Merced Council District 6: John Bliss Leads Fue Xiong by Just 40 Votes

MERCED, Merced County — November 4, 2026. The Merced City Council District 6 race remains exceptionally close in the November 4 preliminary tally.

Preliminary results

John G. Bliss Jr. has 1,188 votes, incumbent Fue Xiong has 1,148, and Yader Zeledon has 430. Bliss currently leads Xiong by 40 votes.

What the vote means locally

Only District 6 voters choose this council representative. A 40-vote advantage does not establish a final winner, especially while additional vote-by-mail and provisional ballots may be processed. The District 2 contest is a separate electorate.

Counting is not finished

These results are based on the election returns available on the morning of November 4, 2026, generally updated through 2:07 a.m. Pacific. Officials still must examine and count eligible ballots received after the election-night snapshot. Only the county’s completed canvass and certification establish final outcomes. The names and totals above are not a fresh November 5 count.

Sources: Los Banos Enterprise — Merced County election results, November 4, reporting county election returns; Merced County Elections — official results portal. See California58 election coverage.

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