Early returns show Maria Isabel López, a longtime educator and administrator, with a lead over Nubia Flores, a parent organizer for Long Beach Forward, in the race for a seat on the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education.

López, the outsider in the Area 1 race to represent the North Long Beach and Bixby Knolls areas on the LBUSD board, so far had 55% of the vote compared to Flores, who had 45%.

The early election results are not final and could change significantly as provisional ballots and mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day continue to trickle in. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office said the next vote totals will be released Friday, and the updates will continue through Dec. 5 if needed.

The winner will replace Megan Kerr, who is running for City Council.

While Flores was endorsed by the Teachers Association of Long Beach, the LBUSD board president and several City Council members, López ran a more grassroots campaign, with support from LBUSD teachers, students and others.

Lópezn has been working in schools for over two decades and is an LBUSD alumni. Her platform focused heavily on arming students with the right resources and guidance to succeed.

Flores has served as a Commissioner of the Citizens Advisory Commission on Disabilities and School Site Council, the PTA Executive Board, the LBUSD Community Advisory Committee and is a parent organizer with Long Beach Forward.

For up-to-date election results, visit lbpost.com/elections.

Editor’s note: This story was updated Wednesday, Nov. 9 with up-to-date vote tallies.