Richmond will elect a new mayor on Nov. 3, 2026, choosing between City Councilmember Claudia Jimenez and Ahmad Anderson. It is the city's first mayoral runoff. Voters approved Measure J in 2024, which created a June primary: a candidate who wins more than 50% takes the seat outright, and if no one does, the top two advance to November.

Why it matters: The next mayor will help decide how Richmond spends its $550 million settlement with Chevron, how many police officers it staffs, and what happens to its aging fire stations if Measure Q fails.

How we got here

In the June 2 primary, Jimenez finished first with 38.6% of the vote and Anderson second with 28%, according to final results reported by Richmondside. Mayor Eduardo Martinez, in his first reelection bid, did not advance. He had lost the backing of the Richmond Progressive Alliance last fall and faced calls to resign over a December 2025 social media post. Martinez said he will stay in office until January 2027.

The city says no November council races are needed in Districts 2, 3 and 4, because incumbents Cesar Zepeda, Doria Robinson and Soheila Bana each won more than half the vote in June. They will be sworn in Jan. 12, 2027.

Claudia Jimenez

Jimenez is a sitting council member and a member of the Richmond Progressive Alliance, which endorsed her. Richmondside reports she is also backed by the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, city employee unions SEIU 1021 and IFPTE 21, and committees tied to APEN Action and ACCE Action. She has talked about using Chevron settlement money to move Richmond toward a greener economy, and in a reader Q&A she said the city should invest in public safety "without sacrificing other essential services or expecting the police to solve all of our problems." On economic development she named revitalizing the port and reusing industrial land for clean businesses with union jobs.

Ahmad Anderson

Anderson grew up in Richmond, played football at UC Berkeley and is a former chair of the city's Economic Development Commission. He ran twice for council before this first mayoral bid. He casts himself as a moderate and has the endorsement of the Richmond Police Officers Association, which also funded a committee supporting him, Richmondside reported. He has campaigned on more police staffing and economic growth. He promises a public "Performance and Accountability Dashboard" within 100 days that would track police staffing, response times, street repairs and how Chevron settlement money is spent.

Where they differ on Measure Q

Measure Q on the same ballot is a $120 million bond to repair and replace Richmond fire stations. It needs two-thirds approval and would cost an estimated $22.15 per $100,000 of assessed value. Asked what happens if it fails, Jimenez said the council would fund repairs through its normal budget, starting with mold and asbestos removal. Anderson said he would order a prioritized repair plan, seek grants and review whether a "responsibly limited portion" of Chevron money could help.

Key dates

  • Supplemental voter guide mailed: Oct. 21
  • Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot: Oct. 27
  • Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3

For other Contra Costa and Bay Area races and measures, see our Election 2026 guide.