Sacramento County elections officials released new numbers Tuesday. The numbers gave voters new insight into how the race for Sacramento mayor and the District 4 city council seat may turn out. It is, however, still too close to call. According to Sacramento County, roughly 239,000 ballots have been counted so far and there are nearly 84,000 ballots left. A spokesperson said they do not differentiate how many of those ballots were cast in city races specifically.“We’re still counting ballots for mayoral race,” said Ken Casparis, speaking on behalf of Sacramento County Tuesday afternoon. On Tuesday afternoon, elections workers continued to process ballots. The Registrar of Voters told KCRA 3 she was pleased with the progress so far and the efficiency shown by their team, but that no races would be called until canvassing was complete.“We’ve got to get them through tabulation,” Casparis said on behalf of the registrar. “They’re almost as busy now as they were on Election Day.”With so many ballots left to count, the race for Sacramento mayor is one of the races still too close to call.Dr. Flo Cofer is now leading with 26% of the vote, according to Tuesday’s numbers. Dr. Richard Pan is second, but he’s only 155 votes ahead of Kevin McCarty. Steve Hansen is in fourth, but only 318 votes separate him from second. Cofer released a statement to KCRA 3 Tuesday night, reading:”We still have many votes to count, but I’m heartened to see the latest update. Sacramento wants new leadership with solutions for safer streets, protection from climate change, and a roof over every resident’s head. More is possible for our great city, and we’re ready to fight for working Sacramentans to make that a reality.”Pan’s campaign said they were continuing to keep a close eye on updates; Hansen’s campaign thanked supporters for kind words and encouraged them to stay patient. KCRA 3 reached out to McCarty’s team but did not hear back.“There’s a lot still to be decided and there’s no clear winner yet,” said Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data, Inc.Political Data Inc. is an election data company that provides voting insight to campaigns, institutions, and researchers, Mitchell explained. According to Mitchell, there are still 35,000 votes to be counted in the mayoral race but that Tuesday’s update all but assured Cofer would be on the runoff ballot come November.“I think when we look back at the conclusion of this mayoral primary, we’ll look at today’s update as the day we really did know that Flo Cofer was going to be one of the two that went into the general election,” Mitchell said. “She’s essentially, I think, punched her ticket through to November.”Another close race Mitchell said he’s watching is the race for District 4 between incumbent Katie Valenzuela and challenger Phil Pluckebaum. Mitchell estimated there are still roughly 4,600 ballots left to be counted in that race. Elections data show Pluckebaum with 54% of the vote and Valenzuela with nearly 43%.“We just appreciate everybody’s patience while we work through it and we’ll have the results as soon as we can,” Casparis said.Officials have until April 2 to certify results.
Sacramento County elections officials released new numbers Tuesday.
The numbers gave voters new insight into how the race for Sacramento mayor and the District 4 city council seat may turn out. It is, however, still too close to call.
According to Sacramento County, roughly 239,000 ballots have been counted so far and there are nearly 84,000 ballots left. A spokesperson said they do not differentiate how many of those ballots were cast in city races specifically.
“We’re still counting ballots for mayoral race,” said Ken Casparis, speaking on behalf of Sacramento County Tuesday afternoon.
On Tuesday afternoon, elections workers continued to process ballots. The Registrar of Voters told KCRA 3 she was pleased with the progress so far and the efficiency shown by their team, but that no races would be called until canvassing was complete.
“We’ve got to get them through tabulation,” Casparis said on behalf of the registrar. “They’re almost as busy now as they were on Election Day.”
With so many ballots left to count, the race for Sacramento mayor is one of the races still too close to call.
Dr. Flo Cofer is now leading with 26% of the vote, according to Tuesday’s numbers. Dr. Richard Pan is second, but he’s only 155 votes ahead of Kevin McCarty. Steve Hansen is in fourth, but only 318 votes separate him from second.
Cofer released a statement to KCRA 3 Tuesday night, reading:
“We still have many votes to count, but I’m heartened to see the latest update. Sacramento wants new leadership with solutions for safer streets, protection from climate change, and a roof over every resident’s head. More is possible for our great city, and we’re ready to fight for working Sacramentans to make that a reality.”
Pan’s campaign said they were continuing to keep a close eye on updates; Hansen’s campaign thanked supporters for kind words and encouraged them to stay patient. KCRA 3 reached out to McCarty’s team but did not hear back.
“There’s a lot still to be decided and there’s no clear winner yet,” said Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data, Inc.
Political Data Inc. is an election data company that provides voting insight to campaigns, institutions, and researchers, Mitchell explained. According to Mitchell, there are still 35,000 votes to be counted in the mayoral race but that Tuesday’s update all but assured Cofer would be on the runoff ballot come November.
“I think when we look back at the conclusion of this mayoral primary, we’ll look at today’s update as the day we really did know that Flo Cofer was going to be one of the two that went into the general election,” Mitchell said. “She’s essentially, I think, punched her ticket through to November.”
Another close race Mitchell said he’s watching is the race for District 4 between incumbent Katie Valenzuela and challenger Phil Pluckebaum. Mitchell estimated there are still roughly 4,600 ballots left to be counted in that race.
Elections data show Pluckebaum with 54% of the vote and Valenzuela with nearly 43%.
“We just appreciate everybody’s patience while we work through it and we’ll have the results as soon as we can,” Casparis said.
Officials have until April 2 to certify results.
