Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Albany City Council Election 2026
2 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 5 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
No sign-in needed. Your answers stay on your phone.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
City Council
Vote for up to 2- Jon DestinJon Destin is an Albany small business owner and president of the Community Foundation in Albany.4sourced
- Katherine EnosKatherine Enos is a technical writer and editor who founded a web service analyzing wireless services.4sourced
Robin D. LópezIncumbentRobin D. López is an Albany councilmember and ecologist who has served as the city's mayor and vice mayor.9sourced
- Chris McDanielsChris McDaniels is a bureau manager and 27-year Albany resident with construction and asset management experience.4sourced
Aaron TiedemannAaron Tiedemann is a housing policy specialist at Alameda County and a former Albany councilmember.4sourced
Albany elects its council at large with ranked choice voting, and two of five seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
What the next council decides
01Single-family zoning (Measure O)3 sourced facts
Where it standsMeasure O is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
What's on the tableThe next council would use any new authority over single-family zoning if Measure O passes.
- Measure O would let the council amend R-1 single-family zoning requirements without majority approval from residents in the affected neighborhood, if it follows state-law hearing and zoning procedures. Albany Scanner · Aug 12, 2026
- Measure D from 1978 currently gives residents in R-1 areas a role in approving certain zoning changes. Albany Scanner · Aug 12, 2026
- The argument in favor says Albany's 2023-2031 Housing Element commits the city to pursue repeal of Measure D's neighborhood petition requirement. City of Albany
02City finances and tax measures3 sourced facts
Where it standsSix city measures, O through T, are on the November 3, 2026 ballot, including five tax measures.
What's on the tableThe next council will manage city finances as Golden Gate Fields potentially leaves the tax rolls.
- Measures P and Q are estimated to generate $1.4 million and $2.5 million annually. Albany Scanner · Aug 12, 2026
- Measure S would replace the flat 1.5% transfer tax with a five-tiered rate and add an estimated $1 million annually. Albany Scanner · Aug 12, 2026
- If the $175 million Golden Gate Fields deal goes through, the property would become tax-exempt, eliminating a significant source of revenue for the city and school district. Albany Scanner · Sep 1, 2026
03Housing production2 sourced facts
Where it standsAlbany is working toward a state housing target of 1,100 new homes by 2031.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide zoning and approval changes that affect how much housing gets built.
- Albany Scanner reports the city is working toward a state housing target of 1,100 new homes by 2031. Albany Scanner · Sep 1, 2026
- Measure O would change single-family zoning authority, which the council's argument ties to housing availability. City of Albany
04Small business and business taxes2 sourced facts
Where it standsMeasure R would change how the city calculates its business license tax.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide how the city supports businesses and applies the tax.
- Measure R would base the business license tax on gross receipts instead of employee count, adding an estimated $600,000 annually. Albany Scanner · Aug 12, 2026
- The council's argument says Measure R lowers the tax for more than seven out of ten retail and service businesses. City of Albany
2 notes on these statements
Robin D. López and Aaron Tiedemann are campaigning together, according to Albany Scanner. Albany Scanner · Sep 1, 2026
John Anthony Miki's council term runs from December 2022 to December 2026. City of Albany
No sign-in · answers stay on your phone
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. Measure O would let the council change single-family zoning without neighborhood petition approval. What should Albany do?
2. Albany's ballot has parcel, business and transfer tax measures (P through T). What should the city do about revenue?
3. How should Albany get more housing built?
4. How should the city support small businesses?
Key dates
- Extended nomination period closedCity of AlbanyAug 12, 2026
- Early voting and vote-by-mail ballots beginAlbany Scanner · Sep 22, 2026Oct 5, 2026
- Albany vote center opens at the Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave.Albany Scanner · Sep 22, 2026Oct 31, 2026
- Election DayAlbany Scanner · Sep 22, 2026Nov 3, 2026
The seat math
3 stay (not up this year): Jennifer Hansen-Romero, Preston Jordan, Peggy McQuaid2 on this ballot
5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- The City Council has five members elected at large using ranked choice voting. City of Albany
- Municipal elections are held every two years at the November general election of even-numbered years. City of Albany
- The City Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor, and the Mayor presides over council meetings. City of Albany
- The two council seats on the 2026 ballot are for four-year terms. City of Albany
Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
See something wrong? Report an error
Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.