Assemblyman Gregg Hart appeared to be heading to another term representing the 37th State Assembly district.

In updated election results released Tuesday night, Hart had 66.7% of the vote and Sari Domingues had 33.3% of the vote.

There are 268,856 registered voters within that district.

After initial results were released, Hart said he was thankful for voters’ support.

“I’m very gratified and honored to have an opportunity to serve for two more years,” Hart told Noozhawk. “I think I have a strong mandate for the work that I’ve been doing. Which really is about being accessible to my constituents, working really hard, reflecting the values of our district, and trying to make sure that everybody in California, and particularly in the Central Coast, has an opportunity for a good job, good education, and a wonderful environment.”

After the Democrats’ strong showing across the county, Hart said he believes it signals that voters are demanding change from the federal government. He said California has traditionally had a strong relationship with the federal government, but that has not been the case under the Trump Administration.

“I’m hopeful the new Democratic Congress will be able to stop that and protect California’s interests and make sure that we have a seat at the table that we deserve,” he said.

If re-elected, Hart said he would focus on affordability, housing and the environment.

Hart, a Santa Barbara native and longtime local politician, has held the seat since 2022. He served several terms on the Santa Barbara City Council and one term on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.

Hart also worked as a legislative assistant for California Assemblyman Jack O’Connell and as deputy executive director of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments’ Traffic Solutions program.  

Hart, a Democrat, said he is most proud of his work on environmental issues, including the California Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program. He also highlighted his accessibility to community members and strong relationships with his Assembly colleagues. 

Domingues, a Republican, is a former business analyst and Santa Maria native. She worked for Monterey County for more than 12 years and previously as a computer specialist in Santa Barbara County for more than 11 years. 

She holds two associate degrees in liberal arts and information systems from Allan Hancock College, a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of La Verne and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Chapman University. 

She founded a Santa Barbara County Moms For Liberty chapter in 2023. The group’s mission is “fighting for the survival of America by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.”

If elected, Domingues said she would focus on education, family, safety and economics. 

In regard to education, she pledged to increase test scores and stop what she called “inappropriate” subjects from being taught in primary education. She cited ethnic and LGBTQ+ studies as two examples.

She also promised to work with law enforcement to reduce crime.

This is a developing story. Early election results will be updated as more ballots are processed and counted. Semi-official election results are expected late Tuesday night. Final, certified results will be available by Dec. 3.