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Return your State Assembly District 63 or San José ballot by Tuesday, June 24 and your San Diego ballot by Tuesday, July 1
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!
State Assembly, 63rd District
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Assembly races on your ballot.
Elect Christopher Shoults for State Assembly to put AD-63 on the right track for progress.
Christopher Shoults’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-63 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Shoults has the endorsement of a few groups, including Equality California, California School Employees Association, and IE Votes. He has also been endorsed by elected officials like Rep. Mark Takano and State Sen. Sabrina Cervantes.
Electoral history: Shoults ran for this seat in the 2024 general election. He lost to Republican incumbent Assm. Essayli by 24 points.
Top issues: Cost of living, health-care access, education, and economic development.
Governance and community leadership experience: Shoults is an educator in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, which he does to provide leadership and enrichment to his community. He has served as an executive board member in his labor union, and has worked on contract bargaining efforts over the last several years. He has also been an engaged community member, serving in Wyoming on the city planning commission, and as a governor’s appointee to the state education commission.
Other background: Shoults is from Wyoming, and is a resident of Menifee. He is a first-generation college graduate.
The Race
Primary election results: This is a special election to fill the seat vacated by Asm. Bill Essayli, who was appointed as a US attorney by President Trump.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Shoults’s campaign has raised $127,594 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Natasha Johnson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Johnson’s campaign has raised $121,090 and is funded by real estate, and corporate PAC interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 63rd Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County.
Voter registration: 33% Democrat, 39% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats held this district until 2022, when redistricting caused it to flip from blue to red.
District demographics: 31% Latino, 11% Asian, and 7% Black.
Recent election results: AD-63 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2024 by 13 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 18 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 62 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats and one seat is vacant.
Elect Christopher Shoults for State Assembly to put AD-63 on the right track for progress.
Christopher Shoults’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-63 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Shoults has the endorsement of a few groups, including Equality California, California School Employees Association, and IE Votes. He has also been endorsed by elected officials like Rep. Mark Takano and State Sen. Sabrina Cervantes.
Electoral history: Shoults ran for this seat in the 2024 general election. He lost to Republican incumbent Assm. Essayli by 24 points.
Top issues: Cost of living, health-care access, education, and economic development.
Governance and community leadership experience: Shoults is an educator in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, which he does to provide leadership and enrichment to his community. He has served as an executive board member in his labor union, and has worked on contract bargaining efforts over the last several years. He has also been an engaged community member, serving in Wyoming on the city planning commission, and as a governor’s appointee to the state education commission.
Other background: Shoults is from Wyoming, and is a resident of Menifee. He is a first-generation college graduate.
The Race
Primary election results: This is a special election to fill the seat vacated by Asm. Bill Essayli, who was appointed as a US attorney by President Trump.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Shoults’s campaign has raised $127,594 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Natasha Johnson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Johnson’s campaign has raised $121,090 and is funded by real estate, and corporate PAC interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 63rd Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County.
Voter registration: 33% Democrat, 39% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats held this district until 2022, when redistricting caused it to flip from blue to red.
District demographics: 31% Latino, 11% Asian, and 7% Black.
Recent election results: AD-63 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2024 by 13 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 18 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 62 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats and one seat is vacant.
Elect Christopher Shoults for State Assembly to put AD-63 on the right track for progress.
Christopher Shoults’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-63 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Shoults has the endorsement of a few groups, including Equality California, California School Employees Association, and IE Votes. He has also been endorsed by elected officials like Rep. Mark Takano and State Sen. Sabrina Cervantes.
Electoral history: Shoults ran for this seat in the 2024 general election. He lost to Republican incumbent Assm. Essayli by 24 points.
Top issues: Cost of living, health-care access, education, and economic development.
Governance and community leadership experience: Shoults is an educator in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, which he does to provide leadership and enrichment to his community. He has served as an executive board member in his labor union, and has worked on contract bargaining efforts over the last several years. He has also been an engaged community member, serving in Wyoming on the city planning commission, and as a governor’s appointee to the state education commission.
Other background: Shoults is from Wyoming, and is a resident of Menifee. He is a first-generation college graduate.
The Race
Primary election results: This is a special election to fill the seat vacated by Asm. Bill Essayli, who was appointed as a US attorney by President Trump.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Shoults’s campaign has raised $127,594 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Natasha Johnson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Johnson’s campaign has raised $121,090 and is funded by real estate, and corporate PAC interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 63rd Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County.
Voter registration: 33% Democrat, 39% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats held this district until 2022, when redistricting caused it to flip from blue to red.
District demographics: 31% Latino, 11% Asian, and 7% Black.
Recent election results: AD-63 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2024 by 13 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 18 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 62 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats and one seat is vacant.
San Diego County
Depending on where you live, you may have the below county races on your ballot.
Have questions about voting in San Diego County? Find out how to vote in San Diego County.
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, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, Sierra Club, San Diego Democrats for Equality, and Planned Parenthood. She has also received endorsements from many elected leaders, including US Rep. Juan Vargas, 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: The April 2025 results included John McCann 43%, Paloma Aguirre 32%, Vivian Moreno 13%, Carolina Chavez, 8%, and several candidates with less than 2% of the vote. John McCann and Paloma Aguirre will contend in a July 1 run-off election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Paloma Aguirre’s campaign has raised $165,000 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 $231,292 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. He has accepted more than $50,000 in donations from the San Diego Republican Party.
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, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, Sierra Club, San Diego Democrats for Equality, and Planned Parenthood. She has also received endorsements from many elected leaders, including US Rep. Juan Vargas, 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: The April 2025 results included John McCann 43%, Paloma Aguirre 32%, Vivian Moreno 13%, Carolina Chavez, 8%, and several candidates with less than 2% of the vote. John McCann and Paloma Aguirre will contend in a July 1 run-off election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Paloma Aguirre’s campaign has raised $165,000 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 $231,292 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. He has accepted more than $50,000 in donations from the San Diego Republican Party.
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, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, Sierra Club, San Diego Democrats for Equality, and Planned Parenthood. She has also received endorsements from many elected leaders, including US Rep. Juan Vargas, 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: The April 2025 results included John McCann 43%, Paloma Aguirre 32%, Vivian Moreno 13%, Carolina Chavez, 8%, and several candidates with less than 2% of the vote. John McCann and Paloma Aguirre will contend in a July 1 run-off election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Paloma Aguirre’s campaign has raised $165,000 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 $231,292 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. He has accepted more than $50,000 in donations from the San Diego Republican Party.
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.
City of San Jose
Depending on where you live, you may have the below city races on your ballot.
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 progressive 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
Primary Election Results: The April 2025 results included Gabby Chavez-Lopez 30%, Anthony Tordillos 22%, Matthew Quevedo 22%, Irene Smith 16%, and several candidates with less than 10% of the vote. After an automatic recount that confirmed Anthony Tordillos won 6 more votes than Matthew Quevedo, Gabby Chavez-Lopez and Anthony Tordillos will contend in a June 24 run-off election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Gabby Chavez-Lopez’s campaign has raised $79,025 and is not funded by police, real estate, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Anthony Tordillos
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tordillos’s campaign has raised $124,693 and is funded by corporate PAC 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 progressive 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
Primary Election Results: The April 2025 results included Gabby Chavez-Lopez 30%, Anthony Tordillos 22%, Matthew Quevedo 22%, Irene Smith 16%, and several candidates with less than 10% of the vote. After an automatic recount that confirmed Anthony Tordillos won 6 more votes than Matthew Quevedo, Gabby Chavez-Lopez and Anthony Tordillos will contend in a June 24 run-off election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Gabby Chavez-Lopez’s campaign has raised $79,025 and is not funded by police, real estate, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Anthony Tordillos
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tordillos’s campaign has raised $124,693 and is funded by corporate PAC 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 progressive 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
Primary Election Results: The April 2025 results included Gabby Chavez-Lopez 30%, Anthony Tordillos 22%, Matthew Quevedo 22%, Irene Smith 16%, and several candidates with less than 10% of the vote. After an automatic recount that confirmed Anthony Tordillos won 6 more votes than Matthew Quevedo, Gabby Chavez-Lopez and Anthony Tordillos will contend in a June 24 run-off election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Gabby Chavez-Lopez’s campaign has raised $79,025 and is not funded by police, real estate, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Anthony Tordillos
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tordillos’s campaign has raised $124,693 and is funded by corporate PAC 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.