Election 2024: School Board Race Update

STAFF REPORT
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

Clockwise: Jonathan Cook, Micah Grant, Sumiti Mehta and Monique Langer.

Natomas Unified school board incumbent Micah Grant continues to maintain a healthy lead in the Trustee Area 3 race while the contest to represent Trustee Area 5 remains close, according to the latest election numbers.

Grant’s Election Day lead continued to hold with the Sacramento County Elections vote update posted online Friday afternoon.

To date, Grant has received 2,248 votes (58.66%), placing him ahead of newcomer Jonathan Cook, who has 1,216 votes (31.73%). The third candidate, Sally Trevino Gobea, trails with 368 votes (9.6%). With current vote totals, Grant is the presumptive winner.

“I’m humbled by the trust the community has put in me to build on the work Natomas Unified has done to make our school district a place where students can find their passions and thrive,” Grant told The Natomas Buzz, after the Friday ballot update. “I look forward to working with all stakeholders to find innovative solutions to tackle our literacy and numeracy crisis and will be reaching out to folks in the coming days to start planning for the new year.”

During his campaign, Grant said improving literacy and math scores, enhancing special education, and increasing school and community safety as his primary goals if re-elected.

Trustee Area 3 encompasses neighborhoods primarily north of Interstate 80 and east of Interstate 5 and Natomas Boulevard, including Heredia-Arriaga School, Inderkum High School, STAR Academy, Natomas Charter School, Natomas Park Elementary, and Westlake Charter High School. Voter turnout in Trustee Area 3 stands at 43.45%, with 527 undervotes—voters who opted not to cast a vote in this race.

Meanwhile, in the Trustee Area 5 race, vote counts between the two candidates have remained close since Election Day.

Candidate Sumiti Mehta has held a slim lead over Monique F. Langer, with Mehta currently at 2,202 votes (52%) and Langer close behind at 2,033 votes (48%). Voter turnout in Trustee Area 5 is around 47.56%, with more than 774 undervotes.

“Thanks to parents, students, Senator Ashby, Supervisor Serna, Representative Bera and so many other leaders we have made a great connection with voters in Natomas,” Mehta told The Natomas Buzz. “While we have a solid lead, we look forward to making sure every vote is counted over the coming weeks.”

Added Langer, “Thank you to Natomas voters, families, and the countless supporters who showed up for Natomas kids. I look forward to every vote being counted and to all we will accomplish together for Natomas schools.”

Trustee Area 5 covers a region north of San Juan Road and west of Interstate 5, including NP3 Elementary, Middle and High schools, Paso Verde School, and Witter Ranch Elementary.

Sacramento County election officials report that approximately 260,062 ballots across the county are still pending processing. The next update on vote counts is expected tomorrow, Nov. 12, at 4:15 p.m.