Byers Leads West Hollywood Council Race Early

Chelsea Byers topped the first vote-by-mail results in the 14-candidate race for three West Hollywood City Council seats.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single tall ballot box in deep navy and cream, evoking an unresolved municipal election count. — Chelsea Byers led early vote-by-mail returns in West Hollywood's 14-candidate council race, while John Duran held the third seat by just 11 votes over Kyle Brazeal. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Chelsea Byers led the West Hollywood City Council race in the first results released by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder on Election Day, November 3, 2026. Former Mayor John Duran held the third seat by 11 votes over Kyle Brazeal, and later ballots could still shift the standings.

Why it matters

The first bulletin included only vote-by-mail ballots, and in-person votes had not yet been counted. With 11 votes separating third and fourth place, the final three seats on the council remain uncertain.

The first bulletin reported Byers at 3,577 votes (17.51%) and Krieger at 2,972 (14.55%), out of 20,423 votes cast so far for 14 candidates. The count covers mail ballots only, and in-person votes have not yet been tallied.

The players

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder

The county office that administers elections and released the West Hollywood results.

Chelsea Byers

A candidate who led the first results in the West Hollywood City Council race.

John Duran

A former West Hollywood mayor who held the third council seat by 11 votes in the first bulletin.

The details

Voters could choose up to three of the 14 candidates. Byers led with 605 votes more than Krieger, while Duran led Brazeal by 11 votes for the final seat. The Registrar said it would keep counting mail ballots that arrive after Election Day.

Nov. 3, 2026: Election Day for the West Hollywood City Council race.
Nov. 4, 2026, 8:17 p.m.: First bulletin of results posted, vote-by-mail only.
Nov. 4, 2026, 8:30 p.m.: Update showing Byers leading the council race.

Season Trajectory

California's election-night reports typically show mail-ballot totals first, with later updates reshaping the standings as in-person and late-arriving ballots are counted. The West Hollywood race follows that pattern, with the third seat currently separated by only 11 votes.

Residents who have not yet returned mail ballots, or who plan to vote in person, can still affect the outcome of the three council seats. Final standings will depend on the ballots counted after the first bulletin.

The takeaway

Early leads in a close council race can change as later ballots are counted, so the final result may differ from the first bulletin. Watching updates from the county Registrar-Recorder will show how the standings shift.