Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Jessie Lopez speaks out about the failed attempt to recall her

Santa Ana, CA — Mayor Pro Tem Jessie Lopez stated, in reaction to her victory in yesterday’s Recall election: “Yesterday, Ward 3 voters made their voices heard loud and clear: enough with the special interests who are trying to control city hall.

While more votes remain to be counted, I am humbled to see the results show that as of today, 3,821 ballots (56%) were cast in opposition of this corrupt and illegitimate recall. Despite being outspent by the police union and apartment association who poured nearly $800,000 to remove me from office, we showed them what the true power of democracy looks like when people unite to reject special interests.

And although this was the outcome so many in our community fought for, I am frustrated that more than $600,000 taxpayer dollars were wasted during this process. These are resources that could have been spent improving our neighborhoods. Instead, Mayor Amezcua and Councilmembers Becerra and Penaloza failed to take action on behalf of residents and taxpayers when they had the opportunity during the special council meeting, and they stood with the special interests.

I am very thankful for the people-powered campaign we led to stop this recall. To our grassroots coalition of supporters, including County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, my council colleagues Thai Viet Phan, Benjamin Vasquez, Johnathan Ryan Hernandez, Santa Ana School Board President Carolyn Torres, community organizations like the Working Families Party, Chispa, Mijente, the Democratic Party of Orange County, and multiple labor unions from UFCW to the Carpenters and Unite Here, I am beyond grateful for your unwavering support and dedication to standing with me and for what’s right.

I am especially thankful to the thousands of voters who once again put their trust in me to represent them. I look forward to continuing the work that Ward 3 voters elected me to do. As Mayor Pro Tem, I remain committed to putting people first and delivering the bold results that we deserve.”

The election results are being periodically updated and can be found on OCVote.gov. The results must be certified by December 8, 2023. According to the county registrar’s website, there are an estimated 230 ballots left to be processed and counted.