Santa Clara Measure C: Public Works Proposal Draws 12,122 Yes Votes in First Results

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA — NOVEMBER 5, 2026. A city ballot measure concerning public works received a sizeable early Yes vote in Santa Clara’s November 3 election. Measure C has 12,122 Yes votes (74.4%) and 4,159 No (25.5%) in the Santa Clara County reporting update from 7:28 p.m. November 4. The counted difference is 7,963 votes. These figures remain preliminary and should not be described as a certified city action.

Measure C, not a city council seat

The county election feed identifies Measure C as a City of Santa Clara public-works question with a majority-approval requirement. Specific legal changes, financing and implementation steps must be checked against the official voter information and ordinance text before claiming the measure authorizes a particular project or expenditure. A 74.4% preliminary Yes share describes the vote on the measure, not necessarily support for any one individual public-works proposal.

How to read the totals

The source lists 16,281 valid choices (Yes plus No). Percentages use those valid votes rather than Santa Clara’s registered-voter population. Other people may have voted in the general election but left this question unanswered. Election administrators still need to count qualifying additional mail and other ballots, which can adjust each side’s final total.

The mayoral election is separate

Santa Clara voters also selected a mayor from a crowded field. In the county’s Wednesday results, Karen Hardy has 3,874 votes, Kathy Watanabe 3,409, and David Kertes 3,104 among the candidates. See California58’s mayoral and council election report. It would be incorrect to take 12,122 Yes votes on public works and apply them to a mayoral candidate or a council district.

District council positions also differ

The early City Council District 2 vote had Kimberley Williams 1,440 against Yvonne Inciarte 1,003. Only eligible voters in that particular council district choose its representative. Results in one council district are not a vote total for the whole city.

What happens next

The Registrar will continue reviewing valid eligible mail and provisional ballots during the canvass. California law requires county final results by December 3 and statewide certification by December 11. For the full legal Measure C text and later results, use the Santa Clara County Registrar.

Primary source: KQED Santa Clara County election results, updated November 4, 7:28 p.m. PT; checked November 5. Unofficial.

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