Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Burlingame City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

4 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 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 · Unopposed

Andrea PappajohnIncumbentAndrea Pappajohn is Burlingame's Vice Mayor and a sustainability and climate action professional. She joined the City Council after serving on the Parks & Recreation Commission.4sourced

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · Unopposed

Peter W. StevensonIncumbentPeter Stevenson is a Burlingame councilmember and former mayor with 35 years in the technology industry. He co-founded a healthcare software company.5sourced

Each of Districts 1, 3 and 5 elects one council member on November 3. District 3 has two candidates; Districts 1 and 5 have one each.

2 notes on these statements

The city's agenda for the October 6 League of Women Voters candidate forum lists Andrea Pappajohn as unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, and lists Jen Faber, Howard Wettan and Peter Stevenson as candidates. City of Burlingame · Oct 6, 2026

The county roster lists Andrea Pappajohn, Jen Faber, Howard Wettan and Peter W. Stevenson as the qualified candidates for these three seats. San Mateo County Elections · Aug 25, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Donna ColsonCouncilmember; term ends December 20284sourced Desiree ThayerCouncilmember, District 2; term ends December 20283sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesTransit-area housing (SB 79), Bayfront Specific Plan, Broadway grade separation Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing; early voting opens

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Transit-area housing (SB 79)

Where it standsThe council adopted a local transit-oriented development overlay for the downtown Caltrain and Millbrae station areas to comply with SB 79, which took effect July 1, 2026.

What's on the tableHow the new council applies and refines the overlay zones and where new housing density is directed.

SB 79 is set to become operative July 1, 2026; if a city takes no action, its default standards apply within a quarter mile of qualifying stations. Burlingame City Council minutes, March 16, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Mar 16, 2026
Staff's alternative plan provides for 16,393 units against a required baseline of 16,317 units. Burlingame City Council minutes, June 1, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Jun 1, 2026
The council advanced the ordinance on first reading on June 1, 2026, by a 4-0-1 vote. Burlingame City Council minutes, June 1, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Jun 1, 2026

Bayfront Specific Plan

Where it standsA consultant team is preparing a Bayfront Specific Plan on a nearly three-year timeline, with adoption hearings planned for 2028.

What's on the tableWhich land uses, including housing, offices, hotels, industry and public space, the plan favors, and its final adoption.

In December 2025 the council approved a $1.5 million agreement with Raimi and Associates to prepare the plan. Burlingame City Council minutes, December 1, 2025 (Regular Meeting) · Dec 1, 2025
The plan covers an area that holds approximately 50% of the city's jobs, according to the consultant. Burlingame City Council minutes, May 4, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · May 4, 2026
The consultant's timeline places selection of a preferred option in 2027 and plan adoption in 2028. Burlingame City Council minutes, May 4, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · May 4, 2026

Broadway grade separation

Where it standsPlans to separate the Broadway and California Drive intersection from the Caltrain tracks are estimated at $662.48 million, and funding is uncertain.

What's on the tableWhether and how to keep pursuing the project, and what interim traffic fixes to fund at the intersection.

The project's estimated price tag is $662.48 million, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal. San Mateo Daily Journal
The present design would remove the Broadway train station, which currently has weekend service only. San Mateo Daily Journal

City budget and hotel tax

Where it standsThe council adopted a $188 million citywide budget for FY 2026-27 and placed a hotel tax increase from 12% to 15% on the November 3 ballot.

What's on the tableHow to use any new hotel tax revenue and how to balance capital spending against reserves.

The FY 2026-27 citywide budget totals $188 million, including a $92.9 million General Fund. Burlingame City Council minutes, June 15, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Jun 15, 2026
Staff estimates the increase from 12% to 15% would bring in about $5.7 million more per year. Burlingame City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Jul 6, 2026
If the measure passes, the council plans a January 2027 study session on spending priorities for the new revenue. Burlingame City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Jul 6, 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. How should Burlingame handle the state's SB 79 transit-housing rules near its stations?
2. What should the Bayfront Specific Plan favor?
3. With the Broadway grade separation's cost near $662 million, what should the city do?

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 begin mailing; early voting opensSan Mateo County ElectionsOct 5, 2026
League of Women Voters candidate forum, City Hall (6 p.m.)City of Burlingame · Oct 6, 2026Oct 6, 2026
Last day to register to voteSan Mateo County ElectionsOct 19, 2026
Election DaySan Mateo County ElectionsNov 3, 2026
Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day must arriveSan Mateo County ElectionsNov 10, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Donna Colson, Desiree Thayer3 on this ballot

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

The City Council has five members: Mayor Michael Brownrigg, Vice Mayor Andrea Pappajohn, and Councilmembers Donna Colson, Desiree Thayer and Peter Stevenson. City of Burlingame · Oct 6, 2026
Council seats in Districts 1, 3 and 5 are on the November 3, 2026 ballot, one seat each. San Mateo County Elections
The council's mayors serve in rotation: at the December 2025 reorganization the outgoing mayor described a rotation process that lets each councilmember serve as mayor in an orderly fashion. Burlingame City Council minutes, December 15, 2025 (Regular Meeting) · Dec 15, 2025
Andrea Pappajohn's District 1 term expires in December 2026. City of Burlingame
Peter Stevenson's District 5 term expires in December 2026. City of Burlingame

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