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# Diaz: The Questionnaire Is Over. Countdown to ElectioNite Starts Now.
- URL: https://www.santanero.org/news/electionite/2026/10/06/diaz-the-questionnaire-is-over-countdown-to-electionite-starts-now/
- Published: 2026-10-06T03:31:30.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-06T03:34:51.000Z
- Author: Daniel Diaz
- Tags: ElectioNite, #ElectioNite, #ElectioNite 2026

We’re less than a month away from Election Day, and The Santanero’s candidate questionnaire period is now over.

Over the last few weeks, I tried my best to get the questionnaire to every candidate we reached out to and give them a fair chance to respond. That included moving my own deadlines, offering extensions and giving candidates the option to answer over the phone or on Zoom. I was even willing to tag along while a candidate canvassed and ask the questions along the way if that’s what worked.

I made that effort because these weren’t just questions from a newspaper covering Santa Ana. They came from a Santanero, a constituent born and raised here, along with questions submitted by people in the community. An answer to me is also an answer to the voters these candidates are asking to represent.

And now, The Santanero is turning its focus to helping voters as they begin their research for Santa Ana's races and measures.

## Who responded?

> *Read the candidates' responses* [*here*](https://www.santanero.org/tag/santanero-questionnaire/)*.*

Santa Ana Mayor

Valerie Amezcua Incumbent ❌ Declined 

Dwayne Shipp ✅ Responded 

Dan Shimell ✅ Responded 

Santa Ana City Council — Ward 2

Benjamin Vazquez Incumbent ✅ Responded 

Selica Diaz ⌛ Not submitted by deadline 

Santa Ana City Council — Ward 4

Phil Bacerra Incumbent ❌ Declined 

Sandra De Anda ✅ Responded 

Santa Ana City Council — Ward 6

Giovanni Chavez ⌛ Not submitted by deadline 

Isuri S. Ramos ✅ Responded 

SAUSD — Area 4

Katelyn Brazer-Aceves Incumbent ⌛ Not submitted by deadline 

Sylvia Iglesias ⏰ Did not respond in time 

SAUSD — Area 5

Hector Bustos Incumbent ✅ Responded 

Alejandra Rodriguez ✅ Responded 

California State Assembly — District 68

Jessie Lopez ⌛ Not submitted by deadline 

David Penaloza ❌ Did not respond 

**✅ Responded:**A completed questionnaire was received. 

**❌ Declined:**The candidate indicated they would not participate. 

**⌛ Not submitted by deadline:**The candidate communicated with The Santanero, but a completed questionnaire was not received by the deadline. 

**⏰ Did not respond in time:**The candidate attempted to respond after the questionnaire deadline had passed. 

**❌ Did not respond:**No response to the questionnaire request was received. 

## What’s next for ElectioNite?

The questionnaires were only one part of our election coverage. With Nov. 3 getting closer, I’ve also been working on a new [ElectioNite hub](https://www.santanero.org/electionite/) where Santaneros can find information about the election in one place.

There you’ll be able to read the questionnaires, follow campaign finances, find voting deadlines and requirements, figure out who represents you and learn more about what will actually be on your ballot. The page will continue to be updated as Election Day gets closer.

The Santanero will also continue showing up to candidate forums and debates and reporting on what happens. We’ll keep looking at who is funding candidates, who is supporting or opposing them and what different campaigns are telling voters.

And I want the community to keep being part of that. If there’s something on your ballot you don’t understand, something you think deserves more attention or something you want to know about a candidate or measure, reach out. That’s part of what being a community newspaper is all about!

The Santanero doesn’t endorse candidates or ballot measures and rather focuses on providing as much digestable information to voters possible.

There’s less than a month left. The questionnaires are done, but there’s still plenty for all of us to learn before we fill out our ballots (which were mailed over the weekend and should appear in your mailbox this week!).