Xiong, Bliss in tight Council race; Boyenga still ahead

Politics Xiong, Bliss in tight Council race; Boyenga still ahead More ballot numbers expected Friday afternoon By Jonathan Whitaker On Nov 12, 2026 Share New election results released Tuesday by the Merced County Registrar of Voters were very favorable to Merced City Councilman Fue Xiong who is seeking reelection to the District 6 seat that represents the furthest northern area of town, including UC Merced. On Election Night last week, Xiong was trailing behind challenger John Bliss, a retired high school teacher, by only 40 votes. The latest update on Nov. 10 shows Xiong now in the lead by 57 votes. Fue Xiong The vote totals are now 2,026 for Xiong, and 1,969 for Bliss. That’s a gain of 878 votes for Xiong since the first results were released last week, while Bliss has gained 781 over the same period — a difference of 97 votes. Bliss knows what it means to wait for ballot results in a tight election.

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.