Supervisor Chuck Washington and state Sen. Richard Roth took the lead in early returns on Tuesday night, as Riverside County continued counting votes for two of its Board of Supervisors seats.
In the 1st District race, Roth held 35.72% of the vote, followed by former Assemblyman Jose Medina with 24.58%. Gracie Torres and Debbie Walsh trail behind with 19.98% and 19.72%, respectively.
Meanwhile, Washington, vying for reelection in the 3rd District, secured 57.46% of the vote, outpacing former Murrieta mayor Jonathan Ingram and former state treasurer candidate Jack Guerrero.
The 1st District seat, opened by Supervisor Kevin Jeffries’ decision not to seek reelection, represents a diverse region including Good Hope and the city of Riverside.
Medina’s campaign emphasized greater oversight of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, which is currently being investigated by the state for civil rights violations.
Roth, who is supported by the union representing sheriff’s deputies, said authorities have an obligation to investigate any departmental misconduct and touted his record in Sacramento.
Torres stressed an intimate knowledge of county changes required, honing in on homelessness and living costs.
Walsh, running as an independent, advocated for a moratorium on new warehouses and the redirection of the homeless population.
The 3rd District, with areas such as Temecula and Murrieta, saw Washington aim for seniority on the board.
Guerrero brought financial acumen to the table, spotlighting the need to tackle budgetary issues like pension debt and escalating costs.
Ingram, a proponent of local jobs and traffic solutions, promised innovative approaches to communitywide challenges such as crime and homelessness.
Having previously held the position of mayor for both Murrieta and Temecula, Washington emphasized the advantage of his experience. He pledged his commitment to initiatives including reducing social worker caseloads and improving hospital operations to allow ambulances faster returns to service.
A simple majority would secure a four-year term for any candidate, but in its absence, the top two contenders will proceed to a November runoff.
More than 183,000 ballots remained to be counted by the end of Tuesday, and the Riverside County election officials plan to post updated results at 6 p.m.
As reported by The Press-Enterprise
