Palo Alto: Chang, Veenker and Lauing Lead Council; Measure J Yes Ahead by 470

UPDATE — NOVEMBER 6, 2026; county tally November 5, 7:28 p.m. Pacific. The three highest totals in Palo Alto’s City Council vote-for-three race are now Bryna Chang 9,567 selections (23.7%), Vicki Veenker 8,892 (22.1%), and Ed Lauing 8,847 (21.9%). These are candidate selections, not a measure of each candidate’s percentage of unique voters. On the separate Measure J half-cent sales-tax question, Yes has 8,476 (51.4%) and No 8,006 (48.5%), a 470-vote lead for Yes. The previous 365-vote margin in the dated report below is no longer current. KQED / Santa Clara County November 5 results. Nothing is certified yet.

PALO ALTO — November 4, 2026. The city’s three-seat council election shows Bryna Chang in first with 8,010 votes, followed by Vicki Veenker at 7,424 and Ed Lauing at 7,396 in the election-night count.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 5. The later county count cited in our separate Measure J report puts Yes at 7,372 and No at 7,007 — an unchanged 365-vote difference from this earlier snapshot. Palo Alto’s City Clerk identifies the proposal as a half-cent sales-tax increase, estimated at $15.6 million annually, with advisory spending guidelines for Cubberley Community Center projects. Neither race is certified.

A local sales tax vote — original snapshot

On a separate ballot question, Palo Alto’s Measure J has 7,083 Yes votes and 6,718 No votes, a difference of 365 votes. The preliminary Yes share is approximately 51.3%. The measure concerns sales tax, making it particularly relevant to residents and local businesses, but the margin remains subject to additional ballots.

Council ranking requires careful reading

The council election permits voters to choose up to three names. The difference between the second- and third-place candidates is only 28 votes, although both currently occupy the three leading positions. The key comparison for the last council seat is between the third-place candidate and the candidate in fourth, not merely the gap between second and third.

Santa Clara County has not completed its count or certification. These figures are an election-night snapshot, and neither the Measure J tally nor the council rankings should be treated as official final results.

Results source: KQED’s Santa Clara County election tables, reporting figures from county election offices, updated November 3, 2026 at approximately 11:30 p.m. Pacific. Future county canvass updates can change these figures. Statewide overview: California58 Elections 2026.

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