Bishop Council: Schwartz and Muchovej Lead for Two Seats in First Mail-Ballot Tally

BISHOP, Inyo County — November 4, 2026. The first report of the November 3 election put Karen Schwartz and Stephen JC Muchovej in the top two positions of Bishop’s City Council election. Two seats are being contested, and the initial figures include only early ballots processed before Election Day.

Four candidates and two seats

According to the Inyo County first semi-official results report reproduced by Sierra Wave Media, Karen Schwartz recorded 344 candidate votes (36.67%), Stephen JC Muchovej 324 (34.54%), Tyler Beadle 153 (16.31%), and Aaron Schat 117 (12.47%). The report identifies 0 of 2 precincts reporting, with 938 recorded candidate selections in the first batch.

Because this race elects two councilmembers, these percentages are shares of candidate selections rather than percentages of all registered Bishop voters. The 20-vote difference between Schwartz and Muchovej should not be mistaken for the gap that determines the second seat, which was larger in this count.

What remains

The release was timestamped 8:00 p.m. November 3, 2026. No Election Day polling-place precincts had been included in this initial report, and valid later mail and provisional ballots may change the count. The Inyo County election office will provide updated reports and certify final results after canvassing.

Only an early unofficial vote count; no candidate is being declared elected here.

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