Incumbent Kelly Purvis and challenger Rebecca King are leading the race for two seats on the Coronado City Council following Tuesday's election, but a narrow margin between the second- and third-place candidates means the outcome is not yet settled.

Unofficial results show Purvis in first place with 3,176 votes, or 37.7% of votes cast for candidates in the race. King follows with 2,282 votes, or 27.1%, while Ricky Hoyt is close behind with 2,221 votes, or 26.4%.

Andrew Gade trails the field with 743 votes, or 8.8%, according to election results compiled by The Ballot Book.

The race is nonpartisan, and Coronado voters were allowed to select up to two candidates.

Although Purvis has a substantial lead, King and Hoyt are separated by just 61 votes, leaving the second seat undecided as election officials continue counting ballots.

Purvis leads the race for another term

Purvis, who currently serves on the City Council, has maintained the strongest showing among the four candidates.

She was appointed to the council in 2024 after John Duncan was elected mayor, filling the vacancy created when he left his council seat.

Before joining the council, Purvis spent years working for the city of Coronado, including in the City Manager's Office.

Speaking to The Coronado News after the first election results were released, Purvis expressed optimism about serving another term.

She also said she would be willing to work with any of the other candidates if elected.

King and Hoyt remain locked in a close race

While Purvis appears well-positioned to retain a council seat, the contest between King and Hoyt remains much closer.

King, an attorney and retired military spouse, is seeking her first term on the council. Her campaign focused on issues including the Tijuana River sewage crisis, public safety facilities and concerns about electric bicycles.

Hoyt, a Navy Reserve pilot and business owner, also emphasized sewage pollution, public safety staffing and city infrastructure during his campaign.

The two candidates finished close together in the first unofficial results released Tuesday night.

King acknowledged the narrow margin in comments to The Coronado News, saying she was encouraged by the early returns but understood that the outcome could change.

Hoyt also expressed optimism about remaining competitive as additional ballots are counted.

With only 61 votes separating the two candidates in the latest reported tally, the next rounds of counting could determine who secures the second available seat.

Gade trails in fourth place

Gade, a Coronado business owner making another bid for a council seat, remains in fourth place.

He received 743 votes in the reported tally, well behind the other three candidates.

Gade previously ran for City Council and entered this election hoping to build on his earlier campaign.

According to The Coronado News, he spent approximately $2,000 during the campaign, considerably less than some of his opponents.

Following the first results, Gade said he was not surprised by his position and viewed his campaign as part of a longer-term effort to remain involved in local politics.

Election will shape Coronado's City Council

Two seats are being filled in this year's election.

Purvis is seeking to continue serving on the council, while longtime Councilmember Carrie Downey decided not to seek another term.

Downey has served four nonconsecutive terms since 2004, making her departure another change in the city's leadership.

The newly elected council members will serve four-year terms ending in December 2030, according to the city of Coronado's election information.

For Coronado residents, the election comes as city leaders continue addressing concerns about sewage pollution along local beaches, housing development, traffic safety and public infrastructure.

Those issues are expected to remain priorities for the council regardless of which candidates ultimately win.

More election results are expected this week

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters will continue counting ballots and releasing updated results over the coming days.

Additional updates are scheduled for November 5, 6 and 9, according to local election reporting.

Because the margin between King and Hoyt is so narrow, the second council seat could remain uncertain until more ballots are processed.

The county is expected to certify the final results by December 3.

Residents can follow the latest vote totals through the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.