Santa Ana Mayor Update: Amezcua Leads Shimell by 2,456 Votes After Overnight Count

November 4 update: mayoral margin narrows in the overnight count

Unofficial update, 1:36 a.m. Pacific on November 4: Valerie Amezcua led Santa Ana’s reported mayoral count with 18,830 votes (46.0%), ahead of Dan Shimell with 16,374 (40.0%) and Dwayne Shipp with 5,705 (13.9%). The reported difference between Amezcua and Shimell was 2,456 votes. These later figures replace the older election-night figures for current reporting; neither set is a certified result.

The later tally is shown in The Ballot Book’s Santa Ana mayoral results history, which identifies the 1:36 a.m. update. Official canvassing remains with the Orange County Registrar of Voters.

Earlier November 3 election-night update (historical snapshot)

Official source snapshot: November 3, 2026, 8:07:13 p.m. Pacific. Valerie Amezcua led the reported tally at that update. The count is incomplete and this article does not declare a winner.

Unofficial results — santa ana
Candidate	Votes	Share of reported candidate votes
Valerie Amezcua	14,564	50.28%
Dan Shimell	10,651	36.77%
Dwayne Shipp	3,750	12.95%

These figures are from the registrar’s election-night dashboard, reached through its official results page. They are an early snapshot, not a certified result or a measure of how much of the final vote has been counted.

Percentages describe reported votes in this contest, not the percentage of all eligible voters or all expected ballots. Additional ballots and verification can change totals and margins. Read the official Orange County results and check later updates.

The campaign reporting below provides pre-election context. Personal voting appearances remain subject to the verification limits stated in that reporting.

SANTA ANA, California — Incumbent Valerie Amezcua, community advocate Dwayne Shipp and attorney Dan Shimell are the three qualified mayoral candidates in Santa Ana’s November 3, 2026, election.

The Orange County Registrar of Voters’ qualified-candidate register confirms the field. California58 has not independently verified any contender’s personal voting time, method or location. This report compares their published positions rather than claiming a polling-place appearance.

Valerie Amezcua

Amezcua’s official campaign emphasizes public safety, responses to homelessness, local economic growth and job creation. Her reelection message calls for cooperation with neighborhood leaders, faith communities and business owners, alongside youth programs and opportunities for residents.

The campaign presents her as a collaborative leader who listens and works across the community. These are the campaign’s descriptions of her approach and record, not an independent finding that every stated goal has been achieved. Amezcua’s official campaign.

Dwayne Shipp

Shipp’s campaign identifies him as a community development commissioner, caregiver and organizer. It calls for neighborhood revitalization, transparent government, small-business opportunity and practical responses to homelessness.

He emphasizes accessible public spaces and services for seniors, people with disabilities, caregivers and working families. His stated approach is to listen before making decisions and improve follow-through on city commitments. Shipp’s official campaign.

Dan Shimell

Shimell’s official campaign emphasizes accountable spending, transparency, support for small businesses and access to affordable housing. He describes his legal experience as preparation for advocacy and problem-solving in city government.

His campaign also links his decision to run to concern about immigration enforcement and its effect on families and neighborhoods. He calls for accessible government that treats residents with dignity. Those are his attributed positions; no specific program’s adoption or funding is established here. Shimell’s official campaign.

Keeping the full ballot field visible

All three candidates belong in coverage of the race. A campaign mailing address, photo gallery or citywide connection is not evidence of a candidate personally casting a ballot at a particular site. This article declares no winner.

Official verification: Orange County qualified-candidate register. The linked campaign websites provide the attributed policy statements.

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