Unofficial Gilbert results put three council incumbents outside winning positions

Updated unofficial results place three Gilbert Town Council incumbents outside the four winning positions after the July 21 primary, setting up a possible major turnover on the council.

The July 27 Maricopa County results file lists Beth Goulden, Bill Spence, Joel Coen and Bus Obayomi ahead of incumbents Chuck Bongiovanni, Jim Torgeson and Bobbi Buchli. The results are not final until the county completes its canvass.

Unofficial Gilbert council results

Four four-year Gilbert council seats were on the July 21 ballot. Voters could select up to four candidates. The July 27 county totals were:

• Beth Goulden: 24,560 votes
• Bill Spence: 22,732
• Joel Coen: 22,358
• Bus Obayomi: 20,942
• Chuck Bongiovanni: 18,979
• Jim Torgeson: 18,321
• Bobbi Buchli: 13,105

The county report lists the four leading candidates in the positions associated with the four available seats. The report also lists 141,459 total votes in the contest, including votes for write-in candidates, under-votes and over-votes.

Why the result matters

If the current order holds through certification, Gilbert would see three new council members. That could affect decisions involving water infrastructure, utility rates, resident communication and public-safety accountability.

The Town of Gilbert’s call of election set the primary for July 21, 2026, and listed four open four-year council seats. The notice says a candidate receiving a majority of all votes cast at the primary may be declared elected without appearing on the November ballot.

The unofficial results do not by themselves establish the final election outcome or determine whether any additional election step will be required.

Water rates and public trust shaped the campaign

Arizona’s Family reported after the primary that water-rate increases, billing communication and broader concerns about the town’s communication with residents were major issues in the campaign. The report also described public-safety confidence concerns tied to the Gilbert Goons controversy and related public-trust questions.

Bongiovanni defended his votes supporting higher water rates, telling Arizona’s Family that Gilbert needed to drill new wells and rebuild treatment plants ahead of expected reductions in Colorado River water. He also acknowledged that the town’s communication about the changes could have been better.

Coen, who finished third in the unofficial count, said improving communication and restoring public trust would be priorities if he joins the council. He said residents were tired of being caught off guard by town decisions.

Certification is still pending

Maricopa County’s deadline to canvass the July 21 primary returns is August 3, 2026. The Arizona Secretary of State lists August 6 as the scheduled official statewide canvass.

Until the county canvass is complete, Bongiovanni, Torgeson and Buchli should be described as appearing to have lost their reelection bids rather than as definitively defeated. The likely transition would put water costs, infrastructure planning, resident notification and public-safety trust among the issues to watch in Gilbert’s next council term.

Sources

• Maricopa County 2026 July Election Results PDF
• Town of Gilbert Call of Election
• Arizona’s Family campaign-results report