Election night in Fresno means lots of watch parties as attendees posture for the present and future.<\/p>\n
Mayor Jerry Dyer ended up at Sequoia Brewing Co., where Nav Gurm \u2014 a Fresno City Council District 7 candidate \u2014 appeared likely to advance to the November election.<\/p>\n
Two of Dyer\u2019s three Fresno City Council picks appeared headed for the November ballot. The primary election won\u2019t be certified until later this month, but results after Tuesday night looked good for Gurm and Rob Fuentes in District 1. Another Dyer pick, Eimear O\u2019Brien, was clinging to a slim lead for second place and a spot on the Nov. 3 ballot for Fresno County superintendent of schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy for Rob, I\u2019m happy for Nav, but it\u2019s early, and the main thing is getting folks into the runoff for November,\u201d Dyer said.<\/p>\n
Dyer expects a different electorate in the November general election, with higher turnout, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegardless of what happens leading up to the election, I\u2019m going to work with whoever\u2019s in office \u2014 all for the purpose of moving the city forward,\u201d Dyer said.<\/p>\n
District 5 candidate Danielle Parra \u2014 another Dyer pick \u2014 was in jeopardy of not advancing beyond the primary. Incumbent Brandon Vang had a majority of the vote. If that holds, he will win his re-election outright.<\/p>\n
Is Arambula in trouble?<\/p>\n
Did Joaquin Arambula underperform? After a decade in the state Assembly representing an area that overlaps Fresno City Council District 3, Arambula received 28% of the vote \u2014 first among seven candidates. He appeared headed to a November runoff with Fresno Unified Trustee Keshia Thomas.<\/p>\n
Several election experts The Fresno Bee spoke with informally guessed Arambula would reach the high 40s \u2014 if not win outright.<\/p>\n
Dyer called the result \u201ca shocker.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maria Lemus, Arambula\u2019s campaign manager, said the campaign expected a runoff.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith seven candidates in the race, we\u2019re grateful he made it to a runoff in November, and we\u2019re grateful for the supporters, volunteers and others who came through for the campaign,\u201d Lemus said.<\/p>\n
Arambula is in the process of a divorce, and revelations about a 30-day rehabilitation stay for alcohol and marijuana use have become public. Lemus downplayed the effect on voters.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think voters appreciated that he\u2019s working on himself and his family. I think they were more focused on what he has done and what he has delivered for the district,\u201d Lemus said.<\/p>\n
Others had a different take.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s in deep s—,\u201d said Jason Carns, Thomas\u2019 campaign manager.<\/p>\n
The party crew<\/p>\n
One group of former politicians carpooled in a van, going party to party to congratulate the winners.<\/p>\n
Former State Center Trustee Richard Caglia, former Fresno City Councilmember Paul Caprioglio, former state Sen. \u2014 and supervisor and councilmember \u2014 Andreas Borgeas, former Fresno Mayor Lee Brand and current Clovis Unified Trustee Clint Olivier piled into a black van to enjoy the evening.<\/p>\n
Caprioglio appeared well after leaving office in 2019. He also retired as an attorney.<\/p>\n
The group is known as the \u201cOGs,\u201d short for Old Guys. Caglia said the trip is an election tradition.<\/p>\n
Vacant seats? A look at 2027<\/p>\n
The November results could lead some candidates to leave office early, setting up special elections in spring 2027.<\/p>\n
Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi appeared headed to a November runoff for Fresno County supervisor against Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco. If Karbassi wins, he would have to vacate his District 2 seat representing northwest Fresno.<\/p>\n
A few candidates filed \u2014 officially for 2028, but possibly with an eye on a special election. David Borchardt, a real estate agent, filed for 2028 but said he anticipates running next year.<\/p>\n
Clint Olivier, a former Fresno city councilmember, who is now on the Clovis Unified school board, may give it a run.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been extremely humbled by the sheer number of my neighbors who are asking me to dust off my boots and saddle up to return to City Hall, but let\u2019s face it: There isn\u2019t even an election yet. I\u2019m rooting for my friend Mike to win his race for supervisor this November, but it\u2019s still a long way off, and the question of who will replace him is far from people\u2019s minds. I\u2019ll cross that bridge when I get to it,\u201d Olivier said.<\/p>\n
Olivier said he plans to run for school board reelection in November \u201cbecause our kids matter and the work I do for them takes priority over chasing a different seat that may or may not open up months from now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another person who said he is interested in a special election is SJ Van Horn, director of CBD Center.<\/p>\n
Matthew Gillian, who ran for the seat against Karbassi in 2024, has also filed. He is managing Pacheco\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n
If Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig wins in November \u2014 he has 61.5% of the vote in the District 12 primary \u2014 it would create another vacancy and a 2027 special election. Clovis City Councilmember Diane Pearce said she will run and forego running for re-election for her current seat. Fellow Clovis City Councilmember Vong Mouanoutoua also said he would run.<\/p>\n
Right, center, left party to the north, central and south<\/p>\n
The Republican-centered parties took place in north Fresno; progressive Democrats met in downtown; and centrist Democrats met in the middle \u2014 in this case the Tower District.<\/p>\n
The Elbow Room was the GOP gathering spot. Assemblymember David Tangipa, R-Clovis, supervisor candidate Margaret Mims, state Senate candidate Nathan Magsig, R-Clovis, and Board of Equalization candidate Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield \u2014 who did not attend \u2014 hosted the party.<\/p>\n
Tangipa had a relaxing night, as he ran unopposed. He did take a moment to pronounce his middle name, Jariustokaeutulelei, for The Bee. That\u2019s 19 letters for the record.<\/p>\n
Elected leaders such as Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld and Clovis City Councilmembers Drew Bessinger and Matt Basgall were among the hundred or so supporters who filtered in and out during the night.<\/p>\n
In the Tower District, Gurm, Parra and District 3 candidate Fernando Alvarez hosted a party at Sequoia Brewing Co.<\/p>\n
Dyer spent most of the night there, along with several other City Hallers, including City Manager Georgeanne White, and councilmembers Nelson Esparza and Tyler Maxwell. Nick Richardson also made a late appearance \u2014 he also attended the Elbow Room shindig. Miguel Arias also attended.<\/p>\n
Fresno City Council candidate Nav Gurm, left, sits down with Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias at a June 2, 2026, election watch party at Sequoia Brewing Co. in Fresno. David Taub David Taub, The Fresno Bee <\/p>\n
Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea and Brandon Vang had their own parties to tend to. Perea, who is running for state Assembly, was a few blocks away at her campaign headquarters near Fresno High School. Vang partied at Chez Maryse.<\/p>\n
Arambula held his party in downtown Frenso at Moses McQueen\u2019s \u2014 owned in part by his brother \u2014 along with Fresno City Council District 7 candidate Ariana Martinez Lott, and Assembly candidate Sandra Celedon.<\/p>\n
This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 2:17 PM.<\/p>\n