Davidi Leads Sandoval by 18 Votes in San Rafael
Early returns show Daryoush Davidi ahead of Robert Sandoval in the San Rafael City Council District 3 race, with more results due Thursday.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Daryoush Davidi led Robert Sandoval 1,656 to 1,638 in the San Rafael City Council District 3 race after polls closed Tuesday, a margin of 18 votes. Marin County's Elections Department will continue posting updated results.
Why it matters
The District 3 seat was left open by Maribeth Bushey, who served on the council for 12 years and did not seek reelection. The narrow margin means the outcome remains unsettled until the remaining ballots are counted.
The initial count from Marin County's Elections Department shows Davidi at 1,656 votes and Sandoval at 1,638, a gap of 18 votes. Updated results have not yet been tallied, and the final outcome remains unknown.
The players
Daryoush Davidi
A San Rafael City Council candidate in District 3 who owns an organic specialty produce business and holds endorsements from the police union and the local chamber of commerce.
Robert Sandoval
A San Rafael City Council candidate in District 3 trailing Davidi in initial results, endorsed by U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman and the Marin County Democratic Party.
Marin County Elections Department
The county office responsible for counting ballots and publishing election results for Marin County, including the San Rafael races.
The details
Davidi was endorsed by the San Rafael Police Association union, the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, Vice Mayor Rachel Kertz and former Mayor Gary Phillips, while Sandoval was backed by U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, District 2 incumbent Eli Hill and the Marin County Democratic Party. Davidi owns an organic specialty produce business.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Polls closed and initial District 3 results showed Davidi ahead by 18 votes.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Next Marin County election results scheduled to be posted by 5 p.m.
Legal Context
Early results in California local races are typically updated as additional ballots are counted under the county's standard process, which can shift narrow margins. Final certification will determine whether Davidi's 18-vote lead holds.
District 3 residents, including those in Peacock Gap and near the Marin County Civic Center, will see who represents them on the council once the count is final. The narrow margin means the outcome could shift as additional ballots are tallied.
The takeaway
A margin of 18 votes is small enough that late-counted ballots can change the outcome, so readers should watch the updated results rather than treat the early lead as final.
What happens next
Marin County's Elections Department will publish updated District 3 results every two hours through midnight, with the next posting due by 5 p.m. Thursday.
Further reading
Explore more Elections coverage for context on how local races are decided in San Rafael.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Local News Matters.
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