Find the results for all local races in Santa Cruz County’s 2026 general election here. Lookout will update this page as new results come in.
Capitola & Soquel
Posted inEducation
Santa Cruz County school board candidates declare victory, concede in 2026 election
Candidates in contested school board races across Santa Cruz County are starting to declare victory or concede while ballots are still being counted. Others are waiting until county officials certify the results, which could happen as soon as Nov. 25.
Posted inEducation
Soquel Union Elementary school board: Incumbent Ariel Gray likely to keep seat against Andrea Locke
Incumbent Ariel Gray appears likely to keep her seat against newcomer Andrea Locke in the race for the trustee Area 6 seat on the Soquel Union Elementary governing board.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Del Favero, Welch, Clarke win three open seats in Capitola City Council race
First-time candidates Tory Del Favero and TJ Welch and incumbent Joe Clarke have secured the three open seats on Capitola’s city council.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County issues evacuation warning for low-lying coastal areas from Capitola Village to Aptos as surf builds
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning Friday afternoon for low-lying coastal neighborhoods including Capitola Village and the Rio Del Mar area of Aptos. Large waves could reach homes, flood properties and make roads impassable.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County braces for heavy rain, dangerous surf as waves could reach 30 feet
It’s looking like an indoor weekend for Santa Cruz County residents, with rain in the forecast and coastal hazard warnings issued.
Posted inLatest News
Capitola Beach closed due to E. coli outbreak that has sickened nine Bay Area children
Capitola Beach is temporarily closed as public health officials investigate an E. coli outbreak that has sickened nine children across the Bay Area, including four Santa Cruz County residents. Public health officials are investigating a “potentially serious strain” of the bacteria and have conducted environmental testing around Soquel Creek and Capitola Beach.
Posted inFood & Drink
The best things I ate and drank in Santa Cruz County in October
October’s standout dishes in Santa Cruz County included bara chirashi sushi on the Westside of Santa Cruz, smoky St. Louis pork ribs in Live Oak, a spicy fried chicken sandwich in downtown Watsonville and roasted duck larb in Capitola. Though spanning Japanese, American and Thai cuisines, each dish showcases the care, skill and passion that make eating out special.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lookout tasted 11 pumpkin pies in Santa Cruz County. These two are the best.
Lookout staffers taste-tested pumpkin pies from 11 Santa Cruz County bakeries and grocery stores, evaluating appearance, crust, filling and flavor to find the best options for Thanksgiving. In the end, two pies — one from a bakery and one available at many markets — stood apart.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
How many ballots are left to count in Santa Cruz County? Here’s the latest
The Santa Cruz County Elections Department says the next release of results will be Tuesday at 4 p.m. With about 8,500 ballots still to be processed, County Clerk Tricia Webber hopes to add 4,900 to 5,000 votes to the county total.
