June 2026 Primary Election Results

Polls Close in Santa Barbara's June Primary Election

Santa Barbara County voters wrapped up voting Tuesday evening in the June 2026 statewide primary election, with initial results expected shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. The Santa Barbara Independent reported that its election night coverage would track results throughout the evening for national, state and local races.

Polls closed at 8 p.m., with Santa Barbara County's 147 precincts reporting zero results as of the initial 8:16 p.m. update, according to the Independent's live election page.

Low Turnout Expected Despite Major Races

Early indicators suggested Santa Barbara County was heading toward a relatively low-turnout election. As of Thursday evening, only 15% of mailed ballots had been returned, up from 11% earlier in the week, according to the Independent.

Those numbers represented a concerning trend for election officials. The 2022 primary election saw 39.8% turnout countywide, providing a baseline for comparison.

County election chief Martin Cobos noted there's typically a surge in last-minute ballots in the days immediately prior to elections, leaving room for higher final participation numbers.

Local Measure A2026 Draws Debate Over City Property

Santa Barbara voters faced a significant local decision with Measure A2026, a city charter amendment that would allow the city more flexibility in negotiating long-term contracts and leases for city-owned property.

The measure would amend Charter Section 521 to allow contracts approved by City Council resolution rather than requiring ordinances for all agreements exceeding five years. Currently, all contracts exceeding five years must get City Council approval by ordinance, a requirement that has been part of the city's operation since it was chartered.

If approved, the city would be able to enter into leases as long as 99 years, compared to the current 50-year limit. Supporters argued the change would give tenants more long-term security and incentive to invest in upgrades.

City Council unanimously approved placing the measure on the June ballot and allocated $195,000 from the city's general fund reserve to cover the costs of consolidating it with the statewide primary election.

Gubernatorial Race Features Crowded Field

The statewide ballot featured an unusually large gubernatorial field, with 61 candidates appearing on the ballot. Recent polls showed Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer in a close race with Republican Steve Hilton, with the top two candidates advancing to November regardless of party affiliation.

MAGA Republican Steve Hilton — the FOX News pundit endorsed by Donald Trump — was polling neck-and-neck with Democrat Xavier Becerra, a veteran of multiple elected offices.

Key Local Contests on the Ballot

Santa Barbara County voters also decided contested races for several local offices, including County Supervisor seats in the 2nd and 5th districts. In the 5th District race, progressive Democrat school teacher Ricardo Valencia faced off against Cory Bantilan and Santa Maria City Councilmember Maribel Aguilera.

Turnout in the 5th District historically runs the lowest of all five supervisorial districts, with only 5% participation as of Thursday evening despite three viable and well-funded candidates.

Other contested local races included County Auditor-Controller, Clerk/Recorder/Assessor, and several judicial positions.

California Elections Code requires counties to certify election results by July 2, 2026, giving officials a 30-day period to complete the canvass and verify all ballots.