Election update: Spriggs pulls ahead in mayor race, but not by much

10:03 p.m.: Spriggs is ahead by 24 votes, with 57 precincts reporting. Rawling, Pedrozo and Blake are holding onto their lead for the three open council seats.

9:38 p.m.: Michele Gabriault-Acosta is carrying the lead with just two votes, with 42 of 65 precincts counted.

9 p.m.: Michele Gabriault-Acosta has taken a small lead with 20 of 65 precincts counted by the Merced County elections office.

Earlier: The first election results are in. With 10 of 65 precincts counted, Bill Spriggs and Michele Gabriault-Acosta are in a virtual tie for the mayor's race. Bill Blake is the early leader in the city council races, with 1,870 votes for 27.81 percent of the total. In second place is Josh Pedrozo (1,445 votes) and Mary-Michal Rawling is in third (1,258).