Rancho Cordova District 5: Linda Budge Leads Tegan Mauldin by Just 15 Votes

RANCHO CORDOVA, Sacramento County — November 4, 2026. The preliminary City Council election in District 5 is separated by only 15 votes between its top two candidates, according to the county’s overnight summary.

Three candidates in District 5

Linda Budge has 834 votes (38.99%), Tegan Mauldin 819 (38.29%) and Lilia Darbinyan 486 (22.72%). The result remains uncalled and uncertified. A narrow advantage in reported ballots is not a declaration of victory.

Different result in District 2

The county’s separate District 2 contest lists Elliott Stevenson with 1,732 votes as the only named candidate, with write-ins recorded separately. District 2 residents did not cast ballots in District 5 simply by sharing the same city.

What remains for the vote count

Final totals depend on post-election ballot processing and the official canvass. The county’s 1:25 a.m. release is described as semi-final; it is not final certification. Voters should follow the county’s updates rather than extrapolate from small margins.

Source: Sacramento County Election Results, semi-final unofficial report dated November 4, 2026, 1:25:40 a.m. PT. Counts can change as county staff verify additional eligible ballots. These results are not legally certified.

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