Jesse Ortiz Wins Woodland District 1 Council Seat

Former Yolo County Superintendent of Schools Jesse Ortiz leads George Washington in the race to replace outgoing councilmember Rich Lansburgh.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Elections

Wide view of a low-rise municipal building with a flagpole and brick plaza under a clear sky, in warm late-autumn light. — Jesse Ortiz won the Woodland City Council District 1 seat Monday after George Washington conceded, replacing outgoing councilmember Rich Lansburgh with 62.2% of the vote. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Jesse Ortiz won the Woodland City Council District 1 seat after George Washington conceded the race. As of Nov. 10, Ortiz had 62.2% of the vote, with 1,533 votes to Washington's 931.

Why it matters

Ortiz will replace outgoing councilmember Rich Lansburgh, who was first elected in the 2018 midterm elections. The result determines who represents District 1 on the Woodland City Council.

Unofficial tallies show Ortiz at 62.2% (1,533 votes) against Washington's 931 votes as of Nov. 10, down slightly from 62.8% when polls closed Nov. 3. The source does not state whether these counts are final or certified.

The players

Jesse Ortiz

Jesse Ortiz is a former Yolo County Superintendent of Schools who was elected to represent Woodland City Council District 1. He is a United States Marine Corps Vietnam Era veteran who volunteers with an honor guard at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery.

Rich Lansburgh

Rich Lansburgh is the outgoing Woodland City Councilmember whose District 1 seat Ortiz will fill. He was first elected in the 2018 midterm elections.

The details

Ortiz won by tallying ballots cast in the 2026 midterm election, and Washington conceded after a week of vote counting. Ortiz is a former Yolo County Superintendent of Schools who retired in 2018 and received the Golden Apple Award from the Yolo County School Boards Association, the only trustee to receive it twice.

2018: Lansburgh first elected to the Woodland City Council.
2018: Ortiz retired as Yolo County Superintendent of Schools.
Nov. 3, 2026: Polls closed in the District 1 election.
Nov. 10, 2026: Ortiz's lead dropped to 62.2% in the updated count.

Political Context

Ortiz succeeds Rich Lansburgh, who first won the District 1 seat in the 2018 midterm elections and is now leaving office. The change in the seat's occupant follows that eight-year tenure.

Woodland District 1 residents will have a new council representative once Ortiz takes the seat. The source does not specify when Ortiz will be sworn in.

The takeaway

A council seat change reflects voter choice in a single district, and final certification will confirm the result. Residents can track the official count through county election records.