It’s been a long road to the 2022 General Election. But we’re finally nearing the finish line.
Stocktonia will be regularly posting updates here to our election blog throughout Election Day and into the evening as polls close.
(Check back throughout the day for all your Stockton election news.)
Wednesday, 4 p.m. –
Election polls closed here in San Joaquin County nearly 24 hours ago. With about half of the ballots still left to be counted as of Wednesday afternoon, it’s still too soon to call many local races.
The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters says additional results will not be updated until next week. But there were still plenty of happenings going on well after voting stations shut down.
Stocktonia correspondents spoke with candidates across Stockton last night before and after the first wave of vote tallies were reported. Here’s what they said and did throughout the evening.
Carlos Villapudua – candidate for State Assembly District 13
Emotions were high at the Villapudua headquarters on Election Night as initial results came in shortly before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. The incumbent was leading by 62% to 38% over challenger Veronica Vargas.
His platform as a self described “blue-collar Democrat is about “business” and “uniting the Democratic Party,” Villapudua said.
Despite is commanding lead, Villapudua said the race can’t be called until all the votes are tallied. Here’s what else he had to say election.
Tom Patti – candidate for the 9th Congressional District
As a former professional boxer who is in the biggest political fight of his life, Tom Patti surprised no one by coming out swinging.
Patti took the makeshift stage at The AVE On the Mile bar on Pacific Avenue while the theme to the classic movie “Rocky” played, throwing punches in the air as his raucous supporters waved signs and cheered.
The incumbent San Joaquin County Supervisor is challenging de facto incumbent Democratic Rep. Josh Harder in the race, who had a sizable lead when the first set of results were announced by the San Joaquin County registrar.
Harder had a double-digit lead in early voting, which Patti said he expected to be the case.
“Whether you agree or disagree, the Republican organizations have told all the Republican voters ‘don’t vote until the day of,’” Patti said. “So it is what it is, and hopefully Republicans turned out in a high enough number.”
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As of early Wednesday morning, the gap between the candidates had closed considerably from about 37 percentage points to about 14 with roughly half of all ballots in San Joaquin County left to be counted.
Patti thanked supporters Tuesday evening and asked them to stay patient, noting it could take several days to get a final result.
Here’s what else he had to say.
Jerry McNerney – representative for the previous 9th Congressional District
McNerney could have been anywhere on Election Night. He chose to come to Stockton and support school board candidates.
The retiring congressman, who represents the previous 9th District, appeared at the local Democratic event for school district candidates at Valley Brew on Adams Street in Stockton.
“It’s important to have quality people on school boards that will work for the betterment of the students,” McNerney said. “It’s good to see the people here who are so idealistic and committed.”
Early results indicated that reform candidates running for Stockton Unified School District seats were doing well. The mood was even hopeful and excited. The energy increased when McNerney spoke to the crowd, praising the candidates’ efforts.
Among the optimistic candidates was incumbent AngelAnn Flores, who is leading the race to keep her Area 1 seat.
“I feel that I’ve won,” Flores said. “I feel good, I feel very confident. I think (reelection) is what the community wanted.”
Paul Canepa – candidate for San Joaquin County Supervisor District 2
Stockton City Councilmember Paul Canepa and his wife, Leslie, hung out with supporters at low-key gathering at Michael’s Pizza on Alpine Avenue in Stockton Tuesday night while waiting for results.
Canepa said he was happy to be surrounded by friends and family.
Josh Harder – candidate for 9th Congressional District
Rep Harder was greeted by a jubilant crowd wearing Harder campaign T- shirts and waving signs. Unlike most candidates who hosted an Election Night event, Harder held his at his campaign headquarters, not a restaurant or lounge.
Harder worked the room, spinning from one circle of supporters to another.
In his statement to supporters, Harder said “it was a great night for the community.”
“Tens of thousands of our neighbors made their voices heard about the direction they want to take our community,” Harder said. “If you knocked on doors for us, made phone calls, dropped off lit, or even just cast that ballot and encouraged friends and family to do the same, thank you. It’s never been more important to make your voice heard.”
Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. –
Early election returns contain hopeful news for a group of candidates looking to upend the status quo on the Stockton Unified School District Board of Trustees.
With 79,242 ballots counted, the candidates who belong to an unofficial “reform slate” were leading all four of the SUSD board elections.
Checkout our school board results story below.
Wednesday, 4:34 a.m. –
More SJ County elections results come in over night
Polls closed at 8 p.m. in San Joaquin County and shortly after the first wave of ballot tallies were released.
Initial results were from all mail-in ballots received as of Saturday, according to the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters. But more votes were tallied throughout the night, with the last update being just after 4:30 a.m.
Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. –
San Joaquin County reporting some mail-in ballot results
Polls closed at 8 p.m. in San Joaquin County and shortly after the first wave of ballot tallies were released. The results so far are from all mail-in ballots received as of Saturday.
San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters is reporting Democratic Rep. Josh Harder with a commanding lead over local Republican business man Tom Patti in the race for the 9th Congressional 9th District.
Check out our story below.
Tuesday, 5:27 p.m. –
Here’s a look at what’s been going on at the polls here in Stockton
Stocktonia staffers have been out at the polls talking with voters today. Here’s what people said.
Some poll workers at various voting centers in Stockton said voting stations seemed a bit quiet.
Poll workers at the Boggs Tract Community Center on South Los Angeles Street said there has been a steady stream of voters throughout the day. One worker, who worked this same polling place in the past, said things were bit slower than other years.
In the afternoon Tuesday, Stocktonians who came to vote at the Spanos Elementary School on California Street in south Stockton cast ballots alongside children participating in the schools after-hours program.
At around 4 p.m., poll workers there said the morning had been slow, noting that only about 20 to 30 people had came to vote by midday.
Most of the voters filled out their ballots in person rather than just dropping off a mail-in, workers said. They also gave out multiple provisional ballots.
About a half hour later, Marybeth and Jerry Falat dropped off their ballots at the Fire Station 7 polling station on Hammer Lane in north Stockton. They brought their granddaughter to show her how to vote in an American election.
The couple previously lived in the Philippines and it gave them a greater appreciation for the election and civic processes in the U.S.
“Everyone should vote because it’s a wonderful American right, Marybeth Falat said. “People who have not lived overseas don’t know how good they have it.”
Earlier in the day at about 1 p.m., Rose P. and Pat P. (Both declined to provide their full last names) voted at the Creekside School polling station in north Stockton.
Rose said she’s thought about voter fraud but left the polling center confident her vote will be tallied as it was cast.
“That’s how I feel right now,” she said. “They took it and I watched them file it.”
Pat said: “I feel like there’s nothing I can do about it, one way or the other. All you can do is vote, and hope it’s taken care of properly. That’s all.”
Tuesday, 3:22 p.m. –
Suspect voter fraud? San Joaquin County has an Election Day hotline for that
In response to reported concerns over the last several months regarding election integrity, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office has set up a voter fraud hotline in partnership the County Registrar of Voters for Election Day.
“Understanding that on election day, there may be issues or concerns, the Sheriff’s Office is working diligently to ensure confidence in our election process and the preservation of the rights of voters while addressing any issues that may arise,” the department said in a Facebook post Monday afternoon.
Sheriff’s officials assured that they have regularly met with Registrar of Voters Olivia Hale, “who has been extremely transparent and responsive,” detailing each step of ballot counting process to both the public and the department, as well as answering any questions or concerns.
The “Sheriff’s Office is confident that election integrity and accuracy is her utmost concern,” department officials said.
Any voting issues can be reported to the 2022 San JoaquinCounty Election hotline by region for the Sheriff’s Office to review and appropriately follow up, department officials said. An email has also been setup.
“Should an issue arise, we would like to remind the public to remain calm and respectful as poll workers are part-time employees and volunteers who must follow a process mandated by law,” sheriff’s officials said. “The Sheriff’s Office will take the appropriate investigative action based on the credibility of the information we receive.”
Tuesday, 2:30 p.m. –
Election Day is here. Stocktonia will keep you up to date
Here are some stories to get you prepped and in the know for all the election happenings going on across Stockton and San Joaquin County.
