2026 Endorsements
The San Benito County Democratic Central Committee endorses candidates through a fair and transparent review process designed to help voters make informed choices.
November 2026 General Election Endorsements
The San Benito County Democratic Central Committee has endorsed six candidates for local office in the November 3, 2026 General Election. Following written questionnaires and candidate interviews, the Committee voted on its endorsements September 5, 2026.
Learn more about the endorsed candidates below. These brief descriptions reflect experience and priorities shared by the candidates in their endorsement questionnaires.
John Williams
San Benito County Supervisor, District 5
A lifelong San Benito County resident, Williams has served on the Civil Grand Jury and as president of the Hazel Hawkins Hospital Auxiliary. His priorities include fiscal accountability, transparent government, and strengthening the county’s long-term financial stability.
Dolores Morales
Hollister City Council, District 3
Morales brings more than three decades of public service, experience in labor leadership, and service on the Hollister City Council. She emphasizes financial transparency, public safety, economic development, and accountability in city government.
Leslie Jordan
San Juan Bautista City Council
A longtime City Council member and mayor, Jordan brings 40 years of professional experience in water and wastewater systems. Her priorities include infrastructure improvements, fiscal stability, and coordination with agencies providing essential city services.
Elise Brentnall
San Juan Bautista City Council
Brentnall is a telecommunications executive who chairs the city’s Historic Resources Board and serves on its Planning Commission. She emphasizes transparent budgeting, infrastructure management, downtown revitalization, and attracting businesses to strengthen the city’s finances.
Devon Pack
San Benito Health Care District, Zone 2
An incumbent Health Care District board member and vice chair, Pack previously served on the county Planning Commission. His priorities include hospital financial stability, leadership accountability, protecting rural health services, and maintaining local access to medical care.
Dr. Marni Friedman
San Benito Health Care District, Zone 4
A longtime local family medicine physician and First 5 San Benito commissioner, Friedman brings experience in medical practice and healthcare administration. She emphasizes expanded pediatric and specialty care, physician recruitment, and the long-term viability of Hazel Hawkins Hospital.
June 2026 Primary Election Endorsements
The following endorsements were made for the June 2026 Primary Election and are retained here as part of the Committee’s public record.
Mindy Sotelo
San Benito County Supervisor, District 3
Endorsed for the June 2026 Primary Election based on her commitment to accountability, transparency, responsive leadership, and respectful community engagement.
Won the District 3 election outright in the June 2026 Primary and will not appear on the November General Election ballot.
Joe Paul González
San Benito County Auditor-Controller
Endorsed for the June 2026 Primary Election based on his extensive experience in county financial operations and his commitment to accountability, transparency, internal controls, audits, and compliance.
Did not advance to the November 2026 General Election.
Interested in Running for Office?
If you are a Democrat running for local office in San Benito County, or are considering a future campaign, we encourage you to connect with the San Benito County Democratic Central Committee.
Visit our Stay Connected page and indicate that you would like to learn more about running for office or the SBCDCC endorsement process.
Connecting with SBCDCC does not guarantee that a race will be selected for endorsement review or that a candidate will receive an endorsement.
Candidates must separately contact the San Benito County Elections Department for official eligibility requirements, nomination documents, filing deadlines, and campaign procedures.