Shimell takes lead in Santa Ana mayoral race as ballot count continues

First-time candidate Dan Shimell moved ahead of incumbent Valerie Amezcua in Santa Ana’s mayoral race, holding a 1,823-vote advantage in Saturday’s election update, according to Voice of OC. Ballot counting remained underway.

The count could bring changes to both the mayor’s office and the council majority in the Orange County city. Three progressive council candidates were also on track to defeat police union-backed opponents, according to Voice of OC.

Shimell had about 45% of the 58,200 votes counted, compared with about 42% for Amezcua, according to Voice of OC. City Commissioner Dwayne Shipp held roughly 13%. The updated tally reversed Amezcua’s initial election-night lead, which the publication described as roughly 13%.

An attorney who moved to Santa Ana in 2020, Shimell received backing from progressive-supported local politicians, OC Action and Chispa. His campaign emphasized accountability, affordability and opposition to immigration enforcement, Voice of OC reported.

Amezcua became the city’s first woman mayor after winning election in 2022. She won reelection in 2024 with roughly 60% of the vote and a margin of about 15,000 votes. The police union spent more than $110,000 supporting her 2026 campaign, while neither Shimell nor Shipp received independent expenditure support, according to Voice of OC.

In the council races, at least two candidates backed by the police union had issued concession statements, including incumbent Phil Bacerra. The publication reported that three progressive candidates remained on course to defeat union-backed opponents and change the council majority.

The election followed scrutiny of city leadership on several fronts. Santa Ana agreed to pay former City Manager Kristine Ridge more than $600,000 to settle a claim alleging Amezcua had created a hostile workplace environment. Investigators hired by the city concluded in 2024 that they could not sustain the allegations against Amezcua, according to Voice of OC.

City leaders also faced scrutiny over police responses to immigration enforcement protests and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for an aquatic center whose pools were not yet open, the publication reported.

The latest tally puts Shimell ahead, but it does not settle the mayoral race. The outcome of the continuing count will determine whether Santa Ana changes mayors alongside a possible shift in council control.