RandySF
RandySF's JournalMcCann (R), Aguirre (D) locked in for Board of Supervisors District 1 runoff
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The stage for a special runoff election to fill San Diego County’s first supervisorial district has been set — it will be a battle between South Bay mayors.
The San Diego County Registrar of Voters released the last batch of unofficial ballot returns from this month’s race for the seat on Friday, confirming Chula Vista Mayor John McCann and Imperial Beach Paloma Aguirre will be advancing to a head-to-head contest in July.
With the final drop, McCann remained in first place with 42.38% of the vote, a 10-point advantage above Aguirre but well below the threshold needed to win the race outright. The Chula Vista mayor has held about the same margin since the first batch of Election Night results.
Aguirre, who similarly took an early lead over other candidates in the first returns, remained in a comfortable second with 32.33% — more than 15 points ahead of the next closest candidate, San Diego City Councilmember Vivian Moreno.
https://fox5sandiego.com/election/d1-special-election/mccann-aguirre-locked-in-for-board-of-supervisors-district-1-runoff/
Bronx district leader and Board of Elections employee (R) pleads guilty to conspiracy charges
A former NYC Board of Elections employee and Republican district leader for the 81st Assembly District pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday, April 17, to conspiracy to commit extortion and mail fraud — charges that could carry up to 40 years in prison.
“For five years, Nicole Torres abused her position of public trust as an elected official and City employee by taking bribes and falsifying records in connection with the selection and placement of poll workers in the Bronx,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky in a statement. “Today’s plea highlights this Office’s commitment to rooting out corruption in local government, and to protecting the integrity of poll workers and our elections.”
Nicole Torres, 44, allegedly used her position to operate two illegal schemes targeting current and prospective poll workers in the Bronx. The Bronx Times contacted Torres’ attorney but did not receive a response by press time.
Federal prosecutors said Torres demanded illegal payments, typically $150, from Bronx residents seeking poll worker jobs. The payments were either pocketed by Torres or funneled through an unnamed Bronx organization. In some cases, checks or money orders made out to the organization were allegedly altered so that Torres could cash them herself.
https://www.bxtimes.com/bronx-district-leader-and-board-of-elections-employee-pleads-guilty-to-conspiracy-charges/
Boston City Council backs controversial measure to waive special election for District 7
The Boston City Council has emphatically backed a plan to waive a special election for the seat currently held by District 7 Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who is expected to plead guilty to federal corruption charges on May 5 and to resign from the council at an as-yet-unspecified date.
Before it can take effect, the home rule petition — which passed 9-3 on Friday — needs to be signed by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and then passed by the Massachusetts Legislature. Wu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Under Boston’s city charter , Fernandes Anderson’s anticipated resignation would ordinarily trigger a special election if she leaves office more than 180 days before the next regularly scheduled election, or prior to May 8. Because a large number of candidates are vying to replace Fernandes Anderson, that special election would, theoretically, include both a special preliminary election to winnow the field down to two finalists and a special general election to determine the winner.
District 9 Councilor Liz Breadon, who cosponsored the proposal with Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, noted that the winner of that hypothetical special election would have to defend their seat almost immediately in the regular preliminary election scheduled for Sept. 9, which will be followed by a regular general election on Nov. 4.
https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2025-04-18/boston-city-council-backs-controversial-measure-to-waive-special-election-for-district-7
Grand Rapids proposes cutting 15 voting precincts as early voting gains popularity
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – As more voters are casting their ballots early or by mail, Grand Rapids is looking to eliminate some of its Election Day voting precincts.
Grand Rapids City Clerk Joel Hondorp said the move would improve efficiency and accessibility for voters, while also accommodating the loss of several polling locations that are no longer able to operate as voting precincts.
The Grand Rapids Election Commission is proposing that the city eliminate 15 of its precincts, bringing the number of citywide precincts from 74 down to 59. Of the 15 proposed changes, three would happen in the 1st Ward, five would be in the 2nd Ward, and seven would be in the 3rd Ward.
https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2025/04/grand-rapids-proposes-cutting-15-voting-precincts-as-early-voting-gains-popularity.html
Long lines at polling stations as Canadians turn up for advance voting
Canadians reported long lines as polling stations opened for advance voting on Friday.
Advance polls will be open again 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. nationwide Saturday through Monday, with election day set for April 28.
Some voters at polling stations across the country told CBC News early Friday they were waiting upwards of two hours to cast their ballots.
"I vote all the time and I've never had to wait for very long, normally. This is going to be an hour apparently," said James Knight, who was voting at Ottawa City Hall.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/long-lines-advance-voting-1.7514157
Area voters will cast ballots in more than a dozen city and school district elections by May 3.
Area voters will cast ballots in more than a dozen city and school district elections by May 3.
San Antonio voters will select a new mayor from among 27 candidates, and pick council members for all 10 districts, including four districts with no incumbent running.
Early voting runs from Tuesday, April 22 through April 29. On Saturday, May 3, polls will open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Here are some election resources:
KLRN and SA Report’s 2025 Voter Guide
Decision 2025 | San Antonio’s Mayoral Candidates
The San Antonio Report’s 2025 Voter Guide
Polling locations
Bexar County Elections information
https://www.klrn.org/blogs/station-news/election-2025-guides-and-resources/
Dem Elections Commission Chair threatens to remove GOP member for addressing topic not on agenda
Dem Elections Commission Chair Ann Jacobs threatened to remove GOP member Bob Spindell from a hearing when he spoke about Milwaukee polling sites running out of ballots in April, even though the topic wasn’t on the agenda.
During Thursday's hearing, Jacobs presented an update on the commission’s review of Madison’s failure to count 193 absentee ballots received in the November election. Spindell asked to speak and praised former Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl for her years of service.
He then began reading from prepared remarks that an “even more serious problem is in the city of Milwaukee” where a half-dozen polling sites ran out of ballots April 1, leading to delays. Jacobs interjected as Spindell continued reading, saying his comments were out of order because the subject wasn’t on the agenda.
Undeterred, Spindell kept reading from a statement saying voters “waited hours” as Jacobs talked over him, obscuring his remarks as the exchange escalated.
https://pro.stateaffairs.com/wi/elections/dem-elections-commission-chair-threatens-to-remove-gop-member-for-addressing-topic-not-on-agenda
Cameron County multipurpose arena back on the ballot for May election
For the upcoming May election, voters in Cameron County will be deciding on a multipurpose arena.
It's a proposal that's been brought before voters twice. This is the third time voters will be seeing this proposed arena on the ballot.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino says citizens are asking for the arena to be put back on the ballot.
On November 2021 is when the arena was first on the ballot and lost by 66 votes. It was put back on the ballot in May 2022 and then the arena lost by 212 votes.
https://www.krgv.com/news/cameron-county-multipurpose-arena-back-on-the-ballot-for-may-election/
OK School Standards with 2020 election theories "going to take effect"
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma lawmakers made it clear on Thursday that the current Social Studies Standards submitted will take effect. One board member said Friday that lawmakers should send them back.
There is still a deadline for action to be taken, but many republican lawmakers said Thursday that it seems like it will be put in place.
For the past few weeks, lawmakers and others have sounded the alarm that they said there have been issues with the newly revised standards, including having students look into discrepancies with the 2020 presidential election.
“The current submission is going to take effect,” said Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton on Thursday during his weekly media availability. He said that the board can come back next year to revise them if they like.
https://kfor.com/news/oklahoma-education/ok-school-standards-with-2020-election-theories-going-to-take-effect/
San Jose District 3 special election heads to recount
Santa Clara County elections appear to be cursed — they can’t seem to avoid recounts for too-close-to-call races.
The special election to replace the disgraced former District 3 San Jose councilmember Omar Torres is headed for a recount on April 24. The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters will only have four days to certify the election and confirm the number of votes for the top-two vote getters, with two candidates in a tight race for second place before the June 24 runoff.
As of 3:37 p.m. Friday, Gabby Chavez-Lopez, executive director of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, still holds first place with 2,710 votes while Planning Commission Chair Anthony Tordillos is in second place with 2,005 votes. Matthew Quevedo, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, is trailing in third by just five votes with a total of 2,000. The narrow margins between second and third place have triggered the automatic recount under county elections law.
Tordillos hasn’t changed his tune and feels good about the outcome.
https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-district-3-special-election-too-tight-to-call-triggers-recount/
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