PALM SPRINGS, CA
Early returns from Tuesday’s election show Democrats leading important Coachella Valley congressional and State Assembly races, while Palm Springs City Council incumbents hold substantial advantages. California’s governor’s race was reported as called for Xavier Becerra.
Election reporting cutoff: 6:00 a.m. PST, Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The figures below come from overnight reports available by that time. Each race may have a different last-updated timestamp, and most counts remain unofficial. A lead is not a declared victory.
California Governor: Becerra Declared Winner
Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was reported as the winner of California’s governor’s race over Republican Steve Hilton. Becerra currently shows 4,960,174 votes (64%) and Hilton with 2,784,695 (36%). The vote totals are preliminary, even when a race has been called.
Congress: Two Important Regional Districts
In the newly configured 48th Congressional District, Democrat Marni von Wilpert led Republican Jim Desmond. Pre-6 a.m. reported totals showed von Wilpert with 92,697 votes (60%) and Desmond with 62,699 (40%).
In the 25th Congressional District, Democrat Raul Ruiz led Republican Joe Males. The Ballot Book’s overnight Riverside County figures showed Ruiz with 68,684 votes (64.4%) and Males with 37,889 (35.6%).
California State Assembly
In Assembly District 47, Democrat Leila Namvar led Republican incumbent Greg Wallis, 61,746 votes (56%) to 48,701 (44%).
In Assembly District 36, Democrat Ida Obeso-Martinez led Republican Jeff Gonzalez, 33,698 votes (59%) to 23,697 (41%).
These were reported as early returns, not certified outcomes.
Palm Springs City Council
In District 1, incumbent Grace Garner led Donald Soja by 1,472 votes to 488.
In District 2, incumbent Jeffrey Bernstein ran unopposed; the initial report listed 2,180 votes.
In District 3, incumbent Ron deHarte led Charles ‘Charlie’ Brown, 1,522 votes to 627.
Desert Healthcare District
David ‘Jax’ Kelly led the three-way Zone 1 race with 8,307 votes, ahead of C.J. Tobe with 5,655 and Ted Stoner with 2,951.
The election comes as the district oversees major healthcare funding decisions and its agreement involving Desert Regional Medical Center. The initial vote lead does not constitute a certified victory.
Measure A: Transportation Tax Renewal
Early reporting showed roughly 70% voting yes on Riverside County Measure A, above the two-thirds threshold required for passage. The measure would continue the existing half-cent transportation sales tax beyond 2039 without increasing its rate.
Other Coachella Valley Races
In Coachella’s mayoral contest, Denise Delgado had 695 votes and Frank Figueroa had 589 in the early report. Other candidates were also on the ballot, so these are not complete race totals. I
In Indio City Council District 3, Elaine Holmes led Andrea Bouchard, 1,228 to 567.
In Palm Desert City Council District 4, Evan Trubee led Jonathon Polly, 1,302 to 992.
What Happens Next
Riverside County election officials will continue processing eligible mail ballots, provisional ballots and other ballots requiring verification. The reported figures are a snapshot of information available by 6 a.m. Wednesday, November 4, not final results.
Races may change as additional ballots are counted.