Alameda voters will pick a new mayor on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, choosing among Councilmember Tony Daysog, Councilmember Tracy Jensen and former Councilmember Malia Vella. Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, elected in 2018, has served two consecutive terms and cannot run again. Voters will also fill two at-large City Council seats from a field of six.

Why it matters: At least two new councilmembers will join the five-member council, and possibly three, at a time when the city has lost several top managers and faces a tight 2027-29 budget. The same ballot carries the city's $300 million Measure L infrastructure bond.

The mayor's race

  • Tony Daysog, an urban planner, has spent 22 years on the council. He told the Alameda Post his first priority is ending the police hiring freeze so the department can fill its 88 budgeted officer positions, citing "beach takeovers" and traffic complaints. He also wants a new infrastructure and sea level rise commission. He voted against putting Measure L on the ballot, saying it should have listed specific projects and their costs.
  • Tracy Jensen, a nonprofit director, has been on the council for three years after serving on the Alameda Unified school board and the Alameda Health Care District board. She was Oakland's first senior services administrator. She says her focus is a City Hall that is "welcoming, responsive and accountable" and stabilizing a staff hit by turnover among senior leaders.
  • Malia Vella, an attorney and educator, is a former deputy superintendent at the California Department of Education. She says affordability is the top issue and points to the city-owned utility, Alameda Municipal Power, as one tool to keep costs down. She supports Measure L, citing about $800 million in deferred infrastructure needs, and wants to keep pushing the VA over its decision to drop a planned clinic at Alameda Point.

The City Council race: six candidates, two seats

Daysog is termed out of his council seat, and Jensen gave hers up to run for mayor. Six candidates qualified, according to the city's final roster, and three of them have run before:

  • Thushan Amarasiriwardena, a software product manager and president of the Alameda Free Library Board, is running on affordability, downtown storefronts and street safety, and supports Measure L.
  • Maria Bondonno, a public service attorney who drafted bills as a deputy legislative counsel and worked at the state Public Utilities Commission, is focused on housing, public safety and emergency preparedness.
  • Marcie Johnson, a social worker and former city employee, wants a dedicated city human services department.
  • Tyler Savage, a technology partner manager and Alameda's trustee on the county Mosquito Abatement District, lists Alameda Point and safer streets as priorities.
  • Steve Slauson, a third-generation Alamedan who has run Triple S Electric for 50 years, wants to suspend the city sales tax and opposes Measure L.
  • Amos White, founder of the nonprofit 100K Trees for Humanity, is running on climate adaptation, sea level rise and housing, and supports Measure L.

The top two vote-getters citywide win. There is no runoff.

Also on the Alameda ballot

Besides Measure L, voters will decide Measure N, a charter change on how the city approves leases and sales of city property. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 or dropped off by 8 p.m. that night. For every race and measure we've covered, see our Election 2026 guide.