Lookout PM: Pride's grand marshals, Friday's election update, and Watsonville High senior wins state courage award

Welcome to Friday night’s Lookout PM.

Lookout has several exciting events coming up over the next 10 days. Check them out here and click on the link to sign up.

June 6 – Private Vegfest Tasting Tour with Lily Belli: Join us for a special pre-festival exclusive tasting tour experience at Santa Cruz VegFest. Before the crowds arrive, enjoy a guided culinary adventure through some of the festival’s most delicious plant-based offerings, led by Lily Belli.
June 10 – Trivia night with Wallace Baine: Wallace may have retired, but he is back for our 5th annual summer trivia series. Come to Abbott Square in Downtown Santa Cruz on the second Wednesday of each month 6:30 – 8 p.m. this summer, starting June 10! Arrive early to get a drink, some food and save your seat!
June 11 – Business After Hours with the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce: Enjoy a fun evening of networking, community connection and conversation with fellow professionals from across Santa Cruz County. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the Lookout office and meet the team behind the newsroom, as well as hear the story of how Lookout Santa Cruz was built and learn more about its mission to serve the community through local journalism.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Surprised, but honored: First same-sex couple to be married in Santa Cruz County returns as grand marshals for Pride

By Caly Plowman

Gail Groves and Dinah Phillips, the first same-sex couple to be married in Santa Cruz County in June 2008, will lead this year’s Pride festivities alongside Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, who officiated their wedding. In being named for this honor, they bring attention to the importance of LGBTQ+ love being normalized and validated.

Watsonville High senior overcomes tragedy, earns statewide courage award

By Hillary Ojeda

Watsonville High School senior Chris Delgado has transformed childhood trauma into success, earning a statewide courage award and a scholarship as he prepares to attend college. He’s sharing his story in hopes of encouraging other young people to speak up and persevere through adversity.

Santa Cruz County 2026 primary election results in charts: Where things stand after Friday’s update

By Max Chun

Find the results for all local races in Santa Cruz County’s 2026 primary election here. Lookout will continuously update this page as new results come in.

Incumbent Felipe Hernandez continues to trail challenger Tony Nuñez in District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor race

By Tania Ortiz

The early returns in the race for District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor see incumbent Felipe Hernandez trailing challenger Tony Nuñez by a large margin, which comes as a surprise to some.

Santa Cruz mayor: Ryan Coonerty stays in the lead

By Hillary Ojeda

Ryan Coonerty continued to lead in the race for the mayor’s seat against four other candidates after the Santa Cruz County Clerk’s office added 4,687 ballots to the county’s total on Friday afternoon.

Santa Cruz City Council: Newsome, Golder still leading in District 4, 6 races after Friday update

By Max Chun

Incumbents Scott Newsome and Renee Golder stayed leading challengers Hector Marin and Gabriella Noack, respectively, in the race for Santa Cruz City Council Districts 4 and 6 after a Friday update.

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