Luis Esparza Pulls Ahead of Thomas Adams in Race for Judge Seat in Updated Results

Esparza Takes the Lead After Being Behind on Election Night

Local attorney Luis Esparza has edged ahead of incumbent Judge Thomas Adams in the closely watched race for Santa Barbara County Superior Court, according to updated election results released Thursday by the County Elections Office.

The updated tally, which includes approximately 10,000 additional ballots since Tuesday night's initial count, shows Esparza with 50.0% of the vote compared to Adams' 49.7%—a margin of just 230 votes. The shift marks the first time Adams, 85, has trailed in what the Santa Barbara Independent described as "an extremely rare race" for the judicial seat.

Election night results from Noozhawk showed Adams ahead with 50.4% to Esparza's 49.3% in the first contested Superior Court election in Santa Barbara County since 2008.

A Historic Challenge to an Incumbent Judge

The judicial contest has drawn significant attention as contested Superior Court races are rare in California. As Ballotpedia notes, judges typically run unopposed and are "automatically re-elected without appearing on the ballot," as Adams was in 2014.

Adams, appointed to the bench by Governor Jerry Brown in 1982, has presided over tens of thousands of cases during his 44-year judicial career. However, he has faced recent scrutiny, including a public admonishment in 2024 from the Commission on Judicial Performance over courtroom behavior.

Esparza, 46, has positioned his campaign around bringing "new blood" to an aging judiciary and better representing the county's demographics. The attorney, who operates a private practice and previously ran unsuccessfully for Santa Barbara City Council, emphasized in his campaign that "every person who enters a courtroom deserves to be heard with patience, treated with dignity, and given a fair and timely day in court."

Outstanding Ballots Could Still Determine the Winner

With significant ballots still being processed, the outcome remains uncertain. Santa Barbara County has counted 77,037 ballots as of Thursday and estimates 34,188 unprocessed ballots remain, according to Noozhawk's reporting.

Under California election law, if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two candidates advance to a November runoff. However, given that both candidates are currently hovering around the 50% threshold with only two names on the ballot, the June primary will likely determine the winner.

The Elections Office will release the next batch of updated results on Monday afternoon, with final certification required by July 2.

What This Means for Santa Barbara Courts

The close contest reflects broader questions about judicial representation and generational change in Santa Barbara's court system. The Independent reported that two other judges are in their eighties, with three more approaching retirement age.

Whichever candidate ultimately prevails will serve a six-year term beginning in January 2027, handling cases ranging from family law to criminal matters in one of the county's busiest court departments.

Other closely watched county races also saw shifts in Thursday's updated results, with challenger Kyle Slattery expanding his lead over incumbent Auditor-Controller Betsy Schaffer, and newcomer Melinda Greene strengthening her advantage against longtime Clerk-Recorder-Assessor Joe Holland.