LIVE BLOG: Voting Underway In Santa Clara County

By Loan-Anh Pham | Lorraine Gabbert, San Jose Spotlight

November 8, 2022

After a heated election season in Silicon Valley, voters headed to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in a consequential election that will bring new leadership to San Jose City Hall.

In San Jose, residents will vote for a new mayor to replace Mayor Sam Liccardo. The highly-anticipated — and most expensive — contest of the season pitted a longtime experienced politician, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, against a business-backed newcomer, Councilmember Matt Mahan.

San Jose voters will choose councilmembers in Districts 3, 5 and 7. In the downtown District, 3, college trustee Omar Torres faces off with Irene Smith, a small business owner. In East San Jose’s District 5, two familiar faces are on the ballot — former Assemblymember Nora Campos and education trustee Peter Ortiz. In District 7, Councilmember Maya Esparza is fending off challenger Bien Doan, a San Jose fire captain. San Joseans will also decide on Measure I, which will allow non-citizens to serve on city commissions among other changes.

Countywide, voters will elect a new sheriff for the first time in two decades, choosing between former Palo Alto Police Chief Robert “Bob” Jonsen and retired sheriff’s Capt. Kevin Jensen. San Jose Councilmember Sylvia Arenas and former San Jose Councilmember Johnny Khamis are competing for the District 1 seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

You can find a full list of candidates here and local measures here. Read about all the candidates running here.

Follow San José Spotlight’s LIVE BLOG all day for updates on results, analysis of the top races and more.

8:30 a.m. Early Latino voter turnout trails

Early voter turnout among Latinos is trailing, according to a database that tracks returned ballots across California.

According to PDI, about 20% of Latinos in Santa Clara County have voted so far. That number trails 36% of white voters and 28% Asian voters.

To help get out the vote, a coalition of East San Jose organizations are hosting an Election Day party from noon to 8 p.m. today in front of the Mexican Heritage Plaza on Alum Rock Avenue.

8 a.m. San Jose mayoral candidate Matt Mahan votes

Flanked by his wife and two young children, San Jose mayoral candidate and Councilmember Matt Mahan dropped off his ballot at the Almaden Community Center in San Jose.

“We’re going to be calling voters until the polls close,” Mahan told San José Spotlight. “We’re not taking any votes for granted. We’ll be working the phones all day.”

Mayoral candidate Supervisor Cindy Chavez is expected to cast her vote shortly at the Roosevelt Community Center.

7:30 a.m. Voting begins in Silicon Valley

Santa Clara County officials are anticipating a 55% to 65% voter turnout today.

Michael Borja, a spokesman for the county’s Registrar of Voters, told San José Spotlight the county’s already seen 30% of vote-by-mail ballots returned.

“No hiccups. Everything is running smooth,” Borja said. “We actually had a voter arrive 7 a.m. on the dot.”

While rain is pouring on Election Day, voters are trickling in to case their ballots in person.

Robert Marion Barksdale, 91, was the first voter at the door at 7 a.m. at the Santa Clara County Register of Voters.

He’s been delivering his ballot personally since 1961 and hopes elected officials focus less on political partisanship in favor of making fiscally responsible decisions for residents.

“(Voting) is a requirement as well as a privilege,” Barksdale told San José Spotlight. “If you don’t vote, you don’t get to talk about it.”

Vote centers across Santa Clara County are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Find a drop box for ballots here. Find an in-person vote center here.

After vote centers close, election results will be posted here.

Check back throughout the day for more updates.

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