Albany voters will rank five candidates for two City Council seats on Nov. 3. Albany uses ranked-choice voting, so you can rank the candidates in order of preference instead of picking just one.

Who is running

In ballot order:

  • Robin D. López, incumbent councilmember
  • Katherine Enos, small business owner
  • Jon Destin, Albany business owner since 2009
  • Aaron Tiedemann, housing policy analyst who served on the council from 2020 to 2024 and lost his reelection bid in 2024
  • Chris McDaniels, public works manager

López and Tiedemann are campaigning together, the Albany Scanner reports.

Housing

Albany's state housing target is 1,100 new homes by 2031. At an Albany Democratic Club forum, Destin said of that goal, "We're nowhere near close." Tiedemann called housing his No. 1 issue and wants more density, including along Solano Avenue. López pointed to Verana Hill, a 62-unit project at 755 Cleveland Ave. Enos said she wants a mix of housing types.

Taxes and Golden Gate Fields

Albany voters face several new tax measures this fall. Destin and McDaniels said the city should have prepared for the loss of revenue from the Golden Gate Fields closure instead of turning to new taxes. The Trust for Public Land's $175 million deal for the former racetrack would make the site tax-exempt. Enos said Measure R "may not be the best."

On business, Destin proposed a "concierge" at City Hall to help businesses, and McDaniels proposed holding town halls for business owners.

Also on Albany ballots

Where to vote in Albany

Albany has 12,256 registered voters. Vote centers at the Albany Community Center (1249 Marin Ave.) and the Veterans Memorial Building (1325 Portland Ave.) are open Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. An official drop box is behind City Hall at 1000 San Pablo Ave.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.