In Election Tie, Luck of Draw Picks Winner

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 30, 2026

In a rare tie in Gila Bend’s Town Council election, candidate Jesus Rubalcava won the final seat by drawing a higher card following a court-certified recount and a tiebreaker conducted under an Arizona law requiring chance to decide tied votes. This unusual resolution highlights the critical impact of voter turnout in small communities and demonstrates a transparent approach to resolving deadlocks amid increasing public scrutiny of election fairness.

In the small Arizona town of Gila Bend, a July election for a Town Council seat ended in a rare and dramatic tie, with each candidate receiving 67 votes. With about 600 registered voters, fewer than 200 participated, underscoring how every ballot can be pivotal in local elections. The deadlock sent election officials to a century-old state law requiring tied elections to be resolved by chance, a practice designed to ensure a fair and impartial outcome when votes cannot separate contenders.

The two candidates involved in the contest were Jesus Rubalcava, a high school teacher and former state legislator, and Athena Guerrero, a water treatment plant employee and political newcomer. Notably, Rubalcava had experienced a similar tie in 2014, when he won his first council term by the flip of a coin. This marked an unusual repeat for him, prompting mixed feelings about the role of luck in electoral success.

After a court-certified recount confirmed the tie, town clerk Patricia Riggs, who manages elections, worked extensively with legal advisers and election experts to plan a transparent and well-documented tiebreaker. Arizona law only requires that the tie be broken “by lot,” leaving officials discretion about the method. Gila Bend’s leaders chose a high-card draw from a shuffled deck, a decision guided by the desire for simplicity, public understanding, and a touch of excitement. Other options such as drawing straws or playing rock-paper-scissors were rejected as less fitting.

On the designated day, both candidates participated in the process at a local school building chamber, observed by council members and a handful of residents. After multiple cuts to the deck and a reminder that suits would determine a winner in case of matching ranks, Guerrero drew a three of clubs. Rubalcava’s initial card was also a three, resulting in another tie. On a second draw, Rubalcava pulled a higher card, securing the council seat.

Both candidates maintained cordial relations throughout the contest. Guerrero said she plans to seek office again in the future, viewing the council as a potential step toward the mayoralty. Rubalcava expressed surprise at the recurrence of such a narrow outcome but emphasized the importance of voter participation, noting that even family members had missed voting.

Gila Bend, with a population around 1,800 and a history as a key 19th-century stagecoach stop, exemplifies how closely contested local elections can reflect broader democratic processes. Election law experts note that random methods for breaking ties, while unusual, serve as a practical "stress test" for trust in electoral outcomes. In an era of growing skepticism about elections, the town’s methodical and transparent approach aimed to bolster confidence that the final decision was unbiased and genuinely based on chance.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.