Cupertino Together Slate Leads Early Council Count
Three candidates running as Cupertino Together took the early lead in the race for three open seats on the city council.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Early returns in the Cupertino City Council election showed three Cupertino Together candidates ahead as votes were counted on election night, Tuesday, November 3, 2026. John Tang led with 19.48% of the early vote with 23.13% of ballots counted.
Why it matters
Eight candidates are competing for three seats on the five-person council, and the outcome will shape the body that is replacing departing members Liang Chao and Sheila Mohan. The joint campaign tests whether a coordinated slate can win voter support in a crowded field for Cupertino residents.
With 23.13% of votes counted, Tang led with 19.48%, followed by Fruen at 17.97% and Lindskog at 16.94%. Remaining ballots could shift the standings among the eight candidates competing for three seats.
The players
John Tang
Tang was the top vote-getter in the early count, holding 19.48% of the vote with 23.13% of ballots counted.
J.R. Fruen
Fruen held 17.97% of the early vote and currently serves on the San Jose City Council.
The details
Three candidates ran a joint campaign under the Cupertino Together banner, asking voters to cast ballots for all three together. The slate's platform includes a 10-year economic growth plan aimed at attracting business by streamlining the permitting process, and it argues the current council majority has not made enough progress toward the city's goals.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election night, when early returns showed Cupertino Together candidates leading.
Earlier in 2026: Three candidates opted to run jointly as Cupertino Together.
Political Context
The Cupertino Together slate's 10-year economic growth plan centers on streamlining permitting to attract business, positioning it against a council majority the slate says has not made sufficient progress toward the city's goals. Cupertino faces the loss of Apple-related tax revenue and a several-million-dollar increase in its county sheriff contract, pressures the outcome will need to address.
The three seats will determine how the council handles the permitting timeline, the loss of Apple tax revenue, and rising sheriff contract costs for Cupertino residents. Voters should check the official Santa Clara County count as final results replace these early figures.
The takeaway
Early returns capture only about a quarter of the ballots, so the leaders on election night may not be the final winners of Cupertino's three council seats. Watching the remaining count will show whether the joint Cupertino Together campaign holds its lead.
Further reading
Track the full contest in our Cupertino Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Jose Mercury News.
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