www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 5-11, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 In a corner of Mountain Mike’s Pizza in Marina, surrounded by signs supporting Mike Moeller for mayor and opposing Measure Q, more than 20 people are eagerly checking their phones to see when the Monterey County Elections Department would release the first round of election results on Tuesday night, Nov. 3. The first count, expected to be released at 8pm, was late, leaving many glued to the multiple televisions on the wall, where NBC News was displaying results from around the nation. A “blue wave” seemed to be sweeping the country, leading to an upbeat atmosphere inside the pizzeria. At last, at about 8:25pm, early results appeared on the county elections website, so a Weekly reporter handed Moeller his phone to show Moeller how the mayor’s race was shaping up. Moeller sat in stunned silence for a few seconds as his supporters cheered and clapped around him. As of Nov. 4, Moeller leads challengers Liesbeth Visscher and Ana Luz Acevedo-Cabrera with 46 percent of the vote, 520 votes ahead of the second-place Visscher. Those gathered at Mountain Mike’s had even more to celebrate: Measure Q, a 7-percent utility users tax, was being hammered at the polls. In early results, 75 percent opposed it. Moeller is a health care professional who is hoping to become the city’s first new mayor in 18 years following the retirement of Bruce Delgado. “Never count your chickens before they hatch,” Moeller says as he looks at the numbers. “It’s a strong lead and I’m really happy with that, but it’s not over until it’s over.” At Visscher’s gathering at her home, people sit in the living room and around the dining room table, as Councilmember Jenny McAdams watches national results on a laptop and reports the latest. Before the local results roll in, County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew shows up. Earlier in the day, Visscher says she began her morning “human billboarding” for her campaign. “Whatever happens with the vote will happen,” she says. In the three-person race for the District 4 seat on the Marina City Council, Brad Imamura and Mike Simmons are in a close contest, with Simmons leading by three votes as of 2:20am on Nov. 4, Athena Burciaga, with 30 percent of the vote, is in third. After the first results were announced, Burciaga thanked everyone for coming to a party hosted by the Central Coast Democratic Socialists of America at 6th Avenue Studios in Seaside. She was celebrating the results, adding more Democratic ballots will be counted last. The group is also watching national results roll in. “You don’t have to tear down the minorities to win in a conservative state,” she says about James Talarico’s Senate win in Texas. “You just have to lower the cost of living for people living there.” Burciaga also opposed Measure Q on the campaign trail. “Measure Q is dead,” she announced at 8:36pm. New Direction Mike Moeller leads Marina’s mayoral race as Measure Q heads to a resounding defeat. By Erik Chalhoub and Agata Popęda Mike Moeller chats with supporters at Mountain Mike’s Pizza in Marina on Tuesday night, Nov. 3. The mayoral candidate was joined by opponents of Measure Q at the party. NEWS “Whatever happens with the vote will happen.” ERIK CHALHOUB
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