Deceased Candidate Leads Calaveras County Supervisor Race

Bruce Giudici has received 1,982 votes, or about 57%, in the race for a seat on the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors. His opponent, Clyde Clapp, has 1,496 votes, or about 43%—a margin of 486 votes, as of November 10, 2026.

Giudici died on August 31 after falling while campaigning door to door. He was two weeks short of his 69th birthday. His campaign urged voters to continue supporting him after his death.

The county still has 322 ballots to count and 340 ballots that could be corrected because of signature problems. It is not clear whether any of those ballots are from District 5, and the outstanding ballots could affect the result.

Campaign volunteer Carrie Biggs-Adams described the decision to continue campaigning as complicated and emotional. She said volunteers wanted to finish Giudici’s mission and help ensure a qualified person is selected for the district.

If Giudici wins, the seat will be filled temporarily by appointment until another election can choose a successor. His campaign said the appointment would be made by the governor taking office at the end of the incumbent supervisor’s term in January 2027.

Voters Keep Backing Giudici’s Call for Ethical Leadership

Bruce Giudici is ahead in the Calaveras County District 5 supervisor race, even though he died while campaigning in August. He has 1,982 votes, about 57%, to Clyde Clapp’s 1,496, about 43%, as of November 10, 2026.

The campaign’s supporters chose to keep urging voters to back Giudici after his death, saying they wanted to complete his mission. Volunteer Carrie Biggs-Adams called that decision emotional and complicated. The campaign described Giudici as committed to honest, accountable leadership and to preventing Clapp’s return to the board.

The count is not final: 322 ballots remain to be counted and 340 could be corrected over signature issues. Their effect on this district’s result is unclear. The narrow margin makes those remaining ballots consequential.

If Giudici wins, the seat will be filled temporarily by appointment until a successor is elected. The outcome will leave the district’s voters awaiting another election to select a permanent representative.

Dead Candidate Leads as Uncounted Ballots Could Change Outcome

Bruce Giudici is leading the Calaveras County District 5 race despite having died before the election. He has 1,982 votes, about 57%, compared with Clyde Clapp’s 1,496, about 43%, as of November 10, 2026.

Giudici’s campaign continued asking voters to support him after his August 31 death. That choice has left a striking result: if he wins, the seat will not go directly to the living candidate who placed second. Instead, an appointee will hold the seat on an interim basis until voters elect a successor.

The tally remains open, with 322 ballots yet to be counted and another 340 potentially eligible for correction because of signature problems. Officials have not established how many, if any, belong to District 5, and the current 486-vote margin could still be affected.

Campaign volunteer Carrie Biggs-Adams said supporters wanted to finish Giudici’s mission and help ensure a good person is selected. The next steps will depend on the final count and, if Giudici prevails, an appointment followed by another election.