Sneddon Overtakes Friedman by 296 Votes in the Mayoral Count
Kristen Sneddon moved ahead of Eric Friedman in Tuesday's updated tally from the Santa Barbara County Elections Office, leading 45.95 percent to 44.98 percent. Ballots are still being counted and the race is too close to call.
Kristen Sneddon has moved in front of Eric Friedman in the Santa Barbara mayoral race, according to updated results the Santa Barbara County Elections Office released on Tuesday, November 10. The update puts Sneddon at 45.95 percent and Friedman at 44.98 percent, a margin of 296 votes, in a contest that remains too close to call.
The lead has now changed hands a week after the November 3 election. Friedman finished election night in front, and the preliminary returns posted late that night had him at 46.58 percent, with 9,343 votes, against 44.71 percent for Sneddon. She was still behind as the count continued, trailing by 312 votes in the tally reported last week, before Tuesday's release moved her ahead for the first time.
Both leading candidates sit on the City Council. Sneddon holds the District 4 council seat and gave it up to run for mayor; the field on the November 3 ballot also included Wendy Sims-Moten and Matt Kilrain, who trailed the two leaders in the election night returns, at 5.76 percent and 2.54 percent in the preliminary count.
Ballots are still being counted across the county, and Tuesday's figures are not the final result. The Elections Office releases updated tallies twice a week while the count continues, and the next update is expected on Thursday, November 12, at 3 p.m. With a margin this small, the lead could change again before the count is complete and the result is certified.
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