2026 San Jose City Council election
June 2 (primary)
November 3 (runoff) | |
5 of 10 seats on San Jose City Council | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Elections in California |
|---|
The 2026 San Jose City Council election will be taking place on June 2, 2026, to elect five of the ten seats of the San Jose City Council, with runoff elections taking place on November 3, 2026. Runoffs will only occur if no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast in the contest. Local elections in California are officially nonpartisan.[1] Each councilmember is term-limited after two consecutive terms in office.[2]
District 1
Incumbent Rosemary Kamei was elected to the 1st district in 2022 in the primary with 65.7% of the vote. She is eligible for reelection.
Candidates
One candidate has successfully filed to fun for the 1st district:
- Rosemary Kamei[3]
Endorsements
- Labor unions
District 3
Omar Torres was elected to the 3rd district in 2022 in the runoff with 65.6% of the vote. Torres resigned his seat on November 5, 2024, before the end of his term.[5] He was charged and convicted on several child molestation charges.[6] Anthony Tordillos won the special election runoff in 2025 with 64.4% of the vote to finish the remainder of the term.[7][8] Tordillos assumed officed on August 12, 2025,[9] and is eligible for reelection.
Candidates
One candidate has successfully filed to fun for the 3rd district:
- Anthony Tordillos[3]
Endorsements
- Individuals
- David Cohen[10]
- Matt Mahan[10]
- Michael Mulcahy[10]
District 5
Incumbent Peter Ortiz was elected to the 5th district in 2022 in the runoff with 54.8% of the vote. He is eligible for reelection. Nora Campos previously held the 5th district seat from 2001 to 2010.[11]
Candidates
Four candidates have successfully filed to fun for the 5th district:
- Nora Campos[3]
- Vy Dang[3]
- Karen Martinez[3]
- Peter Ortiz[3]
Endorsements
- Political party organizations
- Santa Clara County Democratic Party[12]
- California Working Families Party[13]
District 7
Incumbent Bien Doan was elected to the 7th district in 2022 in the runoff with 53.8% of the vote. He is eligible for reelection.
Candidates
Four candidates have successfully filed to fun for the 7th district:
Endorsements
- Labor unions
- AFL-CIO South Bay Labor Council (co-endorsement)[14]
- Organizations
- Silicon Valley Biz PAC[14]
- Labor unions
- AFL-CIO South Bay Labor Council (dual endorsement)[14]
- Political party organizations
- Santa Clara County Democratic Party (dual endorsement)[12]
- Labor unions
- AFL-CIO South Bay Labor Council (dual endorsement)[14]
- Political party organizations
- Santa Clara County Democratic Party (dual endorsement)[12]
District 9
Incumbent Pam Foley was elected to the 9th district in 2018 and 2022. She is ineligible for reelection.
Candidates
Five candidates have successfully filed to fun for the 9th district:
Endorsements
- Individuals
- Clay Hale[15]
- Individuals
- Individuals
- Pam Foley[17]
- Political party organizations
- Santa Clara County Democratic Party[12]
References
- ^ "Nonpartisan Offices". UC Law SF. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ "Governance Structure". City of San Jose. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "City of San José Candidates--June 2, 2026". City of San Jose. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
- ^ "South Bay Labor Council Sole Endorsement". Instagram. March 6, 2026. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
- ^ Geha, Joseph (August 29, 2025). "Former San José Councilmember Omar Torres Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison". KQED. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ Pho, Brandon (August 29, 2025). "Ex-San Jose councilmember sentenced to 18 years for child molestation". San José Spotlight. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ "May 6, 2025 Special Mail Ballot Election". Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. June 5, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ "June 24, 2025 Special Election". Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. July 24, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ "Anthony Tordillos". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ a b c Menconi, Keith (November 14, 2025). "Downtown San Jose councilmember back on campaign trail". San José Spotlight. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
- ^ Pho, Brandon (September 23, 2025). "Former East San Jose councilmember seeks her old seat". San José Spotlight. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ^ a b c d "March 2026 Central Committee Recap". Santa Clara County Democratic Party. March 5, 2026. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
- ^ "OUR 2026 CANDIDATES". Working Families Party. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
- ^ a b c d Mencon, Keith (February 12, 2026). "Doan nabs dual endorsements in San Jose District 7 race". San José Spotlight. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ^ "Endorsement - Proud to be Endorsed by Clay Hale". Instagram. January 24, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ^ Menconi, Keith (February 5, 2026). "Follow the money in San Jose's City Council races". San José Spotlight. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
- ^ Menconi, Keith (November 10, 2025). "Political newcomer enters District 9 San Jose council race". San José Spotlight. Retrieved February 12, 2026.