Election results: early returns are in for Richmond, El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo
on November 3, 2026
The first batch of Contra Costa County ballot-counting showed Richmond mayoral candidates Claudia Jiménez and Ahmad Anderson in a tight race. Jiménez, a Richmond City Council member, was leading with 52% of the vote.
Richmond voters were leaning toward both measures on the ballot. Measure Q, a $120 million bond issue to modernize firehouses had 68% of the vote. The measure requires a two-thirds majority, 66.7%, to win.
West County voters seemed to favor renewing a West Contra Costa Unified School District parcel tax that generates $10 million annually. Measure V would keep the tax for nine years, to support core academics, art, music, technical education and mental health services. The measure needs two-thirds of the votes to pass — 73% of the votes counted so far back it.
El Cerrito
Six candidates are battling for two City Council seats. Early returns show challenger Kimberly White with 25% of the vote, with incumbents Carolyn Wysinger and Gabe Quinto with 21% and 16%, respectively. Wally Nowinski has a strong showing with 21% of the votes, with Mary Ann “MJ” Jawili and Forrest M. Lanning trailing far behind.
Hercules
Two City Council seats are up for reelection, with only one incumbent, Dion Bailey, running. Bailey has 35% of early returns, with challenger John Delgado coming up strong with 40%. Further behind were challengers Preet Sidhu, Adrena Breckenridge and Kofi Opong-Mensah.
If early mail-in voters are an indication, Measure P – a 1% sales tax to fund various basic city services — may be a close call. The yes votes were ahead 54% to 46%, with a simple majority needed to pass.
Pinole
With no incumbents running for three City Council seats, Pinole will see a new power base. Early returns show Gabriel Sandoval in the lead with 24%, followed by Matthew Avery, with 23% of the vote, Truc “Christy” Lam-Julian, with 21%, Tina Brown with 17% and Libby Duarte with 15%
San Pablo
The two City Council incumbents were ahead in preliminary counts — Rita Xavier and Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado each had 27% of the votes, with Anna Villalobos at 26% and Caden Cotton-Blake with 21%.
San Pablo voters also had to decide on Measure R, a 0.50% sales tax increase for five years, which would drop to 0.25% for another five years, to cover basic city services. Early returns show voters favoring the measure, 70% to 30%, with a simple majority required to pass.
A rent control measure that would prohibit rent increases that exceed 60% of the Consumer Price Index increase or 3%, whichever is lower, also was gaining steam. About 59% of early voters like Measure S, which needs a simple majority to pass.
(Top photo by Moriah Prescia)
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