UPDATE: Election results counted Friday show Jiménez still leading for Richmond mayor, no major changes in returns from El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo
on November 7, 2026
On Friday afternoon, the Contra Costa County Elections Office updated preliminary results, showing Richmond City Councilmember Claudia Jiménez leading Ahmad Anderson in the mayoral race with 54% of the vote over Anderson’s 46%.
About 27,000 ballots have been counted — about 45% of the city’s 59,820 registered voters.
Countywide, votes have been counted for about 47% of registered voters. In the presidential election in 2024, voter turnout was at 75%, while in 2022, the last municipal election, turnout was at 56%.
Both Richmond ballot measures were on track to pass. Measure Q, a $120 million bond issue to modernize firehouses had 70% of the vote. The measure requires a two-thirds majority, 66.7%, to win.
Jiménez and Anderson were upbeat when reached shortly before the polls closed.
“Feeling good, thank you for asking,” Jiménez texted.
“Inspired by the community, motivated by what is in the future for the city of Richmond,” Anderson texted.
West County voters seemed to favor renewing a West Contra Costa Unified School District parcel tax that generates $10 million annually. Measure V would keep the tax for nine years, to support core academics, art, music, technical education and mental health services. The measure needs two-thirds of the votes to pass — 74% of voters back it.
El Cerrito
Six candidates are battling for two City Council seats. Early returns show challenger Kimberly White with 24% of the vote, with incumbents Carolyn Wysinger and Gabe Quinto with 21% and 16%, respectively. Wally Nowinski has a strong showing with 20% of the votes, with Mary Ann “MJ” Jawili and Forrest M. Lanning trailing far behind.
Hercules
Two City Council seats are up for reelection, with only one incumbent, Dion Bailey, running. Bailey has 36% of early returns, with challenger John Delgado coming up strong with 39%. Further behind were challengers Preet Sidhu, Adrena Breckenridge and Kofi Opong-Mensah.
If early mail-in voters are an indication, Measure P – a 1% sales tax to fund various basic city services — may be a close call. The yes votes were ahead 54% to 46%, with a simple majority needed to pass.
Pinole
With no incumbents running for three City Council seats, Pinole will see a new power base. Early returns show Gabriel Sandoval in the lead with 24%, followed by Matthew Avery, with 23% of the vote, Truc “Christy” Lam-Julian, with 21%, Tina Brown with 18% and Libby Duarte with 14%
San Pablo
Incumbent City Councilmember Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado, with 27% of the vote, and challenger Anna Villalobos, with 26% were ahead in the contest for two seats, with incumbent Rita Xavier at 25% and Caden Cotton-Blake with 21%.
San Pablo voters also had to decide on Measure R, a 0.50% sales tax increase for five years, which would drop to 0.25% for another five years, to cover basic city services. Early returns show voters favoring the measure, 71% to 29%, with a simple majority required to pass.
A rent control measure that would prohibit rent increases that exceed 60% of the Consumer Price Index increase or 3%, whichever is lower, also was gaining steam. About 60% of early voters like Measure S, which needs a simple majority to pass.
Nelzy Gonzalez contributed reporting to this story.
(Top photo by Moriah Prescia)
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