Local elections were held in Santa Cruz on Monday, May 9, 2022, as a part of the 2022 Philippine general election. Voters will select candidates for all local positions: a town mayor, vice mayor and town councilors, as well as members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, a governor, a vice-governor and a representative for the province's fourth congressional district in the House of Representatives.

Background In 2019 elections Edgar San Luis ran as Mayor of Santa Cruz under the Nacionalista Party to succeed incumbent and term-limited Domingo Panganiban who wad running for Vice-Mayor. San Luis later won against to then incumbent Laguna Board member Benjo Agarao of PDP–Laban and to former Mayor Ariel Magcalas of KDP.

Incumbent San Luis is running for reelection under the Aksyon Demokratiko he's facing Laguna's 4th District Benjamin Agarao Jr. of PDP–Laban.

During the campaign period of the 2022 election, Incumbent Mayor of Manila Isko Moreno endorsed San Luis and Louie de Leon, while former Senator (later President) Bongbong Marcos endorsed Agarao and Laarni Malibiran.

Tickets

Administration coalition +Team Serbisyong may Puso # Name Party For Mayor 2. Edgar San Luis For Vice Mayor 1. Louie de Leon For Councilor 4. Efren Diaz 6. Querubin Gabinete 8. Angelito Joven 13. Lucena Odejar 14. Alan Pamatmat 15. Ambiel Panganiban 18. Ramon Tan 19. Norman Tolentino

Primary opposition coalition +Team Tropang pang Masa # Name Party For Mayor 1. Benjamin Agarao Jr. For Vice Mayor None For Councilor 1. Lea Almarves 2. Frederick Ambrocio 3. Esmeraldo de las Armas Jr. 5. Renato Ernas 7. Demmer Halili 10. Rizaldy Kalaw 12. Mia Martinez 16. Serafin San Juan Jr.

Other coalitions and parties +Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives # Name Party For Vice Mayor 2. Laarni Malibiran For Councilor 9. Mark Anthony Joven

+Independent politician # Name Party For Councilor 11. Romonito Lauta 17. Percy San Miguel

Results The candidates for mayor and vice mayor with the highest number of votes wins the seat; they are voted separately, therefore, they may be of different parties when elected.

Mayor Incumbent Edgar San Luis is running for reelection under Aksyon Demokratiko his main opponent is incumbent Laguna's 4th District Representative Benjamin Agarao Jr. of PDP–Laban.

2022 Santa Cruz mayoraltyelection # Candidate Coalition Party Votes % 1. Edgar San Luis (Incumbent) Serbisyong may Puso Aksyon 33,062 50.97 2. Benjamin Agarao Jr. Tropang pang Masa PDP–Laban 31,809 49.03 Valid ballots 64,871 81.15 Margin of victory 1,253 1.94 Invalid or blank ballots 15,067 18.85 Total votes 79,938 100.00 Aksyon hold

Vice Mayor Incumbent Laarni Malibiran is running for reelection her main opponent is Incumbent Councilor and also her predecessor Louie de Leon.

2022 Santa Cruz vice mayoraltyelection # Candidate Coalition Party Votes % 1. Laarni Malibiran (Incumbent) Tropang pang Masa PROMDI 37,099 59.74 2. Louie de Leon Serbisyon may Puso Aksyon 24,997 40.26 Valid ballots 62,096 77.68 Margin of victory 12,102 19.48 Invalid or blank ballots 17,842 22.32 Total votes 79,938 100.00 PROMDI hold

Sangguniang Bayan Election is via plurality-at-large voting: A voter votes for up to eight candidates, then the eight candidates with the highest number of votes are elected.

Party or alliance Votes % Seats Aksyon Demokratiko 203,491 48.95 4 PDP–Laban 177,137 42.61 3 PROMDI 25,087 6.03 1 Independent 9,981 2.04 0 Ex officio seats 2 Total votes 415,696 100.00 10

2022 Santa Cruz sangguniang bayanelection # Candidate Coalition Party Votes % 1. Ambiel John Panganiban (Incumbent) Serbisyong may Puso Aksyon 34,775 8.37 2. Lea Almarves (Incumbent) Tropang pang Masa PDP–Laban 29,711 7.15 3. Norman Tolentino Serbisyong may Puso Aksyon 27,828 6.69 4. Esmeraldo De Las Armas Jr. Tropang pang Masa PDP–Laban 26,911 6.47 5. Pasirit Kalaw Tropang pang Masa PDP–Laban 26,626 6.41 6. Mark Anthony Joven (Incumbent) Tropang pang Masa PROMDI 25,087 6.03 7. Lucena Odejar (Incumbent) Serbisyong may Puso Aksyon 25,087 6.03 8. Alan Pamatmat (Incumbent) Serbisyong may Puso Aksyon 24,667 5.93 9. Efren Diaz (Incumbent) Serbisyong may Puso Aksyon 24,322 5.85 10. Angelito Joven Serbisyong may Puso Aksyon 22,537 5.42 11. Ramon Tan (Incumbent) Serbisyong may Puso Aksyon 22,179 5.34 12. Querubin Gabinete Serbisyong may Puso Aksyon 22,096 5.32 13. Serafin San Juan Jr. Tropang pang Masa PDP–Laban 21,494 5.17 14. Mia Martinez Tropang pang Masa PDP–Laban 21,145 5.09 15. Demmer Halili Tropang pang Masa PDP–Laban 18,990 4.57 16. Frederick Ambrosio Tropang pang Masa PDP–Laban 16,543 3.98 17. Renato Ernas Tropang pang Masa PDP–Laban 15,717 3.78 18. Percy San Miguel Independent 8,522 2.05 19. Ramonito Lauta Independent 1,459 0.35 Valid ballots 415,696 65.00 Invalid or blank ballots 223,808 35.00 Total votes 639,504 100.00

Aftermath After the Municipal Board of Canvassers proclaimed reelectionist Edgar San Luis of Aksyon Demokratiko, The supporters of then incumbent Congressman Benjamin Agarao Jr. of PDP–Laban said the election was cheated and will file a complaint against San Luis. On the 14th of July 2023, one year after the elections some groups and individuals go to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office in Santa Cruz, Laguna to file for a Recall election for the position of Mayor, The COMELEC accept the complaint. On the 17th of July 2023, three days after the complaint was filed and accept by the COMELEC the incumbent Mayor Edgar San Luis official answer the questions of his supporters, he said Who ever is the person behind all this will be held prosecuted because only in the early 2023, Rumors has it that someone is buying the signature of a townsman and has a bribe of five hundred pesos and three/five kilos of rice.

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