Lathrop Council Election: Jefferson and Vicuña Lead Four-Candidate Race for Two Seats

LATHROP, San Joaquin County — November 5, 2026. Lathrop’s election features two separate votes: a citywide mayoral contest and a multi-candidate City Council race for two open seats. The county registrar’s available November 3 general-election results show Shelita Jefferson and Leandro Vicuña occupying the top two council positions in the first reported count, with 170 votes separating the second and third candidates.

Four names for two City Council seats

The official return records Shelita Jefferson — 2,433 votes (31.37%); Leandro Vicuña — 2,074 (26.74%); Steve Dresser — 1,904 (24.55%); and Daniel Macneilage — 1,346 (17.35%). Combined, the four candidates have 7,757 recorded candidate selections. Those percentages reflect shares of candidate votes, not the percentages of unique Lathrop residents who submitted a ballot. An eligible voter could select up to two candidates.

The close contest is for the second seat

The top two candidates in the snapshot are Jefferson and Vicuña, but the second and third places are separated by just 170 candidate votes. In a race where two candidates will ultimately hold seats, the difference between second and third matters particularly. A lead at this stage is not a final determination of who will serve. Additional valid ballots may affect the ordering or margins.

A separate mayoral election

In the mayoral race, the county reports Paul Akinjo at 3,059 votes (60.07%) against Minnie “Cotton” Diallo at 2,033 (39.93%), a lead of 1,026. California58’s separate mayor article contains that early contest. Unlike a council multi-seat race, the mayoral percentages come from one selection per ballot and should not be compared without clarifying the different denominators.

What’s at stake locally

City council decisions affect long-term housing plans, street maintenance, capital projects, the city budget and municipal services. Lathrop has grown significantly as part of the wider Northern San Joaquin Valley commuting region, and elected city officials make decisions on development and neighborhood services. Readers should follow individual local policies and official meeting records separately from unverified campaign assertions.

When the count becomes final

The registrar is continuing the legal canvass. A one-percent manual tally is scheduled to begin the week of November 9, with county plans for official result publication after that process is completed. Eligible ballots arriving and processed through the lawful deadlines may increase the vote totals. Residents can check the Registrar of Voters and California58’s county election guide for additional context.

Results are the county’s available election-night snapshot, checked November 5, 2026. No council or mayoral outcome is described as officially certified.

YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER NEEDS YOU

Help this community newspaper grow

Your support helps build coverage for the people and places this local newspaper serves.

Donate once by card ↗

Help Lathrop News grow Help strengthen reporting on Lathrop: community voices, important decisions and local life.

Support Lathrop News

Choose how to support Lathrop News:

Credit / Debit Card via Stripe

Choose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.

Continue with PayPal Continue with Zelle

Zelle payments go to Vitaly Ataev Troshin. Please verify the recipient in your bank before sending. Availability depends on your bank.

Optional reader support. When possible, add “Lathrop News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.

Optional support through the publisher. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible and never buy editorial influence.

Lathrop News — Your Community Newspaper

Have a correction, news tip, local announcement, or story to submit? Contact our editorial team. All submissions are reviewed before publication.