This story was updated Tuesday night at 9:45pm
Early returns posted shortly after polls closed Tuesday showed Tony Nuñez holding a substantial lead over incumbent Felipe Hernandez in the race for the District 4 seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.
The results, posted about 9:45pm showed Nuñez had received just over 50% of the vote, just enough to carry him to an outright victory over Hernandez, who had received 917 votes, or just under 33.9%.
Elias Gonzales trailed with 385 votes, or 14.9%.
If Nuñez’s share stays above 50%, he will avoid a November runoff election.
“There’s still a lot to be determined,” Nuñez said. “Regardless of that, it looks like we’re, at the very least, going to November and getting to a runoff election.”
Still, Nuñez said a victory in the June primary would be unusual.
“A sitting incumbent to be unseated in the June primary — I can’t remember when this has ever happened,” he said. “And that’s not because of me, it’s because of everyone in this room.”
At a watch party at Slice Project Pizzeria on Main Street, Nuñez thanked about two dozen supporters, emphasizing that the gathering was less about the results and more about recognizing the people who helped the campaign.
“Tonight is not about results,” he said. “Tonight is not about the actual election, but it’s just for me to thank supporters.”
Nuñez noted that everyone in attendance had “donated, volunteered, provided some sort of support.”
He credited volunteers and donors for the campaign’s success so far, saying, “Everyone walked, everyone talked, everyone donated, volunteered, endorsed. Thank you so much for everything.”
Framing the campaign around leadership for South County communities, Nuñez said supporters shared a vision that “Watsonville, Pajaro Valley, South County deserves the leadership that’s going to show up, that’s going to work hard, and that’s going to deliver.”
Go Tony!!!!!