Election season, when Santa Cruz County decides which direction it wishes to take, poses many questions and provides many answers. The March 5 primary was no different.
March 5 primary 2024
Coverage of the March 5, 2024, primary election.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Here’s what the Santa Cruz city election results say about growth, labor, the unhoused and door hangers
Lookout politics columnist Mike Rotkin offers his read on the Santa Cruz city elections and the slate of pragmatic candidates who won.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Will we vote from a place of light and empowerment or a place of darkness and fear?
In a letter to the editor, one of the leaders of Measure M writes about her hopes for what the Santa Cruz ballot initiative could accomplish.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
In the Public Interest: The ‘death knell’ of progressive electoral politics in Santa Cruz?
Christopher Neely digs into Santa Cruz politics and policy.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Election trends: Have we heard the ‘death knell’ of progressive electoral politics in the city of Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz is still blue, but the veneer of the deep blue, Bernie Sanders-backing city seems to be fading, at least on the local dais, where all of the leading candidates represent the moderate foils to their more progressive left opponents.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
The votes are in: Santa Cruz wants growth. But why does it now take so long to count ballots?
Lookout politics columnist Mike Rotkin weighs in on what the early election results say about Santa Cruz County. For him, one message is clear: “Don’t do anything that stands in the way of constructing more housing in Santa Cruz.” He also looks at why it’s taking so long to get full results.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Prop 1 — Gavin Newsom’s mental health plan — holds slim lead as count continues
As of Friday afternoon, Prop 1 was ahead by the narrowest of margins – around 20,000 votes out of nearly 4.4 million votes counted. The initiative, which needs a simple majority to pass, would fund new mental health treatment facilities.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
‘Crossing our fingers’: Watsonville hospital leaders eye slim lead on bond measure as vote count continues
Watsonville Community Hospital leaders say they’re holding their breath as they wait for the final votes to be counted for Measure N, the $116 million bond measure in Tuesday’s election. The approval rate was 68.15% heading into Friday’s vote update from the Santa Cruz County Clerk.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Electoral limbo is exactly where Santa Cruz County officials and candidates expected to be
Until Friday, when the county clerk expects to add another 10,000 to 15,000 votes to the countywide tally, no race in Santa Cruz County is safe enough to call.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
With no more vote counts expected until Friday, here’s where Santa Cruz City Council races stand
Friday’s vote count is likely to provide a better picture of where Santa Cruz City Council candidates will end up in their races for office. As they eagerly await that round of results, many remained hopeful that the next round will reaffirm their current standing — or shift things in their favor.