Stockton City Council incumbents Michele Padilla and Michael Blower remained just below the threshold needed to avoid November runoffs Wednesday as San Joaquin County election officials neared the end of ballot counting.
The latest semi-final results showed 137,104 ballots counted countywide out of 410,058 registered voters, an increase of 1,341 ballots since Monday’s update. Based on the county’s early estimates, just over 1,300 ballots remain to be reviewed as of Wednesday.
In Stockton City Council District 1, Padilla held 49.18% of the vote, remaining just short of the more than 50% needed to win the race outright in the primary. Tamica Small remained in second place with 27.60%, followed by Annette Sanchez with 11.33%.
Padilla’s share slipped slightly from 49.24% in Monday’s update.
In District 3, Blower held 48.34%, while challenger Jessica Toccoli had 36.12%. Joey Veltri followed with 9.98%. Blower also remained below the majority needed to avoid a runoff against the second-place finisher in November.
District 5 continued to be Stockton’s closest council race. Incumbent Brando Villapudua led with 33.97%, while Desiree Lynch followed with 30.62%. Mary Elizabeth had 16.43%.
Villapudua and Lynch were separated by 114 votes in Wednesday’s count, three more than the margin reported Monday. With neither candidate close to 50%, the top two finishers are expected to advance to the November general election if the standings hold.
In a Monday press release, the Registrar of Voters said the county was nearing completion of the count in record time, six days after the primary. Registrar of Voters Olivia Hale credited election workers for the pace.
“Our staff has demonstrated extraordinary dedication and professionalism throughout this process,” Hale said. “Working long hours with precision and care, they have ensured that every ballot counted so far reflects the will of our voters.”
The remaining ballots will continue to be reviewed as part of the county’s official canvass. Voters have until 5 p.m. on June 24 to correct certain challenged ballots, and the Registrar of Voters is scheduled to certify the election June 25, the earliest date allowed by law.
Results remain semi-final until the election is certified.