Measure E Gets Big 'Yes' Vote In Laguna Beach; Perry Unseated In School Board Race

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Laguna Beach residents will see two new faces on the local school district's governing board this year.

Early Tuesday election results showed incumbent Joan Malczewski, Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal and Kimberly Smith with commanding leads for the three open seats on the Laugna Beach Unified School District's Board of Trustees.

By Wednesday afternoon, that lead was maintained with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

Challenger Elizabeth Bates and incumbent Dee Namba Perry trailed in votes respectively.

"We're thrilled to see early returns," Sheik-Sadhal told The Orange County Register. "The community's support has been incredible."

For the three Laguna Beach City Council seats currently up for election, incumbents Alex Rounaghi, Sue Kempf and Mark Orgill jumped to early leads Tuesday night after polls closed.

By Wednesday afternoon, the incumbents had maintained that lead.

Among the biggest topics in town this election season have been what to do with the impending shutdown of the emergency room at Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach, how to lessen tourist impacts at beaches, how to manage the city's budget and how to better protect the community against the threat of wildfires.

"While not all the votes have been counted, I'm optimistic," Rounaghi told The Orange County Register Tuesday night. "I'm proud of what we've done, from investing in wildfire mitigation to securing local water reliability to streamlining government. And there's important work ahead, starting with keeping our emergency room open."

Laguna Beach voters also moved to establish term limits on the city council’s dais with the passing of Measure E.

Measure E limits all city councilmembers to two consecutive four-year terms, with the ability to serve again after at least two terms have passed.

According to the city, if a person is appointed or elected to fill a vacant seat for less than two years of a four-year term, they would be able to serve two consecutive four-year terms following their first term.

The city currently has a five-member council with members elected to four-year terms.

By Wednesday afternoon with 100 percent of precincts reporting, 62 percent — or 5,591 voters — of residents voted to pass Measure E. In opposition, 38 percent — or 3,415 voters — voted against Measure E.

Democratic incumbent Dave Min maintained his lead over former gubernatorial candidate Jenny Rae Le Roux Tuesday night in the battle to hold the seat representing California's 47th Congressional District.

The seat — which Min has held since 2025 — has historically been a Republican stronghold that, in recent years, became a swing district on the coast of Orange County.

Min, a former state legislator, is seeking his second term in Congress after having been first elected in 2024 to an open seat. During June's primary election, Min received 54.4 percent of the vote.

Le Roux is an entrepreneur who serves as director of CAL DOGE, according to The Orange County Register. According to the newspaper, the group is inspired by the federal initiative that focuses on identifying ways to "reduce or eliminate the size and scope of state agencies."

Le Roux received 25 percent of the vote during the June primary, landing her in second.

The 47th Congressional District includes Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Tustin, and a portion of Newport Beach and Mission Viejo.