What some have called an “extinction-level event” for Republicans also came in Orange County, with many of the once solidly Republican seats flipping to Democrats this year.
Tag: 2026 City Races
Coverage of the 2026 city council and mayoral races in Orange County.
Posted inSanta Ana
Meet Santa Ana’s New Mayor
First-time candidate and attorney Dan Shimell is set to become Santa Ana’s mayor, as a slate of new progressive leaders are on track to win city council seats.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Progressives Widen Leads in Tight Santa Ana Mayoral and State Assembly Races
Santa Ana Mayoral Candidate Dan Shimell and 68th State Assembly Candidate Jessie Lopez, two progressives, are on track to beat their police union-backed opponents in their respective races.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
First Time Candidate Takes Lead in Tight Santa Ana Mayoral Race
By Saturday evening’s election results update, Santa Ana’s police-union backed four year incumbent Valerie Amezcua lost the lead in the mayoral race to a first time candidate.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
A Host of City Council Races Across OC Are Neck And Neck
There are at least eight close mayoral and city council races across Orange County after Friday evening’s election update.
Posted inSanta Ana
‘The People’s Mayor:’ Could Santa Ana’s Police-Union Backed Mayor Lose Reelection?
Santa Ana’s police union backed incumbent mayor is facing an increasingly tight race for reelection as progressive candidates are on track to flip the city council majority.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Lead Flips in the Tight Race for Irvine’s District One Seat
Incumbent Melinda Liu narrowly took the lead from opponent John Park in the race for District 1 with 43 votes after Thursday’s election update.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Lead Flips Again in Tight Mayoral Race in Tustin as Ballots Continue to be Counted
In one of the closest races in OC, Incumbent Austin Lumbard is on track to be reelected as Tustin’s mayor.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
What Could a Progressive City Council Majority Mean for Santa Ana?
A new progressive majority could soon form on the Santa Ana City Council – toppling a former majority held mainly by police union backed politicians
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Who Will be Tustin’s Next Mayor?
Election results Wednesday evening showed incumbent Austin Lumbard on track to win reelection in the Tustin mayoral race.
