Santa Ana Elects First-Time Candidate Dan Shimell as New Mayor

Amezcua, who became Santa Ana’s first elected Latina mayor, conceded shortly after Monday’s result update in a city where about 77% of residents are Latino (source ID 1). Shimell’s massive vote tally from residents came despite receiving no advertising spending from outside groups while Amezcua – an incumbent who many establishment interests pegged to win – had received over $110,000 from the police union to support her campaign in a town facing police accountability questions and still reeling from widespread ICE raids (source ID 1). [1]

By Tuesday evening’s 5 p.m. update, Shimell – a total newcomer to Santa Ana politics – had about 47% of the vote – up by over 4,200 votes against Amezcua who received the endorsement of the Democratic Party of OC as well as a couple of labor and public safety unions and had about 40% of the vote (source ID 1). [1]

Six years after moving to the city, first-time candidate and attorney Dan Shimell is on the brink of becoming Santa Ana’s next mayor, about to beat out police union-backed, four-year incumbent Valerie Amezcua – a longtime local politician (source ID 1). Shimell managed to come back from trailing by 13% of the vote behind Amezcua in initial Election Night results over the course of four days, claiming the lead on Saturday for the first time before widening that lead on Monday and then again on Tuesday. Amezcua, who became Santa Ana’s first elected Latina mayor, conceded shortly after Monday’s result update in a city where about 77% of residents are Latino (source ID 1). [1]

Shimell’s massive vote tally from residents came despite receiving no advertising spending from outside groups while Amezcua – an incumbent who many establishment interests pegged to win – had received over $110,000 from the police union to support her campaign in a town facing police accountability questions and still reeling from widespread ICE raids (source ID 1). By Tuesday evening’s 5 p.m. update, Shimell – a total newcomer to Santa Ana politics – had about 47% of the vote – up by over 4,200 votes against Amezcua who received the endorsement of the Democratic Party of OC as well as a couple of labor and public safety unions and had about 40% of the vote (source ID 1). [1]

Mayor-elect Dan Shimell takes a photo with resident Brisa Cruz, 23, outside of city hall on Nov. 10, 2026. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC Earlier Tuesday, Shimell met up for an interview and photos with the Voice of OC, being stopped repeatedly by residents – both young and older – and city staff to congratulate him as he is expected to beat an incumbent that referred to herself as “the people’s mayor.” He says that type of reception he is getting from residents is because he has been out in the community listening to their concerns, the biggest of which, he says, are about immigration and police accountability (source ID 1). [1]

Six years after moving to the city, first-time candidate and attorney Dan Shimell is on the brink of becoming Santa Ana’s next mayor, about to beat out police union-backed, four-year incumbent Valerie Amezcua – a longtime local politician (source ID 1). Shimell managed to come back from trailing by 13% of the vote behind Amezcua in initial Election Night results over the course of four days, claiming the lead on Saturday for the first time before widening that lead on Monday and then again on Tuesday (source ID 1). [1]

Amezcua, who became Santa Ana’s first elected Latina mayor, conceded shortly after Monday’s result update in a city where about 77% of residents are Latino (source ID 1). Shimell’s massive vote tally from residents came despite receiving no advertising spending from outside groups while Amezcua – an incumbent who many establishment interests pegged to win – had received over $110,000 from the police union to support her campaign in a town facing police accountability questions and still reeling from widespread ICE raids (source ID 1). [1]

By Tuesday evening’s 5 p.m. update, Shimell – a total newcomer to Santa Ana politics – had about 47% of the vote – up by over 4,200 votes against Amezcua who received the endorsement of the Democratic Party of OC as well as a couple of labor and public safety unions and had about 40% of the vote (source ID 1). Mayor-elect Dan Shimell takes a photo with resident Brisa Cruz, 23, outside of city hall on Nov. 10, 2026 (source ID 1). [1]

Sources

Santa Ana News: City Council, Police and Immigration

Prepared with AI assistance from the cited sources.