Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Alameda Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

9 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Mayor · 1 seat

Tony DaysogAlameda city councilmember and urban planner with UC Berkeley degrees in history and city planning. He says he has served 22 years on the City Council.8sourced
Tracy JensenAlameda city councilmember and former school board member with master's degrees in public health and business. She was appointed to the Alameda HealthCare District Board in 2013.6sourced
Malia VellaFormer Alameda councilmember (2016 to 2024) who was Vice Mayor for four of those years.4sourced

City Council · Vote for up to 2

All Alameda voters choose one candidate for mayor and up to two candidates for City Council.

4 notes on these statements

Tony Daysog has served two consecutive terms and is not eligible for a third, and Tracy Jensen gave up her council seat to run for mayor, so the two council seats on the ballot have no incumbent running for them. Alameda Post · Sep 8, 2026

Marcie Johnson did not attend the Sept. 5 League of Women Voters forum for City Council candidates, according to forum moderator Anna Crane. Alameda Post · Sep 15, 2026

Steve Slauson did not participate in the Aug. 22 City of Alameda Democratic Club forum. Alameda Post · Aug 31, 2026

Alameda voters also decide city Measure L (infrastructure bond), Measure M (charter amendment updating provisions) and Measure N (charter amendment on city real property sales and leases). City of Alameda

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Greg BollerCouncilmember; term 2024-20283sourced Michele PryorVice Mayor; term 2024-20284sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesInfrastructure bond (Measure L), Police staffing and license plate cameras, Housing targets and affordable-housing rules Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed; early voting and 24-hour drop boxes open

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Infrastructure bond (Measure L)

Where it standsThe council voted 4-1 on July 7, 2026 to put a $300 million infrastructure bond, Measure L, on the Nov. 3 ballot.

What's on the tableThe next council will direct how bond proceeds are spent if voters approve Measure L, and will appoint the oversight committee the measure requires.

Measure L asks voters to approve $300 million in bonds, levying $49 per $100,000 of assessed value and generating about $19 million a year while bonds are outstanding. City of Alameda
The council voted 4-1 on July 7, 2026 to put the bond on the ballot, with Councilmember Daysog voting no. Alameda City Council minutes, July 7, 2026 · Jul 7, 2026
A June 2026 survey found about 62% of respondents would support a bond, short of the two-thirds supermajority required to pass. Alameda Post
City staff cite at least $800 million in unfunded infrastructure and deferred maintenance needs. Alameda Post

Police staffing and license plate cameras

Where it standsThe Police Department is carrying vacancies against 88 budgeted sworn positions, and the city uses Flock cameras for automated license plate readers.

What's on the tableThe next council will set police staffing in the budget and decide whether to keep using Flock license plate cameras.

On May 19, 2026 the Human Resources Director told the council the average number of police vacancies is 21 positions and that the budgeted number of 88 positions is for total sworn positions. Alameda City Council minutes, May 19, 2026 · May 19, 2026
At the May 5, 2026 meeting the Police Chief confirmed Flock is the vendor for the city's Automated License Plate Readers. Alameda City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026
Candidates differed most sharply over Flock Safety cameras and Measure L at an Aug. 22 forum. Alameda Post · Aug 31, 2026

Housing targets and affordable-housing rules

Where it standsAlameda is far behind its state-mandated housing goals and updated its inclusionary housing ordinance in June 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how to meet the housing target and how affordable-housing requirements apply to new projects.

The state-mandated Housing Element requires Alameda to plan for 5,353 additional homes by 2031. Alameda Post · Aug 31, 2026
The council finally passed an ordinance amending the inclusionary housing requirements as Ordinance No. 3405 on June 2, 2026. Alameda City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
In June 2026 staff told the council that the first two phases of the Alameda Marina project were built under a 15% requirement and that Phase III is being considered under a new 8% threshold. Alameda City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026

Vacant storefronts and affordability

Where it standsAlameda has a vacancy tax and facade-improvement grants, and candidates disagree on how far to go on vacant storefronts and the cost of living.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to strengthen, keep or change the vacancy tax and what to do about the cost of living.

At an Aug. 22 forum, Vella pointed to the city's vacancy tax and facade-improvement grants as tools for vacant storefronts, and Jensen supported the vacancy tax and facade grants. Alameda Post · Aug 31, 2026
At a Sept. 26 forum, Slauson said his central goal is eliminating several city taxes, especially sales tax. Alameda Post · Sep 30, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Should Alameda voters approve Measure L, the $300 million infrastructure bond?
2. What should Alameda do about police hiring?
3. What should Alameda do about its Flock license plate cameras?
4. How should Alameda approach new housing under its state-mandated target?
5. What should Alameda do about its vacancy tax on empty storefronts?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed; early voting and 24-hour drop boxes openAlameda County Registrar of VotersOct 5, 2026
Close of voter registrationAlameda County Registrar of VotersOct 19, 2026
10-day vote centers openAlameda County Registrar of VotersOct 24, 2026
4-day vote centers openAlameda County Registrar of VotersOct 31, 2026
Election DayAlameda County Registrar of VotersNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Greg Boller, Michele Pryor3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The Mayor and Councilmembers are elected at large. Councilmembers serve four-year staggered terms, with two elected every two years, and the Mayor serves a four-year term. City of Alameda
The council currently consists of Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Vice Mayor Michele Pryor, and Councilmembers Greg Boller, Tony Daysog and Tracy Jensen. City of Alameda
The Nov. 3, 2026 ballot includes the offices of Mayor and Councilmember (2 seats), plus three city ballot measures. City of Alameda

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