Oakland City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Ken Houston
Councilmember, District 7; term ends January 2029Ballotpedia
Ken Houston (Councilmember, District 7) is not on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot and will stay on the Oakland City Council after the election.
Third-generation Oaklander and community advocate who trained justice-impacted and unhoused people for jobs before taking office.
Charlene Wang's campaign site lists Mayor Barbara Lee and Councilmembers Kevin Jenkins, Rowena Brown, Zac Unger, Janani Ramachandran, Noel Gallo and Ken Houston among her endorsers. Charlene Wang campaign site
Where Ken Houston stands: positions on the record
Homelessness / encampments1 sourced position
Voted yes, and seconded the motion, on his own proposal replacing the 2020 encampment policy with a 2025 abatement policy that allows towing of lived-in vehicles (passed 5-1, April 2026).
Council voteOakland City Council minutes, April 14, 2026 · Apr 14, 2026
Charter reform (Measure EE)2 sourced positions
Voted no on placing the mayor's charter amendment making the mayor chief executive on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot (4-4 tie, broken by Mayor Lee, June 2026).
Council voteOakland City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
Proposed failed amendments to have the council confirm the city administrator and to limit the mayor's veto, as reported by The Oaklandside.
Own statementThe Oaklandside · Jun 16, 2026
Data centers1 sourced position
Voted yes, and seconded the motion, in the Life Enrichment Committee on a temporary moratorium on data center approvals, sending it to the full council (passed 3-0, Sept. 2026).
Council voteOakland City Council Life Enrichment Committee minutes (draft), Sept. 22, 2026 · Sep 22, 2026
Police surveillance cameras1 sourced position
Voted yes on a two-year, $2.25 million Flock Safety license-plate camera contract with data-sharing limits (passed 7-1, Dec. 2025).
Council voteOakland City Council minutes, Dec. 16, 2025 · Dec 16, 2025
Budget1 sourced position
Voted yes on the fiscal 2026-27 midcycle budget (passed 6-2, June 2026).
Council voteOakland City Council minutes, June 12, 2026 · Jun 12, 2026
Budget / Measure FF1 sourced position
Voted yes on placing the foreclosure transfer tax measure on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot (passed 7-0, July 2026).
Council voteOakland City Council minutes, July 7, 2026 · Jul 7, 2026
Police1 sourced position
Voted yes on new labor agreements with the Oakland Police Officers' Association (passed 7-1, Sept. 2026, per draft minutes).
Council voteOakland City Council minutes (draft), Sept. 15, 2026 · Sep 15, 2026
What Ken Houston said vs. how Ken Houston voted
Charter reform (Measure EE)
In their words
Proposed failed amendments to have the council confirm the city administrator and to limit the mayor's veto, as reported by The Oaklandside.
Jun 16, 2026 ·The Oaklandside · Jun 16, 2026
On the record
Voted no on placing the mayor's charter amendment making the mayor chief executive on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot (4-4 tie, broken by Mayor Lee, June 2026).
Jun 16, 2026 ·Oakland City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
On the ballot this time
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