Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Berkeley City Council Election 2026

4 of 9

council seats up

4 contests

13 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

Laura BabittAccountant and operations executive who served as president of the Berkeley School Board. Has more than 25 years as a financial executive.4sourced
Ross BernetClimate program manager who led a deal permanently protecting more than 400,000 acres of forest. Was elected to the Sierra Club executive committee.3sourced
Moni GangopadhyayClean energy policymaker at the California Public Utilities Commission.4sourced
Steve KromerEnergy engineer who worked for 10 years in the facilities department at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.3sourced
Daria WrubelBerkeley-born family and youth therapist. Has worked as a garden teacher, a union organizer and an adolescent therapist.4sourced

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

City Council District 7 · 1 seat

City Council District 8 · 1 seat

Only voters in Districts 1, 4, 7 and 8 elect a councilmember this year, one per district. Berkeley uses ranked-choice voting: rank up to five candidates; the winner needs a majority.

3 notes on these statements

Fred Feller withdrew from the District 8 race, but his name remains on the ballot. The Berkeley Scanner · Sep 28, 2026

District 1 and District 7 are open seats: Councilmembers Rashi Kesarwani and Cecilia Lunaparra are not running again. Berkeleyside · Aug 19, 2026

Mark Humbert's campaign site lists endorsements from Mayor Adena Ishii and six sitting councilmembers. Mark Humbert campaign site

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Ben BartlettCouncilmember, District 3; term ends November 30, 20288sourced Brent BlackabyCouncilmember, District 6; term ends November 30, 20288sourced Adena IshiiMayor (votes on the council); term ends November 30, 20288sourced Shoshana O'KeefeCouncilmember, District 5; term ends November 30, 20288sourced Terry TaplinCouncilmember, District 2; term ends November 30, 20288sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesBudget deficit and Measure V, Police tools: tear gas and license-plate readers, Housing and zoning Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Ballots mailed to all voters; voting period opens

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget deficit and Measure V

Where it standsThe council adopted a two-year budget in June 2026 that cut staff and programs, and asked voters to approve a half-cent sales tax (Measure V).

What's on the tableWhich services to restore or cut, depending on whether Measure V passes.

City officials are asking voters for a half-percent sales tax to address part of a $30 million general fund deficit; it could raise $9 to 10 million a year. Berkeleyside · Jul 24, 2026
The adopted budget cut programs including a winter homeless shelter and the Mobile Crisis Team. Berkeleyside · Jul 24, 2026
If the sales tax fails, officials warned they could close the fire station on Marin Avenue in North Berkeley. Berkeleyside · Jul 24, 2026
The council adopted the FY 2027–2028 biennial budget 9-0 on June 23, 2026. Berkeley City Council annotated agenda (official actions and votes), June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026

Police tools: tear gas and license-plate readers

Where it standsOn Sept. 29, 2026 a resolution to let police use tear gas in life-threatening incidents failed 4-5; in May 2026 the council extended its Flock license-plate reader contract 12 months.

What's on the tableWhether to renew, replace or end license-plate reader contracts after the 12-month extension, and whether to revisit the tear gas ban.

The May 2026 motion extended the license-plate reader contract for 12 months for up to $200,000 and referred a new bid process to the City Manager. Berkeley City Council annotated agenda (official actions and votes), May 7, 2026 · May 7, 2026
The Peace and Justice Commission recommended cancelling Berkeley's Flock Safety contracts. Berkeley City Council annotated agenda (official actions and votes), May 7, 2026 · May 7, 2026
The failed tear gas resolution would also have lifted the moratorium on smoke and pepper spray. Berkeley City Council annotated agenda (official actions and votes), Sept. 29, 2026 (special meeting) · Sep 29, 2026

Housing and zoning

Where it standsIn 2025 the council voted 9-0 to encourage “middle housing” in Berkeley's low-density residential districts, effective Nov. 1, 2025.

What's on the tableHow much new housing to allow and where, and how to fund affordable housing.

The middle housing zoning changes apply to areas zoned R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-2A and MU-R. Berkeley City Council annotated agenda (official actions and votes), June 26, 2025 (special meeting) · Jun 26, 2025
The middle housing ordinance took effect on Nov. 1, 2025. Berkeley City Council annotated agenda (official actions and votes), July 8, 2025 · Jul 8, 2025

Streets and infrastructure

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council directed staff to repave Hopkins Street with separated bike lanes; voters will decide Measure U, a $300 million infrastructure bond.

What's on the tableThe final Hopkins Street design and how to pay for street repaving and aging city facilities.

The Hopkins Street referral passed 7-2, with Councilmembers O'Keefe and Blackaby voting no. Berkeley City Council annotated agenda (official actions and votes), July 28, 2026 · Jul 28, 2026
The city has identified 34 potential projects the bond could fund. Berkeleyside · Jul 24, 2026
Measure U would increase annual property taxes by $44 for every $100,000 of a home's assessed value. Berkeleyside · Jul 24, 2026
The bond measure needs more than two-thirds of the vote to pass. The Daily Californian

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. Berkeley faces a structural budget deficit. What should come first?
2. Should Berkeley raise its sales tax by a half cent (Measure V) to help close the deficit?
3. Should Berkeley police be allowed to use tear gas in critical life-threatening incidents?
4. What should Berkeley do with its Flock license-plate readers?
5. How should Berkeley approach new housing in its neighborhoods?
6. Should Hopkins Street get separated bike lanes when it is repaved?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Ballots mailed to all voters; voting period opensCity of BerkeleyOct 5, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)City of BerkeleyNov 3, 2026
Newly elected officials take officeCity of BerkeleyDec 1, 2026

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Ben Bartlett, Brent Blackaby, Adena Ishii, Shoshana O'Keefe, Terry Taplin4 on this ballot

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

The City Council has nine voting members: a mayor elected citywide and eight councilmembers elected by district. City of Berkeley
Council Districts 1, 4, 7 and 8 are elected in the same year as the governor; each office serves a four-year term. City of Berkeley
Council races use ranked-choice voting; voters may rank up to five candidates. Alameda County Registrar of Voters
Winning a City Council seat requires a 50% + 1 majority. City of Berkeley

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