State Sen. Steve Padilla is projected to win a second term representing California Senate District 18, holding a sizable lead over Republican challenger Art Hodges as election officials continue counting ballots.
The latest districtwide results available from the November 2026 election tracker, updated Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 5:46 p.m., showed Padilla with 102,340 votes, or 67.1%, compared with 50,257 votes, or 32.9%, for Hodges. Padilla's lead stood at 52,083 votes.
The district spans parts of San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Padilla led in San Diego, Imperial and Riverside counties, while Hodges held a narrow lead in the district's small San Bernardino County portion. The San Diego County portion alone showed Padilla with 72,665 votes to Hodges' 34,449.
Padilla, a Democrat from Chula Vista, held a significant early lead over Hodges on election night Nov. 3, according to FOX 5 San Diego.
La Jolla is in neighboring Senate District 38, represented by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, according to CalMatters' 2026 voter guide. However, several of Padilla's priorities have regional implications for San Diego's coastal communities.
Among Padilla's top concerns is the Tijuana River sewage crisis. In a pre-election questionnaire published by The Desert Sun, Padilla called environmental contamination the top unresolved problem in his district.
"From the Tijuana River Valley to the Salton Sea, families have to deal with hydrogen sulfide and other toxic contaminants poisoning the air we breathe," Padilla said in the questionnaire.
The district includes communities across four counties and has a population of approximately 957,000, according to the district's official page. San Diego County communities in the district include Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City and Bonita.
In a statement released on election night, Padilla thanked voters and outlined priorities for a second term, including addressing the sewage crisis, lowering housing and grocery costs, and working with California's incoming governor to protect working families, FOX 5 reported.
"Tonight I am deeply grateful to the families of Senate District 18 for placing their trust in me for another four years," Padilla said.
Padilla also highlighted accomplishments from his first term, including updating California's hydrogen sulfide air-quality standard for the first time since 1969 and securing $10 million for Lithium Valley businesses in the district, according to FOX 5.
Hodges, a Republican from Chula Vista, is a Pentecostal bishop who has served as a pastor for 40 years, according to The Desert Sun.
The results remain unofficial. California county election officials have until Dec. 3 to complete their official canvasses, and the Secretary of State is scheduled to certify statewide results on Dec. 11. Vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day may still arrive through Nov. 10.
