Sparks City Council declares 2026 primary results, confirms candidates amid low turnout

Sparks City Council on June 18 formally canvassed the June 9, 2026 primary election results and voted unanimously to declare the results official and confirm which candidates will advance to the November general election.

Lisa Huddleston, Sparks city clerk, told the council the primary was conducted by the Washoe County Registrar of Voters under an interlocal agreement the council approved in November 2025 and ordinance 2660 (approved December 2025). Huddleston said the city accepted declarations of candidacy earlier this year and that 13 candidates filed across four races.

"The voter turnout this year was significantly low," Huddleston said, reporting that Washoe County had 321,409 registered voters with a 30.75% turnout and that Sparks had 69,369 registered voters with a 28.5% turnout. She gave ward breakdowns: Ward 2 had 10,515 registered voters with 23.89% turnout and Ward 4 had 18,081 registered voters with 37.51% turnout, the highest ward turnout.

Huddleston explained ballot terminology used in the canvass, noting examples of undervotes (ballots that did not include a vote in a specific race) and overvotes (ballots that selected multiple candidates in one race). She said there were 13 overvotes and 532 undervotes noted in the mayoral race example shown to the council.

On vote totals presented by Huddleston, the mayoral primary results were: Bybee 19.10%, Lawson 34.82%, Mackey 19.25% and Rawson 26.84%. Ward 2 results were Goulet 10.44%, O'Connell 31.07%, Rand 28.49% and Vanderwell 30.01%. Ward 4 results were Harrell 7.87%, Mayberry 54.35%, McCaffrey 28.62% and Thomas 9.16%.

Huddleston noted statutory outcomes for uncontested or majority-winner races: Cheryl Iding, who ran unopposed for Municipal Court Judge Department 1, will be confirmed elected after the November election as provided by statute, and Adam Mayberry, having received more than 50% in Ward 4, will be confirmed elected for that seat and will not appear on the general election ballot for that ward.

During a brief question-and-answer exchange, council members asked Huddleston about administration and security; she said the process ran smoothly, described signature verification (both automated and manual), precinct sorting, and that tabulators now produce a ballot preview before final cast if voting in person.

Council Member Abbott moved and Council Member Anderson seconded a motion to declare the 2026 primary results official and confirm the candidates for the 2026 general election. The council voted unanimously to adopt the motion.

With no public comment and no further announcements, Mayor Lawson adjourned the special meeting.