Sneddon defeats fellow City Councilmember by 579 votes after closely watched election; she is expected to take office in January.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Kristen Sneddon has won the race to become Santa Barbara's next mayor after City Councilmember Eric Friedman conceded Thursday, bringing an end to a closely contested election.
Sneddon initially trailed on election night but took the lead in Tuesday's ballot update and maintained it as additional votes were counted.
According to the latest unofficial election results, Sneddon received 16,202 votes compared to Friedman's 15,623 — a margin of just 579 votes, or less than 2%.
The race drew considerable attention, with both candidates bringing different approaches to several key issues facing the city, including rent control, the State Street Master Plan and the city's budget reserves.
Local political analyst Jerry Roberts said he anticipated Sneddon's victory, pointing to the Democratic Party endorsement and support from a coalition of liberal organizations, including the Santa Barbara Tenants Union and immigration rights groups.
Roberts also said the candidates' positions on immigration and other issues sometimes became intertwined during the campaign, potentially shaping voters' perceptions of Friedman.
Although both candidates are Democrats who joined the City Council at the same time, they offered voters different perspectives on the city's future.
Friedman said he was proud of his campaign and the community's engagement in the election, noting that voter turnout was expected to approach 70% in an off-year election.
He acknowledged that the candidates shared many similarities but said their differences ultimately gave voters a choice.
Sneddon said the election presented voters with a difficult decision, noting that several candidates were deeply invested in the community.
As mayor-elect, Sneddon said she is looking forward to working with a new City Council and listening to the perspectives of councilmembers who have spent the campaign connecting with residents in their districts.
She also highlighted improvements planned for State Street, including wider sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly changes.
With the results, Friedman will leave city government after his tenure on the City Council. He offered well wishes to Sneddon and the incoming council, emphasizing the importance of bringing the community together.
Sneddon is expected to officially take over as mayor in January 2027, when newly elected city leaders are sworn into office.
Kristen Sneddon wins Santa Barbara mayoral race, Eric Friedman concedes News Channel 3-12.
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