Redwood City's three City Council races on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 each have one candidate: incumbents Chris Sturken (District 2), Kaia Eakin (District 5) and Diane Howard (District 6).
Why it matters: No challengers filed by the Aug. 7 deadline, Redwood City Pulse reported, and Patch's Oct. 8 voter guide lists each as running unopposed. Their names still appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates could file from Sept. 7 through Oct. 20; we could not confirm whether any did.
The three council members
- Chris Sturken, District 2: first elected in 2022. Has worked in the nonprofit sector for a decade; his statement highlights affordable housing, safe streets for walking and biking, and inclusivity.
- Kaia Eakin, District 5: first elected in 2022 and now vice mayor. Priorities include money for recreation and shoreline climate resiliency, road safety on Woodside Road and El Camino Real, housing at all income levels, and clearer rules for e-bikes and street vendors.
- Diane Howard, District 6: first elected in 1994 and on the council ever since, except 2009 to 2013; mayor in 1997 and 2019. Lists neighborhood safety, infrastructure, local business, traffic and fiscal responsibility.
"I believe growth should strengthen our community while preserving the character and quality of life that make Redwood City special," Howard wrote in her statement, quoted by the Pulse.
Who will be mayor?
Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos's two-year term as mayor ends in December. Under the council's seniority rotation adopted in 2019, Eakin would be next in line, the Pulse reported.
The real Redwood City decision
The biggest local question is Measure E, the rent control and eviction measure. County voters also see Measures J and AA and the $848 million Measure V college bond. See our Election 2026 guide.