Election Day results are rolling in. See who’s winning key Sacramento-area races

The Abridged version:

• The polls have closed and county officials have begun releasing early results, showing who’s leading in key Sacramento-area races.
• Abridged by PBS KVIE has you covered with the latest on the local races that matter most, from noteworthy city council races and a competitive county supervisor bout to California’s local congressional races.
• We will update you with the latest results through election night.

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California election officials have released the first batches of results for the November election, with frontrunners emerging in key Sacramento-area races.

The vote-counting process will continue after Election Day, leaving the results unofficial and incomplete for now, with the outcome of some races unclear into the coming days and weeks.

Here are the latest results on the races that matter most to the Sacramento region.

California governor

Xavier Becerra will be California’s next governor, defeating Republican Steve Hilton in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Becerra, a Democrat with decades of experience in public service, stood in contrast to Hilton, a Republican, former Fox News host and political adviser endorsed by President Donald Trump.

The Associated Press called the race soon after after polls closed in California.

U.S. House California District 7

U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui built a strong lead over Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, who has challenged Matsui for her 7th Congressional District seat.

Matsui carried 57.7% of the vote and led by about 20,000 votes as of about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Matsui, a Democrat and longtime member of Congress, ran a contentious race against Vang, the younger and more progressive candidate who campaigned on representing a new generation and on carrying more progressive politics.

The two emerged from the June primary after a brief scare from a dark horse Republican candidate, who rose to second place as ballots continued being counted after Election Day, but fell from contention as Vang took the lead, setting up the November race for Congress.

The candidates traded barbs in person and attacked each other throughout their campaigns, with Matsui calling on local officials to drop their endorsements of Vang due to Vang’s association with controversial political streamer Hasan Piker. The officials did not drop their endorsements, and Piker canvassed for Vang in Sacramento the week before the election.

U.S. House California District 6

Rep. Kevin Kiley conceded the race for the 6th Congressional District to his opponent Richard Pan within an hour of polls closing on election night.

Kiley switched his political affiliation from Republican to independent while choosing to run for District 6, rather than reelection to the District 3 seat he currently holds. The congressional maps shifted dramatically with the passage of Proposition 50, and the new districts — including Kiley’s — were redrawn to flip Republican seats in Congress in favor of Democrats.

Pan, a Democrat and former state senator, emerged from a crowded primary field to face Kiley. A pediatrician, Pan has a track record of public health and vaccine policy in California.

Kiley and Pan talked on KVIE’s Studio Sacramento about their positions on healthcare, immigration and more.

U.S. House California District 4

Challenger Eric Jones was neck-and-neck with longtime Rep. Mike Thompson to represent California’s 4th Congressional District, according to updated results late on election night.

Jones carried 51.7% of the vote, as of about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

Thompson saw District 4, which he has represented in Congress for almost 30 years, change significantly from Prop. 50. The district remains primarily blue but now stretches to include parts of nine counties, including conservative Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties.

Jones, a venture capitalist and political newcomer, campaigned on an anti-establishment platform and on ushering in a younger generation to Congress. His campaign raised millions, including large contributions he made to his own campaign.

California Assembly and Senate

State Assembly and Senate seats representing swaths of the Sacramento region are at stake, although several high-profile lawmakers have relatively easy races for their next term.

The early returns showed apparent victories for some state lawmakers, and the makings of drawn-out fights for reelection through the coming days and weeks for others.

Sacramento County supervisor — District 1

Flojaune “Flo” Cofer expanded on an early lead in the race for the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, putting distance between her challenger, Sacramento City Councilmember Eric Guerra.

Cofer, with just over 52% of the vote, led Guerra by about 1,700 votes, according to Sacramento County results released at about 10 p.m.

Cofer and Guerra are competing to replace longtime Supervisor Phil Serna, who is stepping down after 16 years. Both Democratic candidates have made addressing homelessness a priority, but they have different approaches. Cofer, a public health expert and former chair of Sacramento’s Measure U committee, wants to expand the county’s mental health and substance abuse treatment capacity, make services more accessible and better connect people cycling through jails and other public services with help.

Cofer has also campaigned on bringing a more accessible style of leadership to the board. After narrowly losing the mayoral race in 2024, she has built a grassroots campaign backed by progressive groups and healthcare unions. She led Guerra in the early ballot returns during the June primary.

Guerra is leaning on his 11 years on the City Council, where he’s represented District 6 since 2015. He wants stronger collaboration between the city and county and a more aggressive response to homelessness and behavioral health challenges, including identifying frequent users of emergency services and expanding court-ordered treatment.

Guerra previously chaired the Sacramento County Planning Commission and served as president of the Sacramento State Alumni Association. He has secured endorsements from all five current county supervisors, Sheriff Jim Cooper, local business and labor groups, and dozens of local elected officials.

Yolo County supervisor — District 3

Woodland City Councilmember Mayra Vega, holding about 55% of the votes counted through 10 p.m. election night, leads her opponent Dotty Pritchard in the Yolo County Board of Supervisors District 3 race.

Pritchard and Vega advanced to the November race after a three-way primary that also included former Woodland Mayor Xochitl Rodriguez. The candidates are competing to replace Mary Vixie Sandy, who isn’t seeking reelection. The seat represents parts of Woodland, Bryte and Broderick in West Sacramento.

Pritchard has spent 20 years working in the District 3 supervisor’s office and is running on her experience with county government, with backing from the Yolo County Farm Bureau and business interests. Vega, a current Woodland City Council member and former mayor, brings experience in local government and public health. Both have hit on fiscal responsibility, water, agriculture and housing as priorities, but have drawn support from different political groups and elected officials.

Sacramento region city council races

A number of city council races of significant local interest to parts of the four-county area will be decided in the November election.

The race for District 5 in Rancho Cordova pits Linda Budge, a council member since 2006, against challengers Tegan Mauldin and Lilia Darbinyan, who have ran on shaking up the council and bringing younger leadership to the city.

Budge and Mauldin were deadlocked with 777 votes apiece as of Sacramento County’s 10 p.m. results update. By 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Budge gained a lead of 13 votes.

A contentious Lincoln City Council race developed between Councilmember Holly Andreatta and challenger Christine Colvin Treschuk. Andreatta found herself in controversy as Lincoln police opened an investigation into a confrontation between Andreatta and a local business owner. (Andreatta claims no wrongdoing.)

Andreatta maintained a steady lead, with about 55% of the vote, according to a 10 p.m. update from Placer County.

And city of Roseville officials became entangled in the Roseville City Council race for an open seat when David Nelson accused city officials of working — and spending city time and money — to debunk claims he made about city services. Most of the City Council has endorsed Anne Carpenter, Nelson’s opponent.

Carpenter took a convincing lead on election night. As of an updated vote count at 10 p.m., she held 62% of the vote.

Measure W in Davis — Willowgrove

Early returns showed an outpouring of support for Measure W, which would clear the way for the new Willowgrove housing development in Davis.

Support for the measure led by about 6,000 votes, according to Yolo County election results posted shortly after polls closed, controlling more than 70% of the vote.

Davis voters have another chance to weigh in on a major housing development after rejecting the Village Farms proposal in June. Measure W would allow the Willowgrove project to build 1,250 homes on 232 acres of farmland on the city’s northeastern edge. The project includes at least 250 affordable units, $6.8 million for affordable housing, a community park, bike and pedestrian trails, road improvements and buffers between the project and surrounding agricultural land.

Supporters have emphasized the project’s affordable housing commitments and the years of negotiations behind its design. A simple majority in favor would allow the measure to move forward; a majority of votes against would stop it.

Reporting Intern Annie Biebl contributed to this roundup.