Have your ballot in hand and wondering how to vote in statewide and local races? There’s much to decide, from enshrining reproductive freedom to legalizing gambling on sports. Plus, it’s your chance to vote for governor, senator, mayor, council members and other important local and statewide offices.
Here are our Bay Area election stories so far on races and measures on the Nov. 8 ballot. Bookmark this page and return to view additional articles on local, regional and statewide races and ballot measures as they are published.
So far, Californians aren’t rushing to vote early but experts expect the pace to pick up. Read our Editorial Board recommendations in more than 100 races, check out everything you need to know about voting by mail or in person on election day Nov. 8 and get the answers to 11 questions about California’s voting rules.
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Statewide
State races – Who’s running in California’s key legislative races.
Propositions – California voters weigh seven propositions this November.
- Proposition 30: Should California raise taxes on multi-millionaires to fund clean air and wildfire programs? ••• Poll: Proposition 30 flails, Democratic House candidates score an edge.
- Why did Michael Bloomberg just throw nearly $29 million at an uncompetitive California ballot measure?
California Senate race – Incumbent Alex Padilla faces Meuser, again.
U.S. Congress
15th Congressional District – With a double-digit lead, is Kevin Mullin a shoo-in for congress? David Canepa says “not yet.” ••• Battle for Congress? Not here. Bay Area Democrats on average serve even longer than Supreme Court justices.
Legislature
Assembly District 20: Democratic faction rivalry defines the race in a district that stretches from Hayward to Dublin.
Senate District 10: Spending surpassed more than $7.7 million by Nov. 2. as special interest groups flood money into the campaigns of two Alameda County Democrats.
Santa Clara County
Cupertino – ‘Nimbyism’ or ‘balanced growth’? Housing debates at center of Cupertino City Council race.
Los Gatos – Council candidates talk business, housing at Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce forum.
Santa Clara – Mayoral candidates battle over future of Santa Clara. City Council members Chahal, Hardy face newcomers. ••• 49ers’ spending in Santa Clara elections climbs past $4.5 million as vote tally nears.
Santa Clara County Supervisor – Candidates for Santa Clara County’s D1 have similar priorities, but starkly different approaches. and find out who is starkly ahead in post-primary fundraising.
Santa Clara County Sheriff – Two career law-enforcement leaders are vying to succeed Sheriff Laurie Smith.
San Jose – Cindy Chavez, Matt Mahan face off for mayor’s seat. ••• Moneyed interests, from 49ers to Realtors, wage shadow campaigns. ••• Find out how much money the 49ers have spent on Cindy Chavez, Santa Clara elections. ••• Homelessness and public safety dominate mayoral debate ••• COVID economic recovery, and homelessness are top of mind for San Jose council candidates. ••• How are San Jose’s mayoral candidates different on crime, and homelessness? ••• Millions are being spent on the race for San Jose mayor. See who is writing checks in a shadow campaign. ••• With just days to go before the election, money pours in as ads and barbs fly as the race for San Jose tightens. ••• Why did Gov. Newsom ask a group backing a San Jose mayoral candidate to stop using his image?
Saratoga – City Council candidates talk finances and affordable housing.
Silicon Valley Water District – Drought, new dams, and discord dominate the election for Santa Clara Valley Water District.
Milpitas – Milpitas mayor candidates promise a cultural change from the top.
Mountain View – Five candidates running for three open City Council seats.
Palo Alto – Seven candidates vie for three seats on the Palo Alto city council.
Sunnyvale – City Council candidates want to fix city’s housing, transportation and climate issues.
San Mateo County
Redwood City – These six candidates are running for three open seats on city council.
Alameda County
AC Transit, BART board: Elections to decide key leaders to navigate post-COVID ridership and fiscal crisis.
Alameda – Public safety, housing top issues in Alameda council, and mayoral elections. ••• School board candidates differ on curriculum and funding.
Alameda County District Attorney – Alameda DA race is an important test for progressive prosecutors following Chesa Boudin recall.
Alameda County Supervisor – Rebecca Kaplan, Lena Tam seek late Wilma Chan’s Alameda County supervisor seat
Berkeley – Candidates face off for two open seats on the City Council.
Berkeley Measures – Will Berkeley voters support a $650 million bond for housing, infrastructure and climate this November?
Dublin – Three candidates are facing off for two Dublin City Council spots; the mayor is running unopposed.
Fremont – Eight candidates vying for Fremont City Council seats
Hayward – Eight candidates vie for two city council spots.
Livermore –Educators to battle it out in Livermore City Council election. ••• Hundreds of thousands of dollars poured into Livermore mayoral race.
Oakland – Check out the mayoral candidate bios and what sets them apart. ••• Ranked-choice voting could spice up crowded Oakland mayor election. How it works. ••• Mayoral candidates team up; coal money pours in as race enters final days. ••• The candidates promise to reduce crime. Should Oakland voters trust them?
- City Council seats are up for grabs in Districts 2, 4 and 6.
- What voters need to know about the city’s 9 ballot initiatives.
- School Board – How to fix the instability at Oakland Unified? School board candidates weigh in.
Piedmont – Council candidates share views in online forum. ••• Three mothers with children in Piedmont schools are running for two school board seats.
Pleasanton – Water is on top of the agenda for Pleasanton City Council hopefuls.
Contra Costa County
AC Transit, BART board: Elections to decide key leaders to navigate post-COVID ridership and fiscal crisis.
Antioch – Seven candidates are competing for two seats.
Brentwood – Seven vie for two seats on Brentwood City Council and the city will ask voters to protect open space.
Concord – Hoffmeister, McGallian face political newcomers for Concord City Council.
Contra Costa County Supervisor – Law enforcement drama could shape Contra Costa County supervisor race.
Diablo – Battle over bicycle access taints election.
Martinez – How Martinez mayor, council candidates stand on future of housing, downtown and marina.
Oakley – Three vie for two seats on the Oakley City Council.
Pittsburg – One incumbent, four others look to fill three Pittsburg council seats.
Richmond – These are the City Council candidates vying for a seat and Richmond residents will vote on lower rent control rates in November.
Walnut Creek – How Walnut Creek might change — or stay the same — if these city council candidates were elected.
And don’t miss why Lafayette and Danville scrapped their local elections.
Local tax, bond and housing measures
Contra Costa County – Measure O sales tax and Measure J school bond in Walnut Creek and Measure K school bond in Martinez.
Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Los Gatos and Oakland are eyeing completely new or revamped business taxing tools to shore up budgets slashed amid the pandemic and future economic uncertainty.
Housing – What Bay Area voters need to know about the region’s local housing and rent control measures. Measures are in the ballot in Berkeley, Menlo Park, Oakland, Richmond and San Francisco.
