Tight Race in Los Angeles City Council District 9 Election
Candidates Jose Ugarte and Estuardo Mazariegos remain separated by only 156 votes.
1Narrow Margin in District 9
One week after the November 3 election, the race for Los Angeles City Council District 9 remains undecided. Candidates Jose Ugarte and Estuardo Mazariegos are separated by a mere 156 votes. The latest tally shows Ugarte with 19,200 votes compared to Mazariegos’ 19,044, leaving the final outcome pending further ballot processing.
2Ballot Counting Delays
Tuesday marked the final day for mail-in ballots to be counted by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder. Due to the Veterans Day holiday on Wednesday, the next official vote update is scheduled for Friday. Officials have not provided an estimate regarding the remaining number of uncounted ballots currently in the system.
3Political Context and Succession
The seat is currently held by Curren Price, who must vacate the position due to term limits. Price is also facing legal challenges involving embezzlement and conflict of interest charges, which he denies. He has endorsed Ugarte, while Mazariegos has secured the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America’s local chapter.
4Allegations of Improper Conduct
Mazariegos’ campaign has leveled accusations against Ugarte’s team, alleging improper ballot collection practices. They shared images of a volunteer delivering a stack of ballots to a drop box. The registrar-recorder’s office forwarded these claims to the district attorney’s office, noting that California law permits voters to authorize others to return ballots.
5Campaign Platform Differences
Ugarte’s platform focuses on protecting residents from federal immigration enforcement and the current administration’s policies. Conversely, Mazariegos, a longtime community organizer, advocates for affordable housing and reallocating municipal funds away from policing toward basic services. Both candidates represent distinct ideological approaches to governing the South Los Angeles neighborhoods within the district.
6District 3 Election Outcome
In a separate contest, Barri Worth Girvan declared victory in the 3rd District council race after securing 51% of the vote. She defeated rival Tim Gaspar, a former insurance company owner supported by business groups. Worth Girvan will replace Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, bringing nearly two decades of public service experience to the role.
7Legal Review of Complaints
The district attorney’s office is currently reviewing the allegations submitted by Mazariegos regarding ballot handling. Ugarte has publicly dismissed these claims, labeling them as categorically false and defamatory. The registrar-recorder’s office stated that the specific photo circulated online did not raise immediate alarms, as the activity depicted is legal under state law.
8Significance of Local Governance
These council races are critical for the future of Los Angeles governance, as they involve replacing long-term incumbents facing term limits. The outcome in District 9 will determine the political direction of South L.A. neighborhoods, including the Convention Center and USC. The final tally will conclude a closely watched local election cycle.