Santa Ana mayor’s lead shrinks to 140 votes as council majority may shift

Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua’s lead over challenger Dan Shimell narrowed to 140 votes in Friday evening’s election update, leaving the police-union-backed incumbent’s reelection bid unresolved, according to Voice of OC. Progressive-backed candidates also were on track to change the City Council majority.

The unfinished count leaves both the mayor’s office and the council’s governing majority in question in the Orange County city. The election comes amid scrutiny of police-union influence and demands for accountability over arrests and the city’s response to immigration enforcement, Voice of OC reported.

Amezcua’s advantage had fallen from roughly 4,000 votes on election night, according to Voice of OC. Friday’s update showed her with about 43.4% of the vote and Shimell, an attorney, with 43.15%. The results were not final.

City Commissioner Dwayne Shipp, the third mayoral candidate, received about 13% of nearly 50,900 votes counted. He conceded in an Instagram post Wednesday morning, the publication reported. Neither Shipp nor Shimell received independent expenditure support, though Chispa endorsed Shimell.

The close count contrasts with Amezcua’s 2024 reelection, when she took nearly 60% of the vote and defeated Ben Vazquez by about 15,000 votes. Amezcua was the first woman elected mayor of Santa Ana, according to Voice of OC.

In the council contests, California Working Families Party, Chispa and OC Action together spent more than $91,000 backing Vazquez, Sandra De Anda and Isuri Ramos. Voice of OC reported that the three progressive-backed candidates were on track to shift the council majority.

As of Nov. 2, the police union had spent nearly $270,000 supporting Amezcua and council candidates Phil Bacerra, Giovanni Chavez and Selica Diaz, according to the publication. It also spent about $58,000 opposing Vazquez and Ramos.

The campaign unfolded as city officials faced questions about an aquatic-center ribbon cutting held weeks before the election even though its pools remained closed. Voice of OC also described calls for police accountability following the violent arrest of resident Florentino Lopez and the arrests of two immigrant advocates who were observing ICE agents.

Shimell attributed his support to residents’ concerns about immigration, affordability and public safety, including police brutality, according to Voice of OC. Whether that support would be enough to unseat Amezcua remained unresolved in Friday evening’s count.