Cupertino City Council · Nov 3, 2026

Santosh Rao

Candidate for City Council

8 candidates · 3 seats13 sourced positions

Santosh Rao is running for Cupertino City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 8 candidates are running for 3 seats.

Ballots begin mailing to active registered voters · Mon, Oct 5, 2026

Today

Cupertino Planning Commissioner (2025 chair). Member of the Cupertino Union School District bond oversight committee. Technology executive.

Occupation (from candidate statement): Technology Executive, Cupertino Planning Commissioner
Endorsed by: Vice Mayor Liang Chao, Councilmember R "Ray" Wang, former mayors Steven Scharf, Patrick Kwok and Darcy Paul, and three Cupertino Union School District trustees. Campaign website (accessed Sep 30, 2026)
How the press groups them: Described by San José Spotlight as loosely working together: Tracy Kosolcharoen, Gopal Kumarappan and Santosh Rao. San José Spotlight · Aug 22, 2026
Campaign website: rao4residents.org

Where Santosh Rao stands: positions on the record

Housing5 sourced positions

Supports context-appropriate density: protecting single-family corridors while encouraging housing on main corridors.
“Affordable housing AND neighborhood character: context-appropriate density, protecting single-family corridors while encouraging thoughtful housing on main corridors. Both. Not one or the other.”
Own statementCampaign website (accessed Sep 30, 2026)
as reported by Diya TV; not a direct quote
At a Sept 19 forum, said he voted against the Linda Vista Drive project as a planning commissioner and would again, and that he has supported roughly 400 homes along commercial corridors.
Forum answerDiya TV forum report · Sep 22, 2026
Voted no on recommending a 27-townhome project (5 affordable) replacing an office building (passed 4-1, May 2026).
Commission votePlanning Commission minutes · May 12, 2026
Voted yes on 57 townhomes (11 affordable) replacing two office buildings (4-1, Dec 2025).
Commission votePlanning Commission minutes · Dec 9, 2025
Voted no on the Mary Avenue right-of-way vacation and property disposition item (passed 3-2, Feb 2026).
Commission votePlanning Commission minutes · Feb 10, 2026

Budget and taxes2 sourced positions

Favors evaluating costs and cutting spending over seeking new revenue; says the city is penalizing businesses to raise money.
“The reason is because our city is looking for more dollars to add to the top line instead of evaluating the bottom line and looking at cost cuts.”
Own statementSan José Spotlight · Aug 22, 2026
Wants a plain-language budget portal and public capital project tracker.
“zero tolerance for wasteful spending, and full transparency so every resident can see where the money goes.”
Own statementCampaign website (accessed Sep 30, 2026)

City Hall and governance2 sourced positions

Says his focus is putting residents first, respecting taxpayer dollars and holding City Hall accountable.
“My focus is on putting residents first, on respecting our taxpayer dollars, and making sure to hold City Hall accountable,”
Own statementSan José Spotlight · Aug 22, 2026
as reported by Diya TV; not a direct quote
At a Sept 19 forum, said his first-year priority would be tightening the city's lobbyist ordinance.
Forum answerDiya TV forum report · Sep 22, 2026

Retail and business2 sourced positions

Says being pro-business means cutting regulations; criticizes city's punitive approach to non-compliance.
“I believe that being pro-business means that we need to cut regulations for our businesses”
Own statementSan José Spotlight · Aug 22, 2026
Pro-business pillar: attract diverse retail and dining, cut redundant permit reviews.
“Reduce bottlenecks to working with Cupertino, attract diverse retail and dining, and treat small business owners as partners, not paperwork problems.”
Own statementCampaign website (accessed Sep 30, 2026)

Streets and traffic1 sourced position

Public safety pillar includes traffic enforcement and smart traffic-management technology with public data.
“Traffic enforcement, law enforcement, engaging the community, modern emergency response, and smart technology for road and traffic management, backed by data the public can see.”
Own statementCampaign website (accessed Sep 30, 2026)

Public safety1 sourced position

as reported by Diya TV; not a direct quote
At a Sept 19 forum, said the sheriff's contract should be brought into line with state law on county cost allocation, citing a city audit.
Forum answerDiya TV forum report · Sep 22, 2026

In their words

At a Sept 19 forum, said he voted against the Linda Vista Drive project as a planning commissioner and would again, and that he has supported roughly 400 homes along commercial corridors.
Sep 22, 2026 ·as reported by Diya TV; not a direct quote ·Diya TV forum report · Sep 22, 2026

On the record

Voted yes on 57 townhomes (11 affordable) replacing two office buildings (4-1, Dec 2025).
Dec 9, 2025 ·Planning Commission minutes · Dec 9, 2025
Voted no on the Mary Avenue right-of-way vacation and property disposition item (passed 3-2, Feb 2026).
Feb 10, 2026 ·Planning Commission minutes · Feb 10, 2026
Voted no on recommending a 27-townhome project (5 affordable) replacing an office building (passed 4-1, May 2026).
May 12, 2026 ·Planning Commission minutes · May 12, 2026

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