Incumbents lead in Vista, San Marcos council races

REGION — City Council incumbents in two North County cities are holding leads in their respective races as early election results continue to come in. 

As of Wednesday morning, Vista City Councilmember Katie Melendez has received 52.90% of the vote compared to challenger and business owner Denisse Barragan in the competitive District 3 race, encompassing Breeze Hill, West Vista Village, Melrose and Grapevine.

With 47.10%, Barragan currently trails more than five percentage points behind Melendez, who is seeking her second council term and a continued Democrat majority on the council. 

In San Marcos, incumbent District 4 City Councilmember Ed Musgrove holds a decisive lead with 65.49% of the vote over challenger Natasha Zander Hilmes, currently at 34.51%. Musgrove is running for a second term representing northern San Marcos, including Richland, Santa Fe Hills, and Palomar College.

Other council races in Vista and San Marcos are battles between newcomers, with results currently showing strong leads of upwards of 15 percentage points.  

In Vista’s race for the District 2 seat, representing the Vista Civic Center, Vista Valley, and the Main Street area of downtown Vista, business owner Jeffrey Fox holds 64.80% of the vote for a decisive lead over opponent Anthony White, a Marine veteran and activist. 

Current District 2 Councilmember Joe Green will step down from his seat after eight years on the council. 

In the San Marcos City Council District 3 race, attorney Danielle LeBlang leads by approximately 15 percentage points over opponent Alan Geraci, also an attorney, with 57.37% compared to Geraci’s 42.63%. 

With this lead, LeBlang appears primed to take the seat currently held by Sharon Jenkins, who has termed out after serving on the council for 12 years and represents Cal State San Marcos, North City, and the Creek District. 

Approximately 590,000 votes remain to be counted in San Diego County. The next round of updated results is expected by 6 p.m. on Thursday. County results can be found at sdvote.com, and state results can be found at electionresults.sos.ca.gov.

San Diego County election results will be certified by Dec. 5, while state-level results will be certified by Dec. 13.