Blue Lake Council: Four Candidates for Two Seats Separated by Only Seven Votes

BLUE LAKE, Humboldt County — November 4, 2026. Blue Lake has one of California’s closest reported municipal elections following the November 3 general election. Four candidates are contesting two City Council seats, and all four stood within seven votes of one another in Humboldt’s last election-night count.

Just seven votes across four candidates

According to the final overnight figures reported by Redheaded Blackbelt, Charis Bowman had 96 votes, Verda Winona N. Pitts 93, Adelene Jones 91, and Elise G. Scafani 89. Bowman’s advantage over the fourth-place candidate was seven votes; Pitts’ second-place position was just two votes ahead of Jones.

Why no outcome is decided

Earlier election-night reports showed Jones among the top two. The last vote-center batch moved Pitts into second place. Those changes illustrate why no council seat should be treated as won based on the preliminary night count.

In an election where candidates are separated by a handful of votes, mailed, provisional and other lawful ballots received or verified during canvassing can change the ranking. Precinct reporting percentages do not establish that all ballots have been processed.

What residents should follow

The local council is responsible for community decisions such as municipal infrastructure, planning and services. Humboldt County Elections is the authoritative source for the subsequent canvass and certification. At this stage the only defensible statement is which candidates were ahead in the named snapshot.

Report source: November 4 election-night final batch, 12:53 a.m. local reporting. Not certified.

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