ELECTION 2026

The number of registered voters reported to the Secretary of State as of September 8, 2025, is: 59,580

INTERACTIVE MAP - FIND YOUR DISTRICT


General Information (click here for summary of new information)


THE FILING PERIOD FOR THE JUNE 2, 2026, PRIMARY ELECTION OPENS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026, AND CLOSES FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026, UNLESS AN INCUMBENT DOES NOT FILE BY 5 P.M. FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026, THEN THE DEADLINE EXTENDS TO WEDNESDAY, 5 P.M. MARCH 11, 2026. 


APPOINTMENTS ARE CURRENTLY BEING SCHEDULED.  NO WALK-INS, YOU MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BY CONTACTING THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (510) 620-6513 OR EMAIL CITYCLERKDEPT@CI.RICHMOND.CA.US.


The next primary municipal election will be held June 2, 2026, to fill the seat for mayor and the following seats: Districts 2, 3, and 4 seats on the City Council. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes at the primary municipal election for the office of Mayor, or for a seat on the City Council, shall be candidates for the general municipal election on November 3, 2026, and only their names shall be printed upon the ballot to be used in the general municipal election.  Any candidate who, at the primary municipal election, shall receive a majority of the total votes cast for candidates for said office shall be elected to such office and no further election for such office shall be held at the next general municipal election. The City Clerk will issue Nomination Papers and Candidate Packets during the nomination period only which is February 9 through March 6 at 5:00 p.m. The filing deadline will be extended to Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 5:00 p.m. if an incumbent does not file (FOR NON-INCUMBENTS ONLY).

New Filing Fees - effective January 21, 2025

A filing fee of $1,674 will be required to run for mayor.  A filing fee of $605.88 will be required to run for councilmember.  The required filing fee must be made payable to the City of Richmond at the time the Nomination Papers are filed with the City Clerk. The fee covers the cost for duplicating the packet and processing Nomination Papers.

Per the City of Richmond Charter (Article V, Sec.2. "A filing fee in the amount of two percent (2%) of the annual salary of the office to which nomination is sought shall be paid to the Clerk at the time of filing the petition for nomination."  

Effective January 21, 2025, by Ordinance No. 04-25 N.S. the annual salary for mayor is $83,700

Effective January 21, 2025, by Ordinance No. 03-25 N.S. the annual salary for a councilmember is $30,294

Affidavit to Qualify to Waive Filing Fees - Available Now (December 2, 2025)

Affidavit must be approved before petitions for in-lieu signatures are issued.

Petitions for In Lieu signatures available through the Clerk's Office (Filing period begins December 19 through February 4, 2026) - By appointment only!!


Getting Started Guide


                                                             Register to Vote Now >>  

VOTE BY MAIL - Voting early and voting at home is the most cautious and most secure way to keep everyone safe. Outdoor, non-contact drop boxes will be available across the county for returning ballots if voters do not want to drop them in the mail. 

The City of Richmond's permanent Vote-by-Mail box is located at 450 Civic Center Plaza under the overpass just off the Council parking lot on 27th Street. 

  • The last day to register to vote for the June 2, 2026, Primary Election is May 18, 2026.
  • The last day to register to vote for the November 3, 2026, General Election is October 19, 2026.

Initiative process:  General Information


Qualifications for Office

  • Every candidate shall:
    • Be a U.S. citizen. (Cal. Const., art. IV, § 2(c)1)
    • 18 years of age by Election Day
    • Be a registered voter in the district you wish to run for within the City of Richmond, and otherwise qualified to vote for that office, at the time nomination papers are issued to the person. (Elections Code §201)
    • Eligible to take the Oath of Office
    • Not have been convicted of a felony involving accepting or giving, or offering to give, any bribe, the embezzlement of public money, extortion or theft of public money, perjury, or conspiracy to commit any of those crimes. (Elections Code §20)

Seats up for the 2026 Election: 

  • The seat for Mayor will be up for election in 2026
  • Seats up for election in 2026 (Districts 2, 3, and 4)
  • Incumbents (Mayor - Eduardo Martinez; District 2 - Cesar Zepeda; District 3 - Doria Robinson; and District 4 - Soheila Bana)

501s on File for the Primary Election - Documents pulled/filed/qualified


2026 PRIMARY ELECTION