Santa Clara will pick a new mayor on Nov. 3 for the first time in a decade. Mayor Lisa Gillmor terms out at the end of December, and six candidates are competing to replace her in a race shaped by two issues: the city's long-running fight with the San Francisco 49ers over Levi's Stadium, and a backlog of aging city buildings and infrastructure.

Who is running for mayor

  • Gary Ferraris, a former Santa Clara maintenance worker who now works in a staff role with the union AFSCME Council 57.
  • Karen Hardy, a councilmember since 2018 and retired Wilcox High School math and computer science teacher.
  • David Kertes, a sales executive and member of the city's Salary Setting Commission.
  • Kevin Park, the District 4 councilmember and a former tech engineer.
  • Kathy Watanabe, a former two-term councilmember who now sits on the Santa Clara Unified school board.
  • Mike Wiltberger, a medical device scientist and founder whose campaign says it is fully self-funded.

The 49ers money

The team has directed more than $2.6 million to the mayoral race and one council race, according to the latest campaign finance filings cited by the Mercury News. In the mayor's race, the 49ers are spending $1.8 million to support Ferraris and oppose Watanabe and Kertes.

Ferraris told the Mercury News he did not ask for the support and has opposed the team as a union leader on prevailing wages. Watanabe said she has "grave concerns" about team management trying "to take control of the city," and Kertes said the team wants to be "the fox guarding the henhouse." Park said the spending discourages others from running. A 49ers spokesperson said the team is backing "consensus builders" who will tackle affordability and manage city finances responsibly. Every candidate said the city still needs a working relationship with the team, which leases the city-owned stadium under agreements that have led to lawsuits and civil grand jury reports.

Budget and infrastructure

Santa Clara voters already passed a $400 million infrastructure bond, Measure I, yet hundreds of millions in repairs remain unfunded, from fire stations to the aquatic center. The candidates split on what to do next:

  • Ferraris called needing the bond "unacceptable" and wants dedicated savings for big projects.
  • Park says the general fund is large enough and wants spending cuts after a review of city operations.
  • Watanabe doubts there is room to cut and would court businesses, including possible fee waivers for developers.
  • Hardy points to her work getting the city more money from Levi's Stadium concerts and wants to slow wage increases for police and firefighters.
  • Kertes would raise the business license tax cap on large companies and start a rainy-day fund.

The council races

Two council seats are also on the ballot. In District 2, around the civic center, Kimberley Williams faces Yvonne Inciarte, and the 49ers have put more than $700,000 into backing Williams and opposing Inciarte (our earlier District 2 report). In District 3, on the city's western edge next to Sunnyvale, planning commission chair Eric Crutchlow faces business owner Kyle Madej. The team has not spent money in that race.

Candidate statements are posted on the city's website under the 2026 General Municipal Election. For other South Bay contests and measures, see our Nov. 3, 2026 election guide.