Stockton City Councilwoman Michele Padilla appeared headed toward a second term Wednesday, holding a commanding lead over challenger Tamica Small in a race that drew high-profile political support and tested the incumbent’s record on homelessness, public safety and neighborhood improvements.
Padilla received nearly 59% of the vote in early returns, compared with Small’s 41%, according to semi-final results from the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters. The results remain unofficial as election officials continue counting ballots.
The advantage marks a stronger showing for Padilla than in the June primary, when she narrowly missed the majority needed to avoid a November runoff. She received 49.11% of the primary vote, while Small finished second in a five-candidate field with 27.60%.
In a statement Wednesday, Padilla thanked District 1 residents for their support and described the results as a reflection of their confidence in her work.
“This election was never about me,” Padilla said. “It was about whether the people of our community see the work and believe it is making a difference in their lives. Last night’s results tell me they do, and I am humbled by that.”
First elected in 2022, Padilla represents a north Stockton district that includes neighborhoods surrounding Bear Creek. A longtime educator who has lived in the district for more than three decades, she campaigned on continuing projects she said remain unfinished.
Her apparent victory comes after a competitive race against Small, a former San Joaquin County probation officer who spent two decades in law enforcement and made public safety a central focus of her campaign.
Small also attracted support beyond Stockton, including an endorsement from Democratic U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, who visited the city in October to campaign alongside her. Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish contributed to Small’s campaign earlier this year.
Campaign finance reports showed Small had raised more than $50,000 and spent nearly $70,000 through Oct. 17, compared with approximately $32,000 raised and $29,000 spent by Padilla during the same period.
Small’s campaign also reported payments to Hollywood Unlocked, a company owned by her brother, Stockton Councilmember Jason Lee. Lee separately contributed $5,000 to Small’s campaign, according to previous Stocktonia reporting.
Despite Small’s fundraising advantage and prominent supporters, Padilla maintained a substantial lead as the general election results began coming in.
The candidates offered competing approaches to several issues affecting District 1, particularly homelessness.
Padilla, who chairs the council’s ad hoc committee on homelessness, has supported a broader approach that includes shelter options, designated camping areas and assistance connecting unhoused residents with services.
Her work also drew scrutiny following the city’s clearing of a long-established homeless encampment at Trinity Park in north Stockton. Small questioned whether the operation represented meaningful progress, arguing that the city needed to prioritize lasting housing solutions and better connections to behavioral health services.
During the campaign, Small also proposed reviewing city spending on homelessness programs to determine whether taxpayer money was producing measurable results.
Padilla, meanwhile, identified public safety, cleaner parks and continued efforts to address homelessness as priorities for another term. In an October interview with Stocktonia, she also discussed bringing a standalone grocery store to the district and improving community policing.
Her tenure has not been without controversy.
In November 2024, the City Council formally censured Padilla after determining that she violated council policy by using discretionary funds for a community barbecue where candidates for public office delivered political speeches. Padilla denied intentionally misusing public money and maintained that the event was intended to benefit residents.
The following year brought a shift in City Hall’s political dynamics after a new mayor and three council members took office.
Padilla has frequently sided with Mayor Christina Fugazi and Council members Mariela Ponce and Brando Villapudua on contentious decisions, forming a four-member majority on several closely divided votes.
Most recently, Padilla joined that majority in voting to remove Lee as vice mayor on Oct. 13, a decision opposed by Council members Michael Blower and Mario Enríquez.
Those divisions became part of a broader examination of City Hall’s operations when the San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury released its “Governance in Turmoil” report in June.
The report criticized the council collectively for public infighting, leadership instability and interference with city employees, concluding that the conflicts had weakened governance and damaged public confidence.
In September, the council unanimously approved a response committing to reforms involving ethics, council conduct and financial oversight. Several proposals, including an independent ethics commission and local campaign contribution limits, still require further action.
Padilla’s election-night response suggested she wants to move beyond the disputes that have dominated City Hall in recent months.
“Election season is over. The reality show, the distractions, and the noise belong in the past,” she said. “Our neighborhoods are tired of watching real problems get exploited for personal and political gain. They want results, and they deserve a council that spends its time delivering them.”
Fugazi congratulated Padilla on her strong showings Wednesday, saying she looked forward to continuing their work on public safety, homelessness, neighborhood improvements and economic development.
“While campaigns may highlight our differences, governing requires that we find common ground and move forward together,” Fugazi said in a social media written statement.
Small did not immediately respond to Stocktonia’s request for comment Wednesday.
If reelected, Padilla faces the challenge of advancing her neighborhood priorities while helping address the unresolved governance issues that have shaped much of her first four years in office.
“My focus now is the same as it was before this campaign began: getting back to work,” she said.