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April 15th in Oakland
Ballot Drop Boxes
Return your San Diego or San José ballot by Tuesday, April 8 and your Oakland ballot by Tuesday, April 15
Welcome to the Courage California Progressive Voters Guide! We compile the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. Please share this guide with your friends and family!
San Diego County, District 1
Depending on where you live, you may have the below county-districted races on your ballot.
Elect Paloma Aguirre for Board of Supervisors to put San Diego County on the right track for progress.
Paloma Aguirre’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of San Diego County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Aguirre has the endorsement of many groups, including California Working Families Party, Local 221 SEIU, Sierra Club, and San Diego Democrats for Equality. She has also received endorsements from many elected leaders, including State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins, Rep. Mike Levin, and local officers.
Electoral history: Aguirre has run for office previously, and won her 2018 race for Imperial Beach City Council with 29% of the vote. In 2022, she was elected to serve a term as mayor with over 45% of the vote.
Top issues: Cost of living, homelessness and housing, public safety, and South County’s sewage crisis.
Governance and community leadership experience: Aguirre is currently serving as mayor of Imperial Beach, which she does to bring bold advocacy to issues impacting her local community. During her time in city government, Aguirre has addressed an ongoing sewage crisis in South County affecting the Tijuana River, increased the number of affordable homes, improved infrastructure to protect residential areas from flooding, and increased the availability of free and low-cost family programming. Prior to entering public service, Aguirre worked on environmental protection initiatives with WILDCOAST, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the California Coastal Commission. She also participated in a fellowship with the office of U.S. Senator Cory Booker.
Other background: Aguirre was born in California, raised in Mexico, and has lived in Imperial Beach since college.
The Race
Primary election results: In November 2024, incumbent Sup. Nora Vargas was reelected for a second term on the Board of Supervisors. In December 2024, she announced that she was resigning from the board amid personal safety and security concerns, and the board has opted to hold a special election to fill her seat. While the Board of Supervisors is nonpartisan, the winner of this election will swing the balance between conservative and liberal members, which currently stands at two and two.
Paloma Aguirre, Carolina Chavez, Elizabeth Efird, Louis Fuentes, John McCann, Vivian Moreno, and Lincoln Pickard will contend in the April 8 special election. If one candidate wins 50%+1 in the special election vote, that candidate will win the seat. If no candidate wins over 50%, the top two vote recipients will advance to a run-off election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Paloma Aguirre’s campaign has raised $48,050 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Carolina Chavez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Chavez’s campaign has raised $24,300 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: John McCann
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: McCann’s campaign has raised $125,500 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Vivian Moreno
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Moreno’s campaign has raised $47,600 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
County: San Diego is California’s second most populous county. District 1 includes 630,000 residents in communities that include Barrio Logan, Chollas View, Golden Hill, Grant Hill, La Playa, Lincoln Park, Memorial, Mount Hope, Nestor, Otay, Palm City, San Ysidro, Sherman Heights, Stockton, portions of San Diego, and unincorporated communities.
Governance structure: San Diego’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 3.3 million people and manages an estimated budget of $8.1 billion annually. According to the County Charter, San Diego County is governed by the Board of Supervisors and several other elected leaders, including the sheriff, district attorney, assessor, and treasurer.
The Position
Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person Board of Supervisors. A Board of Supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils, and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Elect Paloma Aguirre for Board of Supervisors to put San Diego County on the right track for progress.
Paloma Aguirre’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of San Diego County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Aguirre has the endorsement of many groups, including California Working Families Party, Local 221 SEIU, Sierra Club, and San Diego Democrats for Equality. She has also received endorsements from many elected leaders, including State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins, Rep. Mike Levin, and local officers.
Electoral history: Aguirre has run for office previously, and won her 2018 race for Imperial Beach City Council with 29% of the vote. In 2022, she was elected to serve a term as mayor with over 45% of the vote.
Top issues: Cost of living, homelessness and housing, public safety, and South County’s sewage crisis.
Governance and community leadership experience: Aguirre is currently serving as mayor of Imperial Beach, which she does to bring bold advocacy to issues impacting her local community. During her time in city government, Aguirre has addressed an ongoing sewage crisis in South County affecting the Tijuana River, increased the number of affordable homes, improved infrastructure to protect residential areas from flooding, and increased the availability of free and low-cost family programming. Prior to entering public service, Aguirre worked on environmental protection initiatives with WILDCOAST, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the California Coastal Commission. She also participated in a fellowship with the office of U.S. Senator Cory Booker.
Other background: Aguirre was born in California, raised in Mexico, and has lived in Imperial Beach since college.
The Race
Primary election results: In November 2024, incumbent Sup. Nora Vargas was reelected for a second term on the Board of Supervisors. In December 2024, she announced that she was resigning from the board amid personal safety and security concerns, and the board has opted to hold a special election to fill her seat. While the Board of Supervisors is nonpartisan, the winner of this election will swing the balance between conservative and liberal members, which currently stands at two and two.
Paloma Aguirre, Carolina Chavez, Elizabeth Efird, Louis Fuentes, John McCann, Vivian Moreno, and Lincoln Pickard will contend in the April 8 special election. If one candidate wins 50%+1 in the special election vote, that candidate will win the seat. If no candidate wins over 50%, the top two vote recipients will advance to a run-off election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Paloma Aguirre’s campaign has raised $48,050 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Carolina Chavez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Chavez’s campaign has raised $24,300 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: John McCann
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: McCann’s campaign has raised $125,500 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Vivian Moreno
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Moreno’s campaign has raised $47,600 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
County: San Diego is California’s second most populous county. District 1 includes 630,000 residents in communities that include Barrio Logan, Chollas View, Golden Hill, Grant Hill, La Playa, Lincoln Park, Memorial, Mount Hope, Nestor, Otay, Palm City, San Ysidro, Sherman Heights, Stockton, portions of San Diego, and unincorporated communities.
Governance structure: San Diego’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 3.3 million people and manages an estimated budget of $8.1 billion annually. According to the County Charter, San Diego County is governed by the Board of Supervisors and several other elected leaders, including the sheriff, district attorney, assessor, and treasurer.
The Position
Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person Board of Supervisors. A Board of Supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils, and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Elect Paloma Aguirre for Board of Supervisors to put San Diego County on the right track for progress.
Paloma Aguirre’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of San Diego County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Aguirre has the endorsement of many groups, including California Working Families Party, Local 221 SEIU, Sierra Club, and San Diego Democrats for Equality. She has also received endorsements from many elected leaders, including State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins, Rep. Mike Levin, and local officers.
Electoral history: Aguirre has run for office previously, and won her 2018 race for Imperial Beach City Council with 29% of the vote. In 2022, she was elected to serve a term as mayor with over 45% of the vote.
Top issues: Cost of living, homelessness and housing, public safety, and South County’s sewage crisis.
Governance and community leadership experience: Aguirre is currently serving as mayor of Imperial Beach, which she does to bring bold advocacy to issues impacting her local community. During her time in city government, Aguirre has addressed an ongoing sewage crisis in South County affecting the Tijuana River, increased the number of affordable homes, improved infrastructure to protect residential areas from flooding, and increased the availability of free and low-cost family programming. Prior to entering public service, Aguirre worked on environmental protection initiatives with WILDCOAST, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the California Coastal Commission. She also participated in a fellowship with the office of U.S. Senator Cory Booker.
Other background: Aguirre was born in California, raised in Mexico, and has lived in Imperial Beach since college.
The Race
Primary election results: In November 2024, incumbent Sup. Nora Vargas was reelected for a second term on the Board of Supervisors. In December 2024, she announced that she was resigning from the board amid personal safety and security concerns, and the board has opted to hold a special election to fill her seat. While the Board of Supervisors is nonpartisan, the winner of this election will swing the balance between conservative and liberal members, which currently stands at two and two.
Paloma Aguirre, Carolina Chavez, Elizabeth Efird, Louis Fuentes, John McCann, Vivian Moreno, and Lincoln Pickard will contend in the April 8 special election. If one candidate wins 50%+1 in the special election vote, that candidate will win the seat. If no candidate wins over 50%, the top two vote recipients will advance to a run-off election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Paloma Aguirre’s campaign has raised $48,050 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Carolina Chavez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Chavez’s campaign has raised $24,300 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: John McCann
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: McCann’s campaign has raised $125,500 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Vivian Moreno
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Moreno’s campaign has raised $47,600 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
County: San Diego is California’s second most populous county. District 1 includes 630,000 residents in communities that include Barrio Logan, Chollas View, Golden Hill, Grant Hill, La Playa, Lincoln Park, Memorial, Mount Hope, Nestor, Otay, Palm City, San Ysidro, Sherman Heights, Stockton, portions of San Diego, and unincorporated communities.
Governance structure: San Diego’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 3.3 million people and manages an estimated budget of $8.1 billion annually. According to the County Charter, San Diego County is governed by the Board of Supervisors and several other elected leaders, including the sheriff, district attorney, assessor, and treasurer.
The Position
Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person Board of Supervisors. A Board of Supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils, and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Oakland Ballot Measures
Depending on where you live, you may have the following city measures on your ballot.
In December 2024, the Oakland City Council unanimously voted to send a sales tax increase to the voters in the April 2025 special election cycle. The proposed increase would raise Oakland’s sales tax by .5%, from 10.25% to 10.75%, bringing it level with other nearby Alameda County communities, like Union City, San Leandro, Albany, Hayward, and Alameda. The increase is intended to bring in an additional $20 million to $30 million annually, and is designed to help plug a significant budget shortfall that threatens to upend the delivery of local public services in the coming years. If approved by a 50%+1 vote, the sales tax increase would be instituted for 10 years, after which it would revert to the 10.25% level if not renewed by voters.
Why voting YES on Measure A matters:
- Oakland’s budget shortfall could be as high as $265 million in the two-year cycle that begins in July 2025, and efforts to balance the budget are likely to result in cuts to the General Purpose Funds that account for 38% of the overall city budget and are used to fund free public services, like police and fire. Voting YES on Measure A will support the continued staffing and delivery of these services to provide ongoing public safety for Oakland.
- As the City Council works to balance the budget for the 2025–2027 fiscal cycle, the alternative to this half-percent increase in sales tax is likely to be mass layoffs that will have a detrimental effect on the local economy. Voting YES on Measure A will provide an economic solution to the current budget crisis and maintain funding for positions filled by dedicated neighbors across the city.
- In a recent city survey, residents indicated concern about Oakland’s ongoing housing and homelessness crisis, which would be one of the critical areas addressed by the increased tax revenue. Voting YES on Measure A will support continued efforts to expand services and housing development for unhoused neighbors.
- To date, Oakland’s tax revenue has not kept pace with the expense of running the city’s government and providing high-quality resources and services to residents. Voting YES on Measure A will increase the city’s tax contribution to provide for this critical local infrastructure.
Top supporters of Measure A:
- Measure A has the backing of most local unions, which are working to protect the city-funded positions of their members. An independent expenditure committee has raised $187,000 in support of Measure A, and is led by the fire union Vice President Seth Olyer, who has been outspoken about the danger of further cuts to the fire budget amid California’s ongoing wildfire crisis.
- The April special election will also include a race for the vacant mayoral seat, and at least two of the candidates—Loren Taylor and Barbara Lee—have expressed support for Measure A.
- Measure A received unanimous approval from the 8-member City Council in December, which views it as a clear and reasonable way to increase city revenue for the upcoming budget cycle.
Top opposition to Measure A:
- There has been little organized opposition to Measure A, although a recent city survey of budget priorities indicated that 44% of Oaklanders are opposed to the sales tax increase, and another 25% are undecided about the measure. The survey indicated that a record number of Oakland residents are frustrated with the city’s government, and that many are anxious about safety and concerned about homelessness. Many respondents indicated their commitment to the sensible funding of city services, like police, fire, infrastructure services, and small businesses.
Misinformation about Measure A includes:
- To date, there has not been any significant misinformation about Measure A.
In December 2024, the Oakland City Council unanimously voted to send a sales tax increase to the voters in the April 2025 special election cycle. The proposed increase would raise Oakland’s sales tax by .5%, from 10.25% to 10.75%, bringing it level with other nearby Alameda County communities, like Union City, San Leandro, Albany, Hayward, and Alameda. The increase is intended to bring in an additional $20 million to $30 million annually, and is designed to help plug a significant budget shortfall that threatens to upend the delivery of local public services in the coming years. If approved by a 50%+1 vote, the sales tax increase would be instituted for 10 years, after which it would revert to the 10.25% level if not renewed by voters.
Why voting YES on Measure A matters:
- Oakland’s budget shortfall could be as high as $265 million in the two-year cycle that begins in July 2025, and efforts to balance the budget are likely to result in cuts to the General Purpose Funds that account for 38% of the overall city budget and are used to fund free public services, like police and fire. Voting YES on Measure A will support the continued staffing and delivery of these services to provide ongoing public safety for Oakland.
- As the City Council works to balance the budget for the 2025–2027 fiscal cycle, the alternative to this half-percent increase in sales tax is likely to be mass layoffs that will have a detrimental effect on the local economy. Voting YES on Measure A will provide an economic solution to the current budget crisis and maintain funding for positions filled by dedicated neighbors across the city.
- In a recent city survey, residents indicated concern about Oakland’s ongoing housing and homelessness crisis, which would be one of the critical areas addressed by the increased tax revenue. Voting YES on Measure A will support continued efforts to expand services and housing development for unhoused neighbors.
- To date, Oakland’s tax revenue has not kept pace with the expense of running the city’s government and providing high-quality resources and services to residents. Voting YES on Measure A will increase the city’s tax contribution to provide for this critical local infrastructure.
Top supporters of Measure A:
- Measure A has the backing of most local unions, which are working to protect the city-funded positions of their members. An independent expenditure committee has raised $187,000 in support of Measure A, and is led by the fire union Vice President Seth Olyer, who has been outspoken about the danger of further cuts to the fire budget amid California’s ongoing wildfire crisis.
- The April special election will also include a race for the vacant mayoral seat, and at least two of the candidates—Loren Taylor and Barbara Lee—have expressed support for Measure A.
- Measure A received unanimous approval from the 8-member City Council in December, which views it as a clear and reasonable way to increase city revenue for the upcoming budget cycle.
Top opposition to Measure A:
- There has been little organized opposition to Measure A, although a recent city survey of budget priorities indicated that 44% of Oaklanders are opposed to the sales tax increase, and another 25% are undecided about the measure. The survey indicated that a record number of Oakland residents are frustrated with the city’s government, and that many are anxious about safety and concerned about homelessness. Many respondents indicated their commitment to the sensible funding of city services, like police, fire, infrastructure services, and small businesses.
Misinformation about Measure A includes:
- To date, there has not been any significant misinformation about Measure A.
City of Oakland
Depending on where you live, you may have the below city races on your ballot.
1st
1st
Choice
Elect Barbara Lee to put Oakland on the right track for progress.
Barbara Lee’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Oakland and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Lee has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the Oakland Education Association, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, and Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO. She has also received the endorsement of local and state leaders, including Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins, former Gov. Jerry Brown, State Sen. Jesse Arreguin, Asm. Mia Bonta, and Rep. Lateefah Simon.
Electoral history: Lee served nearly 30 years in Congress, first winning election in 1998 to represent a district that included Oakland. She won her final reelection in 2022 after earning over 90% of the vote. In 2024, Lee ran in the open primary to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as California’s senator but did not advance out of the primary after earning just 11% of the vote.
Top issues: Public safety, effective solutions to homelessness and housing, and government ethics and accountability.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lee had a long career in politics before winning her congressional seat, including working on the historic presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm. As a young social worker, she founded a mental health service organization, Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education, to benefit her local East Bay community. She then spent eleven years working on the staff of Congressmember Ron Dellums, eventually serving as his chief of staff. After her tenure in congressional staffing, she founded a facilities management company. In 1990, Rep. Lee launched a successful bid for a seat in the California Assembly, where she served for six years before she was elected to the state Senate. In 1998, she won a special election to represent CD-09 in the U.S. House. In her 26-year tenure in Congress, Rep. Lee was an outspoken progressive leader across various issues, including ending poverty, and has been a prolific author of legislation related to ending AIDS/HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. She was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force after the attacks on September 11, 2001, a controversial position at the time.
Other background: Lee is from El Paso, TX, and moved to the San Fernando Valley as a teenager. She attended Mills College and has lived in the Bay Area her entire adult life.
The Race
Special election: In November 2024, Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled after a campaign backed by conservative groups. There have since been two interim mayors, including the current Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of Thao’s original term through 2027. Ten candidates are running for this seat, including Barbara Lee, Tyron Jordan, Peter Liu, President Cristina Grappo, Mindy Pechenuk, Suz Robinson, Eric Simpson, Elizabeth Swaney, Loren Taylor, and Renia Webb. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.
None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of February 2025.
The District
City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 435,000 people and manage an estimated operating budget of $1.7 billion annually.
District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Oakland had a demographic breakdown of 25% Latino, 16% Asian, and 21% Black.
Recent election results: Alameda County, which includes Oakland, voted for Kamala Harris for president in 2024 by 54 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 58 points.
The Position
Oakland is governed by a city council of eight elected representatives. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. These bodies are often augmented by two additional seats held by a mayor and a vice mayor. Oakland uses the mayor-council government structure. The mayor is elected at large and acts as chair of the city council and the city’s chief executive officer. The Oakland mayor does not hold any special legislative power. In Oakland, the mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two terms.
Elect Barbara Lee to put Oakland on the right track for progress.
Barbara Lee’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Oakland and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Lee has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the Oakland Education Association, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, and Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO. She has also received the endorsement of local and state leaders, including Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins, former Gov. Jerry Brown, State Sen. Jesse Arreguin, Asm. Mia Bonta, and Rep. Lateefah Simon.
Electoral history: Lee served nearly 30 years in Congress, first winning election in 1998 to represent a district that included Oakland. She won her final reelection in 2022 after earning over 90% of the vote. In 2024, Lee ran in the open primary to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as California’s senator but did not advance out of the primary after earning just 11% of the vote.
Top issues: Public safety, effective solutions to homelessness and housing, and government ethics and accountability.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lee had a long career in politics before winning her congressional seat, including working on the historic presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm. As a young social worker, she founded a mental health service organization, Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education, to benefit her local East Bay community. She then spent eleven years working on the staff of Congressmember Ron Dellums, eventually serving as his chief of staff. After her tenure in congressional staffing, she founded a facilities management company. In 1990, Rep. Lee launched a successful bid for a seat in the California Assembly, where she served for six years before she was elected to the state Senate. In 1998, she won a special election to represent CD-09 in the U.S. House. In her 26-year tenure in Congress, Rep. Lee was an outspoken progressive leader across various issues, including ending poverty, and has been a prolific author of legislation related to ending AIDS/HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. She was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force after the attacks on September 11, 2001, a controversial position at the time.
Other background: Lee is from El Paso, TX, and moved to the San Fernando Valley as a teenager. She attended Mills College and has lived in the Bay Area her entire adult life.
The Race
Special election: In November 2024, Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled after a campaign backed by conservative groups. There have since been two interim mayors, including the current Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of Thao’s original term through 2027. Ten candidates are running for this seat, including Barbara Lee, Tyron Jordan, Peter Liu, President Cristina Grappo, Mindy Pechenuk, Suz Robinson, Eric Simpson, Elizabeth Swaney, Loren Taylor, and Renia Webb. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.
None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of February 2025.
The District
City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 435,000 people and manage an estimated operating budget of $1.7 billion annually.
District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Oakland had a demographic breakdown of 25% Latino, 16% Asian, and 21% Black.
Recent election results: Alameda County, which includes Oakland, voted for Kamala Harris for president in 2024 by 54 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 58 points.
The Position
Oakland is governed by a city council of eight elected representatives. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. These bodies are often augmented by two additional seats held by a mayor and a vice mayor. Oakland uses the mayor-council government structure. The mayor is elected at large and acts as chair of the city council and the city’s chief executive officer. The Oakland mayor does not hold any special legislative power. In Oakland, the mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two terms.
Elect Barbara Lee to put Oakland on the right track for progress.
Barbara Lee’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Oakland and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Lee has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the Oakland Education Association, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, and Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO. She has also received the endorsement of local and state leaders, including Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins, former Gov. Jerry Brown, State Sen. Jesse Arreguin, Asm. Mia Bonta, and Rep. Lateefah Simon.
Electoral history: Lee served nearly 30 years in Congress, first winning election in 1998 to represent a district that included Oakland. She won her final reelection in 2022 after earning over 90% of the vote. In 2024, Lee ran in the open primary to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as California’s senator but did not advance out of the primary after earning just 11% of the vote.
Top issues: Public safety, effective solutions to homelessness and housing, and government ethics and accountability.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lee had a long career in politics before winning her congressional seat, including working on the historic presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm. As a young social worker, she founded a mental health service organization, Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education, to benefit her local East Bay community. She then spent eleven years working on the staff of Congressmember Ron Dellums, eventually serving as his chief of staff. After her tenure in congressional staffing, she founded a facilities management company. In 1990, Rep. Lee launched a successful bid for a seat in the California Assembly, where she served for six years before she was elected to the state Senate. In 1998, she won a special election to represent CD-09 in the U.S. House. In her 26-year tenure in Congress, Rep. Lee was an outspoken progressive leader across various issues, including ending poverty, and has been a prolific author of legislation related to ending AIDS/HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. She was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force after the attacks on September 11, 2001, a controversial position at the time.
Other background: Lee is from El Paso, TX, and moved to the San Fernando Valley as a teenager. She attended Mills College and has lived in the Bay Area her entire adult life.
The Race
Special election: In November 2024, Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled after a campaign backed by conservative groups. There have since been two interim mayors, including the current Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of Thao’s original term through 2027. Ten candidates are running for this seat, including Barbara Lee, Tyron Jordan, Peter Liu, President Cristina Grappo, Mindy Pechenuk, Suz Robinson, Eric Simpson, Elizabeth Swaney, Loren Taylor, and Renia Webb. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.
None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of February 2025.
The District
City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 435,000 people and manage an estimated operating budget of $1.7 billion annually.
District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Oakland had a demographic breakdown of 25% Latino, 16% Asian, and 21% Black.
Recent election results: Alameda County, which includes Oakland, voted for Kamala Harris for president in 2024 by 54 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 58 points.
The Position
Oakland is governed by a city council of eight elected representatives. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. These bodies are often augmented by two additional seats held by a mayor and a vice mayor. Oakland uses the mayor-council government structure. The mayor is elected at large and acts as chair of the city council and the city’s chief executive officer. The Oakland mayor does not hold any special legislative power. In Oakland, the mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two terms.
City District Races
Depending on where you live, you may have the below city district races on your ballot.
City of Oakland, District 2
1st
1st
Choice
Elect Kara Murray-Badal for City Council to put Oakland on the right track for progress.
Kara Murray-Badal’s policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 2 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Murray-Badal has the endorsement of many groups, including California Working Families Party, Oakland Rising Action, Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO, Oakland Tenants Union, and ACCE Action. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including former District 2 Councilmember and current Alameda County Sup. Nikki Fortunato Bas, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins.
Electoral history: Murray-Badal has not run for public office before.
Top issues: Health and safety, housing and tenant protections, and climate resilience and sustainability.
Governance and community leadership experience: Murray-Badal is director of the Housing Venture Lab at Terner Labs, a local development nonprofit, which she does to support her community’s ongoing housing challenges. She has worked on initiatives to increase mixed-income housing availability and leverage Medicaid to subsidize housing for unhoused people. Prior to this role, she worked in several project management and nonprofit leadership positions, including with Bayer Healthcare and the Mosaic Project. A hallmark of Murray-Badal’s career has been pursuing equity, bridging communication across stakeholders, and creating sustainable community solutions.
Other background: Murray-Badal was born and raised in Oakland and is a longtime resident of District 2. She holds degrees from Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
The Race
Special election: This seat was held by former Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas until January 2025, when she was sworn in as a member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of her term through 2026. There are six candidates running in the nonpartisan April 15 special election, including Kara Murray-Badal, Kenneth Anderson, Harold Lowe, Kanitha Matoury, Paula Thomas, and Charlene Wang. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.
None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city of Oakland as of March 2025.
The District
City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s City Council District 2 includes Eastlake, Grand Lake, San Antonio, and Chinatown.
Governance structure: Oakland’s City Council oversees the needs of 440,000 people and manages an estimated operating budget of $2.14 million annually. Oakland is managed by a mayor-council government structure.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a city council, which in Oakland includes 7 districted seats and 1 at-large seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in Oakland serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits.
Elect Kara Murray-Badal for City Council to put Oakland on the right track for progress.
Kara Murray-Badal’s policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 2 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Murray-Badal has the endorsement of many groups, including California Working Families Party, Oakland Rising Action, Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO, Oakland Tenants Union, and ACCE Action. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including former District 2 Councilmember and current Alameda County Sup. Nikki Fortunato Bas, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins.
Electoral history: Murray-Badal has not run for public office before.
Top issues: Health and safety, housing and tenant protections, and climate resilience and sustainability.
Governance and community leadership experience: Murray-Badal is director of the Housing Venture Lab at Terner Labs, a local development nonprofit, which she does to support her community’s ongoing housing challenges. She has worked on initiatives to increase mixed-income housing availability and leverage Medicaid to subsidize housing for unhoused people. Prior to this role, she worked in several project management and nonprofit leadership positions, including with Bayer Healthcare and the Mosaic Project. A hallmark of Murray-Badal’s career has been pursuing equity, bridging communication across stakeholders, and creating sustainable community solutions.
Other background: Murray-Badal was born and raised in Oakland and is a longtime resident of District 2. She holds degrees from Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
The Race
Special election: This seat was held by former Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas until January 2025, when she was sworn in as a member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of her term through 2026. There are six candidates running in the nonpartisan April 15 special election, including Kara Murray-Badal, Kenneth Anderson, Harold Lowe, Kanitha Matoury, Paula Thomas, and Charlene Wang. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.
None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city of Oakland as of March 2025.
The District
City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s City Council District 2 includes Eastlake, Grand Lake, San Antonio, and Chinatown.
Governance structure: Oakland’s City Council oversees the needs of 440,000 people and manages an estimated operating budget of $2.14 million annually. Oakland is managed by a mayor-council government structure.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a city council, which in Oakland includes 7 districted seats and 1 at-large seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in Oakland serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits.
Elect Kara Murray-Badal for City Council to put Oakland on the right track for progress.
Kara Murray-Badal’s policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 2 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Murray-Badal has the endorsement of many groups, including California Working Families Party, Oakland Rising Action, Alameda Labor Council AFL-CIO, Oakland Tenants Union, and ACCE Action. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including former District 2 Councilmember and current Alameda County Sup. Nikki Fortunato Bas, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins.
Electoral history: Murray-Badal has not run for public office before.
Top issues: Health and safety, housing and tenant protections, and climate resilience and sustainability.
Governance and community leadership experience: Murray-Badal is director of the Housing Venture Lab at Terner Labs, a local development nonprofit, which she does to support her community’s ongoing housing challenges. She has worked on initiatives to increase mixed-income housing availability and leverage Medicaid to subsidize housing for unhoused people. Prior to this role, she worked in several project management and nonprofit leadership positions, including with Bayer Healthcare and the Mosaic Project. A hallmark of Murray-Badal’s career has been pursuing equity, bridging communication across stakeholders, and creating sustainable community solutions.
Other background: Murray-Badal was born and raised in Oakland and is a longtime resident of District 2. She holds degrees from Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
The Race
Special election: This seat was held by former Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas until January 2025, when she was sworn in as a member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. The winner of this April 15 special election will fill the remainder of her term through 2026. There are six candidates running in the nonpartisan April 15 special election, including Kara Murray-Badal, Kenneth Anderson, Harold Lowe, Kanitha Matoury, Paula Thomas, and Charlene Wang. This is a ranked choice voting, instant run-off election.
None of the candidates in this election have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city of Oakland as of March 2025.
The District
City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s City Council District 2 includes Eastlake, Grand Lake, San Antonio, and Chinatown.
Governance structure: Oakland’s City Council oversees the needs of 440,000 people and manages an estimated operating budget of $2.14 million annually. Oakland is managed by a mayor-council government structure.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a city council, which in Oakland includes 7 districted seats and 1 at-large seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in Oakland serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits.
City of San Jose, District 3
Elect Gabby Chavez-Lopez for City Council to put San Jose on the right track for progress.
Gabby Chavez-Lopez’s policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 3 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Chavez-Lopez has the endorsement of some groups, including California Working Families Party, Santa Clara County League of Conservation Voters, South Bay Labor Council AFL-CIO, Democratic Activists for Women Now (DAWN), and Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including Asm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Asm. Ash Kalra, Santa Clara County Sup. Betty Duong, and Santa Clara Sup. Susan Ellenberg.
Electoral history: Chavez-Lopez has not run for public office before.
Top issues: Public safety, public cleanliness, housing solutions, small-business support, economic mobility, transportation, and rejuvenating the downtown.
Governance and community leadership experience: Chavez-Lopez most recently served as executive director of Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, which she did to provide civic engagement and leadership development through a lens of feminism and diversity. Prior to this role, she held a variety of positions, including as the appointed planning commissioner of Santa Clara County, and several roles in marketing and hospitality.
Other background: Chavez-Lopez is a longtime resident of California.
The Race
Special election: This seat was held by Omar Torres from his election in 2022 until his arrest on child sex abuse charges in November 2024. He resigned two days later, and remains held without bail pending trial on three felony charges. This April 8 special election will fill the remainder of the term through 2026, and the candidates include Gabby Chavez-Lopez, Adam Duran, Philip Dolan, Irene Smith, Anthony Tordillos, Tyrone Wade, and Matthew Quevedo. If one candidate wins 50%+1 in the special election vote, that candidate will win the seat. If no candidate wins over 50%, the top two vote recipients will advance to a run-off election in June.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Gabby Chavez-Lopez’s campaign has raised $49,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Adam Duran
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Duran’s campaign has raised $7,600 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Irene Smith
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Smith’s campaign has raised $7,000 and is funded by real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Anthony Tordillos
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tordillos’s campaign has raised $81,500 and is funded by corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Matthew Quevedo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Quevedo’s campaign has raised $79,000 and is funded by corporate PAC and real estate interests.
The District
City: San Jose is Santa Clara County’s most populous city. San Jose’s City Council District 3 includes downtown.
Governance structure: San Jose’s City Council oversees the needs of 956,000 people and manages an estimated operating budget of $6.1 billion annually. San Jose is managed by a council-manager government structure.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although San Jose maintains a 10-member council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in San Jose are limited to two terms, or eight years in office total.
Elect Gabby Chavez-Lopez for City Council to put San Jose on the right track for progress.
Gabby Chavez-Lopez’s policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 3 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Chavez-Lopez has the endorsement of some groups, including California Working Families Party, Santa Clara County League of Conservation Voters, South Bay Labor Council AFL-CIO, Democratic Activists for Women Now (DAWN), and Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including Asm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Asm. Ash Kalra, Santa Clara County Sup. Betty Duong, and Santa Clara Sup. Susan Ellenberg.
Electoral history: Chavez-Lopez has not run for public office before.
Top issues: Public safety, public cleanliness, housing solutions, small-business support, economic mobility, transportation, and rejuvenating the downtown.
Governance and community leadership experience: Chavez-Lopez most recently served as executive director of Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, which she did to provide civic engagement and leadership development through a lens of feminism and diversity. Prior to this role, she held a variety of positions, including as the appointed planning commissioner of Santa Clara County, and several roles in marketing and hospitality.
Other background: Chavez-Lopez is a longtime resident of California.
The Race
Special election: This seat was held by Omar Torres from his election in 2022 until his arrest on child sex abuse charges in November 2024. He resigned two days later, and remains held without bail pending trial on three felony charges. This April 8 special election will fill the remainder of the term through 2026, and the candidates include Gabby Chavez-Lopez, Adam Duran, Philip Dolan, Irene Smith, Anthony Tordillos, Tyrone Wade, and Matthew Quevedo. If one candidate wins 50%+1 in the special election vote, that candidate will win the seat. If no candidate wins over 50%, the top two vote recipients will advance to a run-off election in June.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Gabby Chavez-Lopez’s campaign has raised $49,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Adam Duran
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Duran’s campaign has raised $7,600 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Irene Smith
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Smith’s campaign has raised $7,000 and is funded by real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Anthony Tordillos
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tordillos’s campaign has raised $81,500 and is funded by corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Matthew Quevedo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Quevedo’s campaign has raised $79,000 and is funded by corporate PAC and real estate interests.
The District
City: San Jose is Santa Clara County’s most populous city. San Jose’s City Council District 3 includes downtown.
Governance structure: San Jose’s City Council oversees the needs of 956,000 people and manages an estimated operating budget of $6.1 billion annually. San Jose is managed by a council-manager government structure.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although San Jose maintains a 10-member council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in San Jose are limited to two terms, or eight years in office total.
Elect Gabby Chavez-Lopez for City Council to put San Jose on the right track for progress.
Gabby Chavez-Lopez’s policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 3 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Chavez-Lopez has the endorsement of some groups, including California Working Families Party, Santa Clara County League of Conservation Voters, South Bay Labor Council AFL-CIO, Democratic Activists for Women Now (DAWN), and Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including Asm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Asm. Ash Kalra, Santa Clara County Sup. Betty Duong, and Santa Clara Sup. Susan Ellenberg.
Electoral history: Chavez-Lopez has not run for public office before.
Top issues: Public safety, public cleanliness, housing solutions, small-business support, economic mobility, transportation, and rejuvenating the downtown.
Governance and community leadership experience: Chavez-Lopez most recently served as executive director of Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, which she did to provide civic engagement and leadership development through a lens of feminism and diversity. Prior to this role, she held a variety of positions, including as the appointed planning commissioner of Santa Clara County, and several roles in marketing and hospitality.
Other background: Chavez-Lopez is a longtime resident of California.
The Race
Special election: This seat was held by Omar Torres from his election in 2022 until his arrest on child sex abuse charges in November 2024. He resigned two days later, and remains held without bail pending trial on three felony charges. This April 8 special election will fill the remainder of the term through 2026, and the candidates include Gabby Chavez-Lopez, Adam Duran, Philip Dolan, Irene Smith, Anthony Tordillos, Tyrone Wade, and Matthew Quevedo. If one candidate wins 50%+1 in the special election vote, that candidate will win the seat. If no candidate wins over 50%, the top two vote recipients will advance to a run-off election in June.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Gabby Chavez-Lopez’s campaign has raised $49,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Adam Duran
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Duran’s campaign has raised $7,600 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Irene Smith
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Smith’s campaign has raised $7,000 and is funded by real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Anthony Tordillos
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tordillos’s campaign has raised $81,500 and is funded by corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Matthew Quevedo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Quevedo’s campaign has raised $79,000 and is funded by corporate PAC and real estate interests.
The District
City: San Jose is Santa Clara County’s most populous city. San Jose’s City Council District 3 includes downtown.
Governance structure: San Jose’s City Council oversees the needs of 956,000 people and manages an estimated operating budget of $6.1 billion annually. San Jose is managed by a council-manager government structure.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although San Jose maintains a 10-member council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in San Jose are limited to two terms, or eight years in office total.