Editorial | As vote count slowly proceeds, some likely winners

A few things have changed from the interminably slow vote count for the June 2 California primary election.

But not much - except from increasing howls by (mainly) Republicans that the drip-by-drip count unfairly favors Democrats and is an example of election corruption.

As we noted in a previous post-election Editorial last week, the reasons for the slow count are less conspiratorial and more prosaic, if not maddening.

California sends every registered voter a mail-in ballot a month ahead of the election and state law allows ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked on or before Election Day.

Many voters wait until the last minute - especially this election when the headliner race for governor left many voters either apathetic or confused. This year's slow return of mail-in ballots evidences this latter point. (Santa Cruz County appears to have a less than 31% turnout.)

Counting ballots returned by mail understandably takes more time than those cast in-person because signatures have to be matched.

California also allows people to register to vote and cast ballots provisionally on Election Day, which can add even more counting time since county officials must verify voter eligibility.

As far as the slow count favoring one party or wing of a party, in Santa Cruz County, late votes usually swing elections to the left, as they're often cast by younger, infrequent voters who in this county tend vote on the progressive side. This also is how it usually works out statewide.

All this means is that once again, results may not be known for perhaps weeks. County elections officials need to finalize their official results by 30 days after the election. The Secretary of State certifies results 38 days after the election.

And while the ballot-counting process benefits Democrats, who control state government and legislated the voting provisions, it's also fueled growing public distrust in elections.

"The longer the voting count takes, the more mis- and disinformation spreads," wrote Gov. Gavin Newsom. "Time is of the essence in preventing election lies from taking hold."

Fears of corrupted elections are just one reason that we hope, probably forlornly, that legislators change the current process and at least require ballots be returned by Election Day.

In any case, former state Attorney General Xavier Becerra is likely to become the next California governor, even though he will be one of two candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. His opponent will be either Republican Steve Hilton, who currently holds a 340,000 vote edge on billionaire Tom Steyer for second place. But see above for how this could still change.

For state insurance commissioner, a post that should be of interest to Santa Cruz County residents in fire-prone areas, Democrat Jane Kim is far ahead of another Democrat Ben Allen, though the pair will face off again in the November runoff.

For the inconsequential post of lieutenant governor, Fiona Ma, a Democrat, is likely to face off against Republican Gloria Romero in November. To be the next state schools chief, Sonja Shaw and Richard Barrera will head on to the runoff. And to be the next state treasurer, Eleni Kounalakis, a Democrat, and Republican Jennifer Hawks will go before voters in November. State Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, will go up against Republican Michael Gates while Democrat Malia Cohen and Republican Herb Morgan will face off for state controller. Democrats are overwhelmingly likely to win all these Nov. 3 races.

Locally, one of the two races still up in the air is Santa Cruz mayor, where Ryan Coonerty continues to be just over the 50-percent-plus-one threshold to avoid a November runoff. But his margin remains thin. If he falls below the 50% mark, he'll face second-place finisher Ami Chen Mills, who would ostensibly draw a significant number of votes from the four candidates who finished below her in the count.

For District 4 supervisor, political newcomer Tony Nuñez, with nearly 50.5% of the vote, is hoping to maintain that percentage to avoid a November runoff against incumbent Felipe Hernandez, who has a surprisingly low 33%.

Also, in the election for Superior Court judge, immigration attorney Alisa Thomas looks to be the likely winner, with 54% of the vote over criminal defense attorney Bryan Hackett.

At least that's how it stands until the votes all get counted.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.