San Mateo City Council District 3 · Nov 3, 2026
Robert G. Newsom Jr.
Candidate for City Council District 3 (incumbent)
Robert G. Newsom Jr., the incumbent, is running for San Mateo City Council District 3 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Seema Patel.
Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayDistrict 3 council member since December 2022 who served as mayor in 2025. He previously served on San Mateo's Personnel Board and worked in printing and transportation operations.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Councilmember / Businessman / Father
- Endorsed by
- Firefighters (IAFF L2400) and police officers (SMPOA-505) (as listed in his ballot statement). Robert G. Newsom Jr. · Aug 1, 2026
- Campaign website
- www.vote4robnewsom.com
Where Robert G. Newsom Jr. stands: positions on the record
Historic preservation3 sourced positions
Voted yes on funding a historic policy update that included direction not to designate any property historic without the owner's consent (passed 3-2, January 2025).
Council voteSan Mateo City Council minutes, January 21, 2025 (Regular Meeting) · Jan 21, 2025
Voted yes on a letter asking the state to defer review of the Baywood historic district nomination (passed 4-0, March 2025).
Council voteSan Mateo City Council minutes, March 17, 2025 (Special Meeting) · Mar 17, 2025
Voted yes on introducing the updated historic preservation ordinance and creating a Historic Resources Commission (passed 5-0, May 2026).
Regional transit1 sourced position
Voted no on a motion to support Senate Bill 63, a Bay Area transit bill; the motion failed with 2 yes and 3 no votes (May 2025).
Council voteSan Mateo City Council minutes, May 19, 2025 (Special Meeting) · May 19, 2025
State legislation1 sourced position
Voted yes on a motion to oppose Assembly Bill 306 (passed 3-2, May 2025).
Council voteSan Mateo City Council minutes, May 19, 2025 (Special Meeting) · May 19, 2025
Sales tax (Measure H)1 sourced position
Moved and voted yes on placing Measure H, a quarter-cent sales tax increase, on the November 2026 ballot (passed 4-0, July 2026).
Housing2 sourced positions
as reported by The Mercury News
Said the city is making progress on its housing requirements and that he will keep projects on track.
“But I’ve been working on it, and I plan to keep moving it forward for the next four.”
Own statementThe Mercury News · Sep 29, 2026
Says he created a task force so new housing projects are reviewed for their impacts on infrastructure and traffic.
Own statementRe-elect Rob Newsom
Budget1 sourced position
Moved and voted yes on adopting the 2026-27 city budget of about $356.3 million (passed 5-0, June 2026).
Council voteSan Mateo City Council minutes, June 15, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Jun 15, 2026
Leaf blowers1 sourced position
Voted yes on introducing an ordinance that prohibits gas leaf blowers (passed 5-0, March 2026).
Council voteSan Mateo City Council minutes, March 2, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Mar 2, 2026
Past candidacies1 sourced position
Ran for San Mateo City Council, District 3 in 2022 (won).
Own statementSan Mateo County Elections · Dec 1, 2022
Also running for City Council District 3
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