San Joaquin’s audit timetable calls for manual review of selected precincts beginning November 9.
Follow the official count
California58 has earlier countywide reporting on the San Joaquin election and a county voter guide. The Registrar of Voters is responsible for publishing updated results. Every total in this story is from the early-November-4 election-night snapshot as checked November 5, not an officially certified vote.
Primary source: San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters, November 3 general-election results, viewed November 5, 2026.
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