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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County 2026 general election in charts: Where we stand after the final tally of election night

By Max Chun

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.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz mayor: Coonerty still leads, but Chen Mills gaining ground

By Max Chun

Former mayor and longtime local politician Ryan Coonerty maintained his lead over Ami Chen Mills through the final vote tally of Election Night, but Chen Mills consistently made gains throughout the evening.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County Jail expands free video visits for families amid increased ICE activity

By Tania Ortiz

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is expanding its free video visits for people in the county jail for the next 30 days amid increased enforcement activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the area.

Credit: Natasha Leverett / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County business: Seymour Center’s whale skeleton returns; Dungeness crab season delayed again

By Jessica M. Pasko

In her weekly roundup of Santa Cruz County business headlines, Jessica M. Pasko notes a milestone for the Westside’s beloved Ms. Blue, another delayed start for commercial Dungeness crab season, a boom in downtown Santa Cruz and plenty more names, numbers and dates to know.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Watsonville City Council: Acosta maintains lead in District 7, while Zuniga pulls ahead in District 5

By Tania Ortiz

In the contested races for the Watsonville City Council, agricultural manager Ed Acosta maintained his early lead against former city councilmember Nancy Bilicich in District 7, while political newcomer Angel Zuniga pulled ahead of incumbent Casey Clark in the race for the District 5 seat.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Scotts Valley City Council: Wimp, Zeller take early lead after Election Day

By Max Chun

Incumbent Greg Wimp and new candidate Michael Zeller jumped out to an early lead in the three-person race for two seats on Scotts Valley’s City Council.

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Best of Santa Cruz County events, October 31-November 1

Here are some events you may be interested in this weekend:

Saturday, Oct. 31

Sunday, Nov. 1

Add an event to our calendar

Max Chun is the general-assignment correspondent at Lookout Santa Cruz. Max’s position has pulled him in many different directions, seeing him cover development, COVID, the opioid crisis, labor, courts...