Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Sunnyvale City Council Election 2026

3 of 7

council seats up

3 contests

3 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 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 · Unopposed

Linda SellIncumbentDistrict 1 councilmember. Her ballot statement cites her work on school fundraising, safer walking and biking routes for students, and representing Sunnyvale at VTA.8sourced

City Council District 3 · Unopposed

Murali SrinivasanIncumbentDistrict 3 councilmember and technology executive who says he has led four startups. Chairs the Valley Water Commission and Silicon Valley Clean Energy's Finance and Administration Committee.9sourced

City Council District 5 · Unopposed

Richard MehlingerIncumbentDistrict 5 councilmember since 2023 and the council's vice mayor in 2026. His ballot statement cites a city 311 app, changes to the council's study-issue process and support for local retail.8sourced

Three of the six district council seats are on this ballot. Voters in Districts 1, 3 and 5 each elect one councilmember to a four-year term; the mayor's seat is next up in 2028.

2 notes on these statements

Each of the three district contests has one qualified candidate, the incumbent. City of Sunnyvale

Write-in candidates for Districts 1, 3 and 5 can file from Sept. 7 to Oct. 20, 2026. City of Sunnyvale · Sep 1, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Charlsie ChangCouncilmember, District 4, term ends 20286sourced Alysa CisnerosCouncilmember, District 2, term ends 20285sourced Larry Klein5sourced Eileen LeCouncilmember, District 6, term ends 20285sourced

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

Start here

What council decidesHomelessness and RV dwellers, Tenant relocation assistance, Bike lanes and street parking Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Homelessness and RV dwellers

Where it standsIn April 2026 the council told staff to develop interim housing at a city-owned Fair Oaks site, an RV buyback program and permitted RV parking on designated streets.

What's on the tableWhether to fund and launch those programs once staff return with implementation details and costs.

The council voted 6-0 for the interim housing, RV buyback and permitted RV parking direction; Councilmember Le recused herself. City Council minutes · Apr 21, 2026
The city had concluded that a safe parking program was not viable and that operating one would be too costly. San José Spotlight
A June 2026 ordinance requires RVs to move at least 1,000 feet every 72 hours and bars returning to the same spot within 24 hours. Silicon Valley Voice

Tenant relocation assistance

Where it standsSunnyvale requires two months' rent in relocation assistance for no-fault evictions, more than the one month state law requires.

What's on the tableWhether to raise it to three months, and whether to adopt the added tenant protections staff are studying.

In February 2025 the council voted 5-2 to have staff draft an ordinance raising relocation assistance to three months of rent. City Council minutes · Feb 25, 2025
In May 2026 the council voted 4-0, with three members absent, not to introduce that ordinance and to study 'Day 1' just-cause eviction protections instead. City Council minutes · May 5, 2026
In a city survey of 212 landlords and owners, 75% said a three-month requirement would be an undue financial burden. Silicon Valley Voice

Bike lanes and street parking

Where it standsThe council approved buffered bike lanes on Hollenbeck Avenue that remove street parking, and a bike lane design on Mathilda Avenue, both as unfunded future projects.

What's on the tableWhether to fund these projects and how to weigh street parking against bike lanes on future street redesigns.

In December 2025 the council voted 6-1 to remove parking on both sides of Hollenbeck Avenue between Danforth Drive and Alberta Avenue for buffered bike lanes. City Council minutes · Dec 2, 2025
In October 2025 the council approved removing a southbound travel lane on Mathilda Avenue for a buffered bike lane, as a future unfunded project. City Council minutes · Oct 21, 2025

License plate reader cameras

Where it standsSunnyvale uses Flock Safety license plate reader cameras under a contract that runs through 2027.

What's on the tableWhether to renew the Flock contract, switch vendors or end the program.

Images captured by the readers are deleted after 30 days unless preserved for a criminal investigation. Report to Council 26-0113 · Apr 21, 2026
In April 2026 the council voted 7-0 to keep the cameras with annual audits and reports, and to reevaluate program and vendor options before the 2027 renewal. City Council minutes · Apr 21, 2026

Service worker retention

Where it standsAt the council's direction, staff drafted a service worker retention ordinance, which is on the council's Oct. 6, 2026 agenda.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt the ordinance, change it, or drop it.

Such an ordinance generally requires new contractors to keep existing employees for a 90-day transition period when service contracts change hands. Report to Council 25-0246 · Sep 30, 2025
In September 2025 a motion not to adopt an ordinance failed 2-3; the council then voted 5-0 to have staff draft one. City Council minutes · Sep 30, 2025
City staff had recommended against adopting a service worker retention ordinance. Report to Council 26-0656 · Oct 6, 2026

Budget surpluses

Where it standsThe 2024-25 fiscal year ended with $16.83 million more than the city anticipated.

What's on the tableHow to divide future surplus money among reserves, infrastructure, pension costs and services.

In December 2025 a motion to cut the pension trust contribution by $2 million and add $1 million each to reserves and infrastructure failed 2-4. City Council minutes · Dec 9, 2025
$5 million of the surplus went to the civic center library project. Silicon Valley Voice

Key dates

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailingCity of Sunnyvale · Sep 1, 2026Oct 5, 2026
Last day to register to voteCity of Sunnyvale · Sep 1, 2026Oct 19, 2026
Write-in candidate filing closesCity of Sunnyvale · Sep 1, 2026Oct 20, 2026
Vote centers openCity of Sunnyvale · Sep 1, 2026Oct 24, 2026
Election Day (vote centers 7 am to 8 pm)City of Sunnyvale · Sep 1, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Charlsie Chang, Alysa Cisneros, Larry Klein, Eileen Le3 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

Six councilmembers are elected by district and the mayor is elected at-large. City of Sunnyvale · Sep 1, 2026
Councilmembers elected in this election will serve four-year terms from January 12, 2027. City of Sunnyvale · Sep 1, 2026
The council selects the vice mayor annually. City of Sunnyvale · Sep 1, 2026
Also on the city ballot: Measures G, H and I, three City Charter amendments. City of Sunnyvale

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