San Benito County Election Update: Supervisor Recall Tightens
Proponents of the recall against San Benito County District 5 Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez saw their lead diminish to just 9 votes following the June 6, 2026 release of updated ballot counts. The razor-thin margin leaves the ultimate outcome of the local political challenge highly uncertain.
Key Highlights
- Proponents of the District 5 supervisor recall hold a slim 1,094 to 1,085 lead.
- Incumbent Auditor-Controller Joe Paul Gonzalez trails his challenger by nearly 1,700 votes.
- Local cannabis tax Measure D maintains a strong lead with 67.6% voter approval.
- Final certified election results from all California counties are due by July 10, 2026.
The narrow lead held by individuals driving the recall of District 5 San Benito County Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez dropped to a single-digit margin after local election officials published the most recent batch of vote tallies on June 6.
According to the county elections office, recall advocates established a minor advantage of 1,094 to 1,085 votes out of the 2,179 ballots processed so far in the specific contest. Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez secured an early advantage when preliminary numbers dropped on Election Night, June 2, but subsequent updates allowed recall supporters to overtake him and build a lead that topped 28 votes early on June 3.
The updated records also documented 111 under-votes, indicating a segment of participating voters chose not to cast a selection in this particular race.
Concurrently, incumbent Auditor-Controller Joe Paul Gonzalez faces a deficit of approximately 1,700 votes, whereas other county officeholders maintain substantial advantages over their respective opponents.
During the June 2, 2026 primary election, San Benito County citizens decided on six local competitive races, which featured the recall effort alongside a proposed adjustment to the regional cannabis tax structure.
For the San Benito County Board of Supervisors District 3 and District 4 positions, as well as three alternative local offices, any candidate securing more than 50% of the total vote achieves an outright victory. If no individual hits that threshold, the top two finishers move forward to the general election on November 6, 2026.
Regarding federal congressional and state legislative campaigns, the top two candidates irrespective of political party will advance to the general election lineup.
The California Secretary of State mandated that all counties submit their finalized numbers by July 3, 2026 to facilitate official state certification by July 10, 2026.
The newly adjusted election figures are detailed below.
California Governor
Xavier Becerra (D)β 1,732,755 (26.8%)
Steve Hilton (R)β 1,704,820 (26.4%)
Tom Steyer (D)β 1,361,104 (21%)
Congress, 18th District
Zoe Lofgren (D)β 46,870 (53.9%)
Shane Lewis (R)β 27,258 (31.4%)
Luis Arreguin (D)β 10,373 (11.9%)
Chris Demers (NPP)β 2,442 (2.8%)
Assembly, 29th District
Robert Rivas (D)β 39,041 (64.6%)
Dennis Sanchez (R)β 11,449 (19%)
J.W. Paine (R)β 9,922 (16.4%)
SBC Superintendent of Schools
Jennifer Logueβ 7,285 (55.3%)
Gwen Baquiranβ 5,880 (44.7%)
BOS District 3
Mindy Soteloβ 1,653 (73%)
Peter Hernandezβ 612 (27%)
BOS District 4
Angela Curroβ 2,730 (66%)
Roxanne Stephensβ 1,353 (32.7%)
Scott McPhail (write-in)β 49 (1.2%)
BOS District 5 recall
Yesβ 1,094 (50.2%)
Noβ 1,085 (49.8%)
SBC Auditor-Controller
Laura Garcilazoβ 7,534 (56.4%)
Joe Paul Gonzalezβ 5,835 (43.7%)
County Clerk-Recorder
Francisco Diazβ 10,482 (82.6%)
Dane Sanchezβ 2,206 (17.4%)
Measure D
Yesβ 3,999 (67.6%)
Noβ 1,914 (32.4%)
Future Outlook
As San Benito County elections officials continue processing provisional and mail-in ballots, the focus shifts toward the official state deadlines. The final local determinations will reshape the Board of Supervisors and key administrative seats ahead of the general election on November 6, 2026. The certified results will provide clarity on local cannabis tax policies under Measure D and solidify the state-level matchups for the governor’s office and legislative seats.
FAQs
What is the current status of the District 5 supervisor recall in San Benito County?
As of June 6, 2026, proponents of the recall hold a very narrow 9-vote lead over incumbent Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez, with the tally standing at 1,094 to 1,085 votes.
What happens if a local candidate does not secure more than 50% of the vote?
In the San Benito County Board of Supervisors and other local races, if no single candidate achieves more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers advance to the general election on November 6, 2026.
What is the purpose of Measure D on the San Benito County ballot?
Measure D asks voters to consider a revision of the local cannabis tax framework. The latest counts show strong support, with 67.6% voting in favor of the measure.
When will the 2026 California primary election results become official?
Counties must submit their final data to the state by July 3, 2026, allowing the California Secretary of State to officially certify the entire election by July 10, 2026.
