Government / Politics

UPDATED: Medina leading in supes’ race; Measure P short of two-third needed in initial election results

Jimmy Panetta leads Congressional race while Anna Caballero was the leading vote-getter in early Assembly returns
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With 89 percent of votes counted as of just before midnight on election day, Measure P — the half-cent sales tax expected to generate $240 million toward local transportation needs over the next 30 years — had 58.92 percent of the vote, short of the two-thirds needed for passage.

Meanwhile, in the the only contested Board of Supervisors' race, Mark Medina expanded his lead to 13 percent lead (56.09 percent to 43.14 percent) over Mark Starritt for the District 1 seat.

The local elections office was still tallying results well into the night Tuesday. In early returns, Democrat Jimmy Panetta outdistanced Republican Casey Lucius for the 20th Congressional district seat being vacated by longtime incumbent Sam Farr — who succeeded Panetta's father, Leon, two decades ago. District-wide, Panetta had 71 percent of the vote district-wide as of 5:59 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to the California Secretary of State's office. He had received just over 64 percent of the San Benito County vote as of midnight Tuesday, Lucius had received 19.7 percent of the vote district-wide ad 29.48 percent in San Benito County.

In the race for Assembly District 30, Democrat Anna Caballero had 45.51 percent of the vote in results as of 5:59 a.m. Wednesday and appeared headed toward a November runoff with Democratic Watsonville City Councilwoman K.arina Cervantez-Alejo had 24.9 percent of the vote.

In other races, San Benito County Democrats favored Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary, with 57.78 percent voting for her over Bernie Sanders (40.76 percent) with 89 percent of the vote counted. Republican Donald Trump received the support of 74.5 percent of local GOP voters with more votes still to tally.

San Benito County District 2 Supervisor Anthony Botelho and District 5 Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz retain their seats after facing no opposition.

For San Benito County election results, click here.

For statewide election results, click here.

 

Adam Breen

Adam Breen has been a San Benito County resident since 1980 and graduated from Sacred Heart School and San Benito High School before earning a bachelor's degree from California State University, Fresno. A father of two sons, Adam has taught newspaper, English and yearbook at SBHS for the past decade, after six years as a magazine editor for Santa Clara University. He previously was editor of the Hollister Free Lance and content director for BenitoLink.