A candidate who died nearly two months before the election has built an insurmountable lead in Northern California's local government race. Bruce Giudici, who passed away on August 31 while canvassing steep residential driveways, clinched 1,982 votes to take 56.99 percent of the total in the race for the Calaveras County District 5 Board of Supervisors seat. His living opponent, former county supervisor Clyde Clapp, trailed with 1,496 votes, or 43.01 percent.
The lead stands at 497 votes. It is decisive.
All precincts have turned in their tallies, but election workers have not signed off on the final count. Calaveras County elections officials confirmed that 322 ballots remain unprocessed, while another 340 ballots require voter cure procedures due to missing or mismatched signatures. Officials have not established how many of those 662 uncertified ballots belong to District 5 voters, making Giudici the presumptive victor.
Giudici, 68, died one day after suffering a severe fall while knocking on doors on August 30. He was walking up a steep driveway to make his pitch to a homeowner when he collapsed, prompting an immediate call to emergency responders. He died the following day.
Rather than folding the operation, his campaign volunteers chose to push through to polling day. They asked voters to back the dead man's ticket as a matter of principle.
It was a very complicated decision to decide to keep going and an emotional one and we felt very strongly that Bruce had wanted to do this, and that was his mission, and our goal was to finish his mission.
Carrie Biggs — Adams, Campaign Volunteer
Following his death, Giudici's campaign staff described him as an advocate who believed District 5 deserved honest, ethical, and accountable leadership. Volunteers said the community's refusal to abandon his ballot line demonstrated deep local trust.
"We just really appreciate the people who trusted us that a good person would come forward and be a better alternative as their district five supervisor," Biggs-Adams said. "And we appreciate their support and their trust and now will help make sure somebody good is selected."
| Candidate | Status | Total Votes | Vote Share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Giudici | Deceased (Aug 31) | 1,982 | 56.99% |
| Clyde Clapp | Former Supervisor | 1,496 | 43.01% |
| Lead Margin | Giudici +497 | Total Processed: 3,478 | Pending/Cure: 662 |
Under California elections law, a candidate who secures a majority of the ballots cast must be certified as the winner, even if deceased before voting begins. The law prohibits discarding a valid democratic mandate simply because the victor cannot take the oath.
When the new term begins in January, the District 5 supervisor seat will formally become vacant. The Calaveras County elections office confirmed that the California Governor's Office will then step in to appoint an interim supervisor, who will serve until a successor is elected and qualifies under state law.