Orange County District 1 race heads to runoff

Never was the adage, “Every vote counts,” more appropriate than the 2024 primary election for Orange County Commission District 1.

After the Tuesday, Aug. 20, election, neither incumbent Nicole Wilson or challenger Austin Arthur had secured enough votes to be declared a winner. Only five votes separated the two. 

And after the state’s 5 p.m. deadline for voters to submit an affidavit, that difference shrank even more.

Following the deadline, the Orange County Canvassing Board moved to create the first unofficial results of the election. The results showed the Orange County District 1 race outside the statutory requirement for a recount.

Through the process of canvassing the vote, Arthur gained 13 votes, bringing his total to 14,060 (49.95%). Wilson gained 10 votes, bringing her total to 14,062 (49.95%). The qualified write-in candidate, Stephen Davis, finished with 28 votes.

Because no candidate secured a majority of the votes, the District 1 race will move on to the November ballot as a runoff between Wilson and Arthur.

“The most important takeaway that I want our community to know is that we are now going to have a race in November with two named qualified candidates — the way it should have always been,” Wilson said. “I’m actually really excited for that. There have been lots of efforts to mislead voters throughout this process, and this will allow voters to have the opportunity to really vet candidates. When it comes down to integrity, honesty and effectiveness, I believe that I’m the best candidate for the job.”

Arthur also said he is ready to continue his bid for office.

“I feel energized, because so many people in last 48 hours have rallied behind us and supported us to cure votes,” he said. “I know we will win in a huge way. Momentum is with us. As election cycle went on, more people found out and voted for us.

“People are not divided on local issues,” Arthur said. “They want to slow the growth. The issue is, ‘Who is effective for that job?’ We’ve had four years of this commissioner, who has been ineffective, and it has gotten worse.”

Orange County Supervisor of Elections Glen Gilzean said he is proud of the work his team has done this week to arrive at a runoff.

“I want to thank our entire election team of more than 2,200 people for all of their hard work throughout this process as we ensured every possible vote that could be legally counted was counted,” he said. “The canvassing board serves a critical function in giving the voting public a transparent view of how votes are counted after every election.”

The canvassing board now will move to a required audit of the election and send final results to the state.

Updated results can be found at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections.