San Luis voters will have a new mayor in 2027 and in early results Tuesday night former City Council Member Matias Rosales appears to be headed for that office.
As of 9:30 p.m. Rosales had 52 percent of the vote while James Allen Jr. had 48 percent.
Current San Luis Mayor Nieves Riedel decided not to run for reelection but instead ran for the city council in the primary. She did not advance to the general election signaling that San Luis voters want a change.
In another closely watched local race, Democratic state Rep. Mariana Sandoval appears headed to reelection in Legislative District 23, which includes part of Yuma County. Sandoval has 32 percent of the vote. Democratic candidate Emilia Cortez has almost as many votes as Sandoval but also 32 percent. Incumbent Republican Rep. Michele Pena has 19 percent. Republican candidate Gary Garcia Snyder has 17 percent. There are two open seats.
In Yuma, Propositions 436 and 437 appear that they will pass. 436 has 71 percent yes votes. It would allow the Yuma City Council to raise its expenditure limit. In other words, the council would be able to spend more of its budget on city services and programs.
437 has 69 percent yes votes. It would lower the number of signatures required for a candidate to make it on the ballot. For the primary election this year, one candidate for mayor (incumbent Mayor Doug Nicholls) and three candidates for city council qualified for the ballot while some had to run write-in campaigns. All candidates on the ballot won.
In Somerton, incumbent Councilwoman Lorena Delgadillo leads with 32 percent of the vote for one of two open seats. Brian Lopez has 25 percent, incumbent Councilman Juan Castillo has 23 percent and Victor Lozano has 20 percent.
In San Luis, incumbent Councilman Javier Vargas has 32 percent for one of two open seats, Octavio Ramirez has 29 percent, Luisa Arreola has 24 percent and Ruben Walshe Peralta has 15 percent.
Stay tuned to KAWC for updates as they become available on these and other local and state races.
