San Mateo, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

San Mateo City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

7 candidates

Updated Oct 3, 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

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Voters in Districts 1, 3 and 5 each elect one council member to a four-year term. Districts 2 and 4 are not on this ballot.

2 notes on these statements

Lisa Diaz Nash recused herself from the March 2025 vote on a letter about the Baywood historic district nomination. San Mateo City Council minutes, March 17, 2025 (Special Meeting) · Mar 17, 2025

The League of Women Voters hosted a candidate forum for Districts 1, 3 and 5 at City Hall on October 1, 2026. City of San Mateo

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Danielle Cwirko-GodyckiCouncilmember, District 4; term ends December 20289sourcedNicole FernandezDeputy Mayor, District 2; term ends December 20289sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesBudget deficit and Measure H sales tax, Housing growth and large projects, Historic preservation rulesKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget deficit and Measure H sales tax

Where it standsThe council voted 4-0 in July 2026 to ask voters to raise the city's sales tax by a quarter cent, estimated to bring in about $7 million a year.

What's on the tableHow to close the budget gap, including what to cut or fund depending on whether Measure H passes.

Housing growth and large projects

Where it standsSan Mateo must plan for at least 7,015 new homes this decade, and large projects, including a redevelopment of Hillsdale Shopping Center, are in the pipeline.

What's on the tableApprovals and conditions for large housing and mixed-use projects, including the Hillsdale redevelopment.

Historic preservation rules

Where it standsIn May 2026 the council adopted an updated historic preservation ordinance and created a Historic Resources Commission.

What's on the tableWhich properties and districts get historic designation, and how the 1989 historic building survey is updated.

Humboldt Street bike lanes and parking

Where it standsIn February 2026 the council directed staff to keep the existing bike lanes on Humboldt Street and study parking permits and traffic calming for North Central.

What's on the tableFunding for parking, lighting and traffic-calming changes in North Central, and whether to pursue a one-way Humboldt Street.

Regional transit sales tax

Where it standsThe Connect Bay Area transit initiative, a regional sales tax for transit, is on the November 3, 2026 ballot in San Mateo County and four other Bay Area counties.

What's on the tableWhether the city takes a position on the measure and which local transit priorities it presses for in the regional spending plan.

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. 1. Should the city be able to designate a property historic without the owner's consent?

  2. 2. What should happen to the Humboldt Street bike lanes?

  3. 3. Should voters approve the Connect Bay Area regional transit sales tax?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Danielle Cwirko-Godycki, Nicole Fernandez3 on this ballot

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

  • San Mateo has five council members, each elected by a district to a four-year term, with a maximum of three consecutive terms. City of San Mateo
  • The mayor rotates each December among all council members. City of San Mateo
  • Districts 1, 3 and 5 elect council members on November 3, 2026; Districts 2 and 4 elected theirs in November 2024. City of San Mateo

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