In today's newscast:
The primary election is over, but there are plenty of votes left to count
Some races have clear frontrunners, or at least a clear top two. But Monterey County Registrar of Voters Gina Martinez says candidates should not get ahead of the counts.
" The only contests where a candidate can feel confident that they've secured their office on election night," she says, " are the contests where it's a candidate running unopposed and there are no qualified write-in candidates."
That’s because about half the ballots cast in primaries are dropped off on Election Day, and it can take days to process them.
Monterey County supervisor likely re-elected
While most races can’t be called yet, in Monterey County, District 2 Supervisor Glenn Church appears headed for victory. Speaking to KAZU ahead of the election, he said his first term has been very eventful.
" I would've preferred that it would've been a little softer ride these last three-plus years than having the community of Pájaro flood and the battery fire," he said, referring to the levee breach in 2023 and the Vistra battery storage plant fire in 2025. "But I think I and my staff here in my office have handled this really well and that's the reaction we receive from the community."
Church has a sizable lead over his challenger, Ramon Gomez.
Sixth grade teacher tries to model civic engagement
Voter Tori Chin lives in Seaside and teaches in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.
“ We tend to get lost in the—whoever has the most clickbait—which is like, no," she says. "I teach sixth grade, so that's like—that is the TikTok and internet generation, like that's where they're getting their news, which is mildly terrifying.”
As a teacher, Chin tries to emphasize digital citizenship and the importance of voting.
KAZU is updating local results here.
