Santa Clara Mayor: Hardy Leads Watanabe by 465 Votes in Updated County Count

UPDATED NOVEMBER 5 — COUNTY RETURNS THROUGH NOVEMBER 4, 7:28 P.M. The KQED/Santa Clara County vote update lists Karen Hardy 3,874 votes (23.5%), Kathy Watanabe 3,409 (20.7%) and David Kertes 3,104 (18.8%) among the mayoral candidates. Hardy’s current reported lead over Watanabe is 465 votes. In City Council District 2, the later tally shows Kimberley Williams 1,440 and Yvonne Inciarte 1,003. No election has been certified. Read the new Measure C public-works election result as a separate ballot question. The original November 3 figures are preserved below as an older snapshot.

Earlier election-night report

SANTA CLARA — November 4, 2026. Santa Clara’s mayoral ballot is a multi-candidate contest, and no official winner has yet been certified. The November 3 late-night tally puts Karen Hardy first with 3,649 votes (23.6%), followed by Kathy Watanabe with 3,183 (20.6%) and David Kertes with 2,924 (18.9%). Other candidates also appear on the ballot.

Why a 23.6% share is not a majority

The early leader has fewer than one in four of the votes for mayor reported in the cited snapshot. That is a plurality lead, not a majority vote. Electoral rules and the completion of counting determine the outcome; the number alone should not be described as a confirmed win.

Two separate council races

In Council District 2, Kimberley Williams leads Yvonne Inciarte by 1,332 votes to 947. In District 3, Eric Crutchlow leads Kyle Madej by 1,223 to 998. Each elects a representative for a particular area, whereas the mayoral contest covers the municipality.

As the registrar continues processing eligible ballots, these totals may rise or change order. Readers should monitor subsequent county releases rather than treat a November 3 snapshot as certified.

Results source: KQED’s Santa Clara County election tables, reporting figures from county election offices, updated November 3, 2026 at approximately 11:30 p.m. Pacific. Future county canvass updates can change these figures. Statewide overview: California58 Elections 2026.

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