The district

Senate District 10 includes Fremont, Fairview, Hayward, Newark and Union City in Alameda County and Milpitas, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and parts of San Jose, including Alum Rock, Alviso, Berryessa and the East Foothills, according to the Silicon Valley Voice. Aisha Wahab, who held the seat, is listed by Ballotpedia as having withdrawn from the race; she is now running for Congress.

How they got here

Sakakihara led a six-candidate June primary with 29.1% (52,762 votes), and Republican Linda Price finished second with 23.2% (42,079), per Ballotpedia. Four Democrats, Anne Kepner, David Cohen, Carmen Montano and Raymond Liu, split the rest, so a single Republican made the runoff. The ballot lists Sakakihara as Councilmember/Navy Officer and Price as Businesswoman. Ballotpedia says Sakakihara joined the Navy Reserve in 2017, graduated from James Logan High School and holds a Harvard law degree.

On data centers

Both told the Silicon Valley Voice the state should set rules. Price supports transparent standards requiring data centers to disclose water and electricity use and show they won't shift infrastructure costs to ratepayers, saying "the goal should not be to stop data centers." Sakakihara wants open information with "no NDAs standing between residents and the facts," strict environmental standards, clean energy to cover the facilities' needs, and union labor and project labor agreements.

On housing law

Both called California's housing rules too complex. Sakakihara would "simplify and streamline" them while keeping tenant protections, affordability requirements and labor standards. Price would review the Density Bonus Law, Housing Element rules and Housing Crisis Act to cut requirements that add cost or delay, and wants local governments to have "a meaningful voice."

On cost-shifting rules

Price backs a required cost-benefit analysis for regulations that substantially raise living costs. Sakakihara said affordability should be weighed "in every area of state policymaking" and that lawmakers should always ask who bears the cost.

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.

More races and measures: our 2026 election hub.