OC primary polls close tonight with three supervisor races in balance

Orange County voters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to cast ballots in a primary that will decide three supervisor seats and possibly whether Democrats retain majority control of the county Board of Supervisors, Voice of OC reported.

The outcome will determine partisan control of the county board in one of California's most evenly divided electorates — where registered Democrats account for 36% of voters and Republicans just under 34%, with non-party voters representing more than 23% of the electorate.

The most contested ground is the North Orange County supervisor seat being vacated by Doug Chaffee, who is terming out. Buena Park Mayor Connor Traut, Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung, Board of Education Trustee Tim Shaw and La Habra Councilwoman Rose Espinoza are among the candidates vying for the open seat, Voice of OC reported.

In a second supervisor race, Democratic Supervisor Katrina Foley faces Republican Assemblywoman Diane Dixon and educator Lucy Vellema. A third contest features Democratic Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, who drew $116,000 in spending against him from the OC Sheriff's Deputies Union ahead of Tuesday's vote, according to Voice of OC.

The county's Treasurer/Tax Collector race is also drawing notice: incumbent Shari Friedenrich faces her first serious challenger in more than a decade in Dana Schultz, her own deputy, Voice of OC reported.

To win the primary outright, a candidate must receive more than 50% of votes cast; any race without a majority winner will advance to a November runoff. All registered voters received mail-in ballots, and in-person voting was available at dozens of county voting centers through the 8 p.m. deadline.

Tuesday's primary results will set the candidates for any November runoffs, with the three supervisor races together determining which party holds the board's majority heading into the second half of 2026.