San José City Council District 5 · Nov 3, 2026
Peter Ortiz
Candidate for City Council District 5 (incumbent)
Peter Ortiz, the incumbent, is running for San José City Council District 5 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Nora Campos.
Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing (week of) · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayElected District 5 councilmember in 2022; previously served on the Santa Clara County Board of Education and the Mt. Pleasant School Board, and has worked in policy and nonprofit roles.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Councilmember, City of San Jose District 5
- Endorsed by
- Rep. Ro Khanna, State Sen. Aisha Wahab, Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and Alex Lee, San José Councilmembers Rosemary Kamei, Domingo Candelas, Pamela Campos and David Cohen, the South Bay Labor Council, the Santa Clara County Democratic Party and San José Firefighters Local 230, among others Peter Ortiz campaign site
- Campaign website
- www.ortiz2026.com
Where Peter Ortiz stands: positions on the record
Homelessness4 sourced positions
Answer to the Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire
Does not support relying on arrests as a primary response to homelessness; says he voted against the Responsibility to Shelter policy.
“I voted against the “Responsibility to Shelter” policy because I believe it is neither feasible nor effective.”
Own statementMercury News primary candidate questionnaire · May 29, 2026
As reported by The Mercury News; not a direct quote
Maintained that long-term affordable housing funds must be protected, after voting against shifting Measure E money to shelters.
Own statementThe Mercury News · Sep 30, 2026
Voted no on putting up to 90% of Measure E transfer-tax revenue toward homeless shelters and interim housing (passed 8-3, June 2025).
Council voteSan José City Council minutes · Jun 10, 2025
Voted no on approving the city's Code of Conduct for Encampments item (passed 9-2, June 2025).
Council voteSan José City Council minutes · Jun 10, 2025
Housing3 sourced positions
Answer to the Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire
Supports accessory dwelling units and missing middle housing in existing neighborhoods, plus by-right zoning near transit and job centers.
“while also supporting accessory dwelling units and missing middle housing in existing neighborhoods”
Own statementMercury News primary candidate questionnaire · May 29, 2026
Voted yes on directing General Plan changes, including study of raising single-family-area density to 16, 24 or 32 homes per acre (passed 8-3, Aug. 2026).
Council voteSan José City Council minutes · Aug 18, 2026
Voted yes to support state legislation restoring local control over housing and land use (passed 9-2, Sept. 2026).
Council voteSan José City Council minutes · Sep 22, 2026
Data centers2 sourced positions
Answer to the Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire
Says additional data centers should be evaluated case by case, with a focus on community benefit.
“I believe any additional data centers in San José should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with a strong focus on community benefit; especially quality job creation and local economic impact.”
Own statementMercury News primary candidate questionnaire · May 29, 2026
Interview with The Mercury News
Co-authored a memo proposing to ban nondisclosure agreements with private firms; wants safeguards so households don't carry data center grid costs.
“We need safeguards so that residential and small-business ratepayers are not disproportionately carrying infrastructure costs associated with major commercial energy users,”
Own statementThe Mercury News · Sep 27, 2026
Public safety1 sourced position
Answer to the Mercury News primary candidate questionnaire
Supports license plate reader technology but has concerns about the vendor, Flock, and pushed the city to explore alternative vendors.
“That’s why I pushed for the city to explore alternative vendors and strengthen safeguards around data use, access, and privacy.”
Own statementMercury News primary candidate questionnaire · May 29, 2026
Cost of living1 sourced position
Voted no on raising residential garbage and recycling rates 7% for single-family and 4% for multifamily homes (passed 8-3, June 2026).
Council voteSan José City Council minutes · Jun 2, 2026
Also running for City Council District 5
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