City of Stockton City Council Councilmember Kevin J. Lincoln II

It’s been an eventful ride since Stockton Mayor Kevin J. Lincoln took office in January 2021. His run in 2020 against incumbent Michael Tubbs, whose mayorship was captured in an HBO documentary, garnered press even outside of the Central Valley. And the drama was heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which held sway throughout the campaign and into Lincoln’s term as mayor.

Born in Stockton, Lincoln was raised in a military family. In 2001, he joined the United States Marine Corps; later he was assigned to Marine One, where he would serve President George W. Bush. After he left the military, Lincoln worked for a top private security company in Silicon Valley. In 2013, Lincoln changed directions completely, taking on a full-time ministry at a local church and serving as the executive administrative pastor.

After his first two years in office, the news site Stocktonia did an lengthy interview with the mayor in February 2023 about his first term, which was marked by a flood and a growing homelessness crisis,  in addition to the pandemic. Asked about running for reelection, Lincoln said, “I started as soon as I closed out my 2020 campaign. In 2021 I opened up my 2024 campaign committee. The fourth quarter of last year, I already started my fundraising efforts for reelection.”

A half-year later, Lincoln is still planning to campaign—but as of July, he’s got his eye on Congress: He plans to run against incumber Josh Harder for California's 9th Congressional District seat.

Notable quote: “I think it’s important to note that the city of Stockton has over 322,000 residents who quite frankly share different values and different belief systems, but we are one community,” Lincoln said during a split vote over whether to fly the Pride flag over City Hall. “We have to respect each other’s belief systems. We have to respect each other’s values.” (Source: Stockton Record)