Early Returns Show Leads in California County Supervisor Races
Ricardo Valencia and Joanna Paun hold early leads in separate supervisor races for Santa Barbara and Sonoma counties following November 4 elections.
Early election returns on November 4, 2026, show Ricardo Valencia leading the race for the Santa Barbara County Fifth District supervisor seat. Valencia, a high school teacher and school board member, held 51.0% of the vote compared to 48.4% for Maribel Aguilera, based on 6,421 of 32,048 ballots cast. The candidates are competing to succeed retiring Supervisor Steve Lavagnino. While both prioritized affordable housing, Valencia focused on state and federal partnerships and protecting immigrant families from ICE, whereas Aguilera advocated for reducing bureaucratic permitting barriers.
In Sonoma County, Petaluma City Schools trustee Joanna Paun holds a significant early lead in the 2nd District supervisor race. Paun led Cotati mayor Sylvia Lemus 61.9% to 38.1% with 15,584 of 67,799 registered votes counted. The winner will succeed David Rabbitt and will be the first Black woman or first Latina to represent the district, helping establish a female majority on the five-member Board of Supervisors. Paun entered the race with labor endorsements, while Lemus was supported by Rabbitt and agriculture interests.
Election offices in both counties continue to count mail-in and in-person ballots. Santa Barbara County expects final certified results by December 3, while Sonoma County officials plan further updates on Thursday.
