Bakersfield Ward 3: Bittle Leads Five-Candidate Race in First Reported Ballot Count

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — November 4, 2026. Bakersfield voters chose among five candidates for City Council Ward 3 on November 3. The first reported ballot release placed Cassie Bittle ahead with 2,460 votes (about 33%), followed by Pedro Naveiras with 2,080 (about 28%) and Kathryn Halling with 1,950 (about 26%), according to 23ABC/KERO’s reporting from local election-night gatherings. These figures were from the first batch — not an updated November 4 countywide return — and should not be treated as the outcome of the contest.

Five candidates in an open contest

In that same initial report, Juan Carlos Llamas received 513 votes (about 7%) and Seth Hewitt received 347 (about 5%). Bittle’s first-release edge over Naveiras was 380 votes and over Halling was 510 votes. All of these margins may change as the remaining eligible ballots are counted.

Why the time of the count matters

Ward 3 has one council seat at stake. A candidate leading the first batch of votes is not the certified winner. Early releases often include ballots received ahead of Election Day and a partial portion of in-person votes. Readers must compare the same race and the same reporting timestamp when reading results from different news organizations.

As of this article’s November 4 editorial review, we have not independently verified a newer Ward 3 numerical release from the Kern County Elections Division; the figures above remain an explicitly dated election-night snapshot. For more recent data, use Kern County Elections.

What happens next

The city will have new representation in Ward 3 once the official results are confirmed. Ward 1, 4 and 7 council contests were also on the November ballot, and the mayor’s office was not part of this Ward 3 race. Residents can follow our guide to Bakersfield council meetings to stay involved after the vote.

Sources: 23ABC/KERO, first unofficial Ward 3 election-night count; Kern County Elections. Published November 4, 2026. This is not a certified result.

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