District 5 City Council candidate Patrick Kennedy is behind in votes with 3,781 compared with Jay Schenirer's 4,309 votes. 41 of 41 precincts have been counted.

There are, however, still “tens of thousands” of absentee votes turned in on election day countywide that have yet to be counted, said Brad Buyse, Sacramento County’s campaign services manager

District 5 City Council candidate Kennedy gathered with his campaign party, family and friends at Coffee Garden to watch the results of the race as the polls closed and the votes were counted.

Kenny Alvarado, campaign manager, was positive about the outcome of a multi-month effort. 

“It's tough to say how the votes will go,” he said. “I feel positive. When we started it was ground, ground, ground – walking the neighborhoods, and we'll see how that works for us in the end."

Coffee Garden was open as usual, with space for Kennedy’s party where owner Michael Madsen served wine, beer and food. There was a computer monitoring the stats, and the display was put up on the wall with a projector. 

When Kennedy arrived, he gave a speech to thank everyone for their support and for showing up to be with him on election night.

"I got up at 5 a.m. and got back on the streets,” Kennedy said about his final day of campaigning. “We hung door hangers at 6 a.m. around the neighborhood. I went around with Lauren Hammond for about four hours before coming here."

The mood was positive even as the votes were tallied, and it was apparent that Kennedy’s results were behind. Supporters wore their Patrick Kennedy stickers proudly as the evening continued.

Kennedy said there were many people who helped his campaign, and if he had to choose a group to thank, it “would be the support of the Latino community. The neighborhoods have always been positive toward me, and I have always focused on helping local neighborhoods in return."

Video from election party: