Elections & Politics Image

Santa Clara County Elections & Politics Articles



San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Clara County Weighs Raising Campaign Donation Limits

Santa Clara County supervisors could relax restrictions on how much they can raise for their reelection campaigns.
The issue sparked a 30-minute debate at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday about whether a higher ceiling for candidate fundraising would help …

San Jose Inside logo LOCAL NEWS
Seven Candidates Begin Race for San Jose District 3 Council Seat

If no candidate receives a majority on April 8, the top two candidates will run against each other in a special runoff election on June 24. The winner will serve the remainder of the term through 2026.

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Campbell Appoints First Latino Mayor

Campbell Mayor Sergio Lopez never wanted to be in the spotlight. He's the son of Mexican immigrants who migrated to Campbell from Michoacán, speaking little English. After his parents lost their restaurant and had to foreclose on their home during …

Metro Silicon Valley logo LOCAL NEWS
Zoe Lofgren: The Weeklys Interview

After celebrating the holidays with her family and recovering from a bout of Covid, Zoe Lofgren flew back to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 2 to begin her new term representing California’s 18th Congressional District in the US Congress. The district …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
San Jose D3 Candidates Raise Funds for Special Election

Candidates in the upcoming special election to represent San Jose’s downtown core are sharing early fundraising numbers as the deadline to apply for the race comes to a close.
Matthew Quevedo, deputy chief of staff for Mayor Matt Mahan, said …

Image caption: BenitoLink reporter Noe Magaña and marketing director Mo Ismail.
Greetings from San Benito County

In Hollister, a nonprofit newsroom keeps local residents apprised of momentous changes.

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
California Law Sparks VTA Workplace Violence Prevention Plan

Tragedy and a lack of workplace safety measures led one Silicon Valley lawmaker to call for tighter regulations to protect employees.
State Sen. Dave Cortese’s bill, SB 553, occupational safety: workplace violence took effect this summer. The bill focuses on …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
New Laws Affecting Silicon Valley in 2025

A new year brings new state laws, with Gov. Gavin Newsom signing hundreds of bills addressing many of California's pressing issues.
The bills range from cracking down on crime to creating safer spaces in schools for LGBTQ+ students, all of …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
San Jose Mayor Backs Deputy Chief of Staff for District 3

A high-ranking official in the San Jose mayor's office has plans to run for City Council — and he's got his boss's backing.
Mayor Matt Mahan stood in support of Matthew Quevedo, his deputy chief of staff, as he announced …

Morgan Hill Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Elected Morgan Hill Officials Sworn In

Two new Morgan Hill City Council members, the new City Treasurer and the reelected mayor were sworn in for office at the Dec. 11 council meeting.

Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
Valley Water Board Elects Chair, Vice Chair for 2025

The Valley Water Board of Directors elected Tony Estremera as the Chair for 2025, and Richard P. Santos as Vice Chair. The board voted on their new officers at the Dec. 10 meeting.

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
San Jose Councilman Gets Early Jump on the Job

San Jose Councilmember-elect George Casey is starting his job a couple of weeks early.
He stepped into his new position before his other colleagues Michael Mulcahy and Pamela Campos, who won their elections in District 6 and 2 respectively, because …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
San Jose Mayor Challenges Newsom’s Vision for State

The mayor of Northern California’s largest city has sized up Gov. Gavin Newsom more and more in the past year — building his statewide profile as a centrist foil for other Democrats in the process. But when, if ever, will …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Sunnyvale Council Diversity Reflects City’s Residents

The Sunnyvale City Council is about to see a demographic shift that will make its representation more reflective of the city’s population.
The city will have a female majority on council with the election of Eileen Le in District 6 …

San Jose Inside logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Clara County Certifies Final Official Results of Nov. 5 Vote

California Secretary of State reports final, unofficial results for all races, to be certified Dec. 13.

Morgan Hill Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Mayor, New City Officials to Be Sworn in Dec. 11

Morgan Hill’s two new city council members and city treasurer, as well as the re-elected mayor, will be sworn in at an inauguration ceremony at 6pm Dec. 11 at council chambers at 17555 Peak Ave.

San Jose Inside logo LOCAL NEWS
San Jose City Council Will Pick Interim Council Member, Then Give Voters a Choice

The City Council today formally approved the dates for both appointing and electing a replacement for the disgraced former first-term council member, Omar Torres.

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Cupertino Council Race Recount Decided by 63 Votes

R “Ray” Wang has won a spot on the Cupertino City Council in a tight race that triggered a recount for one of two open seats.
Wang will take the second open council seat with 7,641 votes, or 18.5% of …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Cupertino City Council Race Recount Begins

A tight West Valley city council race is headed to a recount with fewer than 10 days until the vote must be certified.
The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters began a manual recount of the Cupertino City Council race …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
How Will the 2024 Propositions Affect Silicon Valley?

This year's election cycle brought 10 propositions to California voters. Some will either usher in statewide changes or no changes at all.
Some residents were shocked by the rejection of Proposition 6, which would have ended forced labor in prisons. …

Featured

California cities switch to more inclusive, district-based elections system.
Voting Rights...the Final Frontier
Pushed by activists, cities move from at-large elections to district races.
There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained
Areas that the county overlooks can form their own local governments.
California continues to work on legislation that would make voting easier.
Voting Rites
And more bills are on the way to help you make your mark on Election Day.
The cycle of crime and homelessness is escalating, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Homelessness and Crime in California: Even More Complex Than You Think
What causes the cycle of homelessness and crime, and how to stop it.
The California Supreme Court has defined the state’s legal and political agenda for more than 170 years.
How the California Supreme Court Blazes Legal Trails
From its beginnings in the Gold Rush, the state Supreme Court continues to define the state today.
Translated from the Greek, “Democracy” means “people power.” How much power do the people have in California?
People Power! What Is Democracy, and How Does It Work in California?
The Goddess of Democracy is alive and well in California, but that hasn’t always been true.