Early voting results for the Merced County Superintendent of Schools race show a tight three-way contest. Richard Lopez leads with nearly 34% of the vote, followed by Ana Boyenga and Paula Heupel, each with 27.39%.
Lopez, a longtime educator, focuses on career pathways and fiscal responsibility, while Boyenga emphasizes literacy and teacher retention, and Heupel prioritizes parent partnerships and transparency. The top two candidates will advance to the November general election.
The race has been marked by allegations of a smear campaign from the current superintendent, who endorsed a competitor.