ENCINITAS — Challenger Rimga Viskanta moved ahead of incumbent Bruce Ehlers in the Encinitas mayoral race in updated preliminary returns, reversing a narrow deficit as several North County contests remained separated by fewer than 100 votes.
Viskanta led Ehlers by 73 votes, with 10,373 votes, or 50.18%, to his 10,300 votes, or 49.82%, according to updated results from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.
The shift marked a reversal from the registrar’s 2:51 a.m. Nov. 4 update, when Ehlers led by 27 votes. Between the two counts, Viskanta added 621 votes, and Ehlers gained 521, producing a 100-vote swing in her favor.
The early results are unofficial, and the county Registrar of Voters estimates that about 475,000 ballots remain uncounted as of 11 a.m. on Nov. 6.
Other close contests included the San Marcos mayoral and District 2 council races, Encinitas District 3 and Vista District 1. All results remained unofficial, with the registrar estimating 475,000 ballots outstanding countywide and scheduling its next update for Nov. 6 by 6 p.m.
In San Marcos, Sharon Jenkins widened her mayoral lead over Mike Sannella from 36 votes to 232. Jenkins had 11,683 votes, or 50.50%, compared with Sannella’s 11,451 votes, or 49.50%.
The city’s District 2 council race remained tighter. Justin Matsushita led Lindsey Smith by 79 votes, up from an eight-vote advantage in the early Nov. 4 returns. Matsushita had 3,473 votes, or 50.58%, to Smith’s 3,394 votes, or 49.42%.
In San Marcos District 1, Maria Nuñez held a larger advantage over Thomas Gabriele, with 2,061 votes, or 70.32%, to his 870 votes, or 29.68%.
Encinitas’ District 3 council contest also remained close, with Arielle Golden leading Ed Sprague by 96 votes, compared with 73 in the earlier count. Golden had 2,561 votes, or 50.96%, while Sprague had 2,465 votes, or 49.04%.
In District 4, Brad Lefkowits led Marco San Antonio by 803 votes, with 3,175 votes, or 57.24%, to San Antonio’s 2,372 votes, or 42.76%.
Vista Councilmember Corinna Contreras maintained a narrow lead over Frank Nunez in District 1. Contreras had 1,336 votes, or 46.63%, to Nunez’s 1,281 votes, or 44.71%, a 55-vote margin. Yolanda Kenniston Alvarez had 248 votes, or 8.66%. Contreras had led Nunez by 29 votes in the earlier returns.
Vista’s mayoral race also remained competitive, with Joe Green ahead of Kenneth Zuniga by 402 votes. Green had 10,287 votes, or 51%, to Zuniga’s 9,885 votes, or 49%. In District 4, Dan O’Donnell led Josh Davis with 72.19%.
In Escondido District 2, Anthony DiMartino increased his lead over incumbent Joe Garcia from 213 votes to 277. DiMartino had 5,278 votes, or 51.35%, compared with Garcia’s 5,001 votes, or 48.65%.
Escondido Mayor Dane White led Elias Velazquez by 1,221 votes, with 15,768 votes, or 52.01%, to Velazquez’s 14,547 votes, or 47.99%. Vanessa Valenzuela led Tanner Horsley in District 1 with 64.23%.
In Oceanside District 2, Richard Robinson led a five-candidate field with 3,918 votes, or 41.04%, followed by Emily Gonzales with 3,255 votes, or 34.09%. The two were separated by 663 votes. Ricky James, Oscarin Ortega and Perry Alvarez followed.
Eric Joyce led Michael Cline in Oceanside District 1 with 5,533 votes, or 60.29%, to Cline’s 3,644 votes, or 39.71%.
Carlsbad’s council races showed wider margins. Melanie Burkholder led Nate Larson in District 1 with 56.55%, while Priya Bhat-Patel led Wayland T. Lim in District 3 with 70.49%. Mayor Keith Blackburn led the four-candidate mayoral field with 72.49%.
In Del Mar’s at-large council contest, Meghan Spieker and Jas Grewal held the top two positions with 971 and 779 votes, respectively. Terry Gaasterland followed with 585 votes, 194 behind Grewal, while Jeff Sturgis had 558.
The outstanding ballot estimate applies countywide. The Registrar of Voters did not specify how many ballots remain in each local contest.
