Progressive Candidates Gain Momentum in Santa Ana City Council Race

Three progressive-backed candidates are on track to flip Santa Ana’s ruling council majority – made up of politicians who are backed by the police union – a switch that could result in a change to the city’s approach to responding to ICE raids and holding police accountable (1). It’s a flip that could also potentially leave Mayor Valerie Amezcua – the only police-union candidate leading slightly in their respective race – surrounded by a city council critical of her, her response to the ICE raids and her close ties to police union interests (1). And it could potentially mean an end to the city’s contracts for automated license plate readers with three leading candidates voicing opposition to the cameras and with elected officials expected to receive a report on the technology at a future council meeting (1). [1]

In Ward 4, Immigrant Rights Advocate Sandra De Anda grew her lead over Councilman Phil Bacerra, a seven-year incumbent whose campaign received heavy financial support from the Santa Ana Police Officers Association, as of 5:00 p.m. Thursday (1). De Anda was in the lead with about 55% of the votes ahead of Bacerra who had about 45% of the vote – a difference of 922 votes (1). There were over 9,200 votes counted so far in the race as of Thursday evening (1). [1]

In Ward 6, Planning Commission Chair and Chispa Executive Director Isuri Ramos was in the lead with about 56% of the votes ahead of attorney Giovanni Chavez, another police union-backed candidate, who had about 44% of the vote – a difference of over 700 votes (1). There were over 6,400 votes counted so far in the race as of Thursday evening (1). After publication of this article, Ramos said she ran a community centered campaign and the results so far are a reflection of those efforts (1). [1]

The spending battle for Santa Ana’s city council has seen the police union spend nearly $270,000 on mailers and ads supporting Amezcua, Bacerra, Chavez and Diaz and spent about $58,000 collectively on ads and mailers opposing Vazquez and Ramos, as of Nov. 2 (1). Progressive groups ultimately spent roughly $8,300 more to support De Anda’s campaign than the police union did on supporting Bacerra’s campaign (1). [1]

In Ward 4, Immigrant Rights Advocate Sandra De Anda is leading the race against Councilman Phil Bacerra, who has received heavy financial support from the Santa Ana Police Officers Association. As of 5:00 p.m. Thursday, De Anda was in the lead with about 55% of the votes ahead of Bacerra, who had about 45% of the vote – a difference of 922 votes. There were over 9,200 votes counted so far in the race as of Thursday evening (1). [1]

In Ward 6, Planning Commission Chair and Chispa Executive Director Isuri Ramos was in the lead with about 56% of the votes ahead of attorney Giovanni Chavez, another police union-backed candidate, who had about 44% of the vote – a difference of over 700 votes. There were over 6,400 votes counted so far in the race as of Thursday evening (1). [1]

The spending battle for Santa Ana’s city council has seen the police union spend nearly $270,000 on mailers and ads supporting Amezcua, Bacerra, Chavez, and Diaz, as of Nov. 2. Meanwhile, De Anda, Ramos, and Vazquez campaigns received support from progressive groups like OC Action, California Working Families Party, and Chispa, according to the report (1). [1]

Sources

Santa Ana News: City Council, Police and Immigration

Prepared with AI assistance from the cited sources.