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Santa Clara County Elections & Politics Articles



Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
Registrar: Ballots Are in the Mail for Nov. 5 Election

Ballots and other information contained in the Santa Clara County vote-by-mail packet will be sent to more than 1.04 million local voters starting this week, according to election officials. The packets for the Nov. 5 general election are being mailed …

Morgan Hill Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Meet the Candidates for Mayor of Morgan Hill

The Nov. 5 general election ballot features two candidates for Morgan Hill Mayor: incumbent Mark Turner and District B City Council member Yvonne Martinez Beltran.

Image caption: Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr., a staunch defender of voting rights.
The Attack on the Popular Vote

In more than 30 states, it’s harder than ever to vote this year. But in California, it’s never been easier.

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Silicon Valley School Board Candidates Divided on LGBTQ+ Issues

Candidates running for a Silicon Valley school board shared starkly different viewpoints on LGBTQ+ issues at a forum this week, disagreeing on whether teachers should notify parents about children’s preferred pronouns and gender identity.
There are two seats up for …

Morgan Hill Times logo LOCAL NEWS
Meet the Candidates: Morgan Hill City Council, District A

The Nov. 5 general election is just over one month away, and many voters will begin filling out and returning their ballots by mail and in person next week.

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Election 2024: Former San Jose Mayor Ready to Step Into Higher Office

A crowd forms around Sam Liccardo in Palo Alto. In a few moments, beaming volunteers will deploy to knock on doors and make the case for San Jose’s former mayor as their next congressmember. But the microphone is on the …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Meet the Candidates Running for Cupertino City Council

Cupertino voters will decide between seven City Council candidates vying for just two seats this November, with housing as a central, divisive issue.
Councilmembers Kitty Moore and Hung Wei — who briefly suspended her campaign due to health concerns — …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Election 2024: Labor Advocate Runs for San Jose District 6 Seat

Olivia Navarro grew up watching her dad guide the Tamien Neighborhood Association in San Jose. This inspired her to lead groups within the Democratic Party — Chicano Latino Caucus, Stonewall LGBTQ+ and Movimiento Democratic Coalition.
Toiling with the idea of …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Election 2024: Willow Glen Native Seeks San Jose District 6 Seat

Michael Mulcahy helped keep the curtains rising at the Children’s Musical Theater in San Jose when he took over as executive director for almost a decade in 1993 — growing the youth arts center into the powerhouse it is today. …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Election 2024: Mountain View Official Runs for D5 County Seat

Margaret Abe-Koga grew up in San Mateo watching her parents live in a bubble.
As Japanese immigrants seeking a better life in the U.S., Abe-Koga's parents became enmeshed in the Japanese American community — but struggled outside of it and …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Election 2024: Longtime Politico Could Land Santa Clara County D5 Seat

Sally Lieber jumped into politics at age 13, rallying in Detroit for former Michigan state Sen. Doug Ross between delivering newspapers. She caught the political bug early, and since then has held numerous posts in California. This November she wants …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Sunnyvale Candidates Talk Housing Issues Ahead of Election

The Sunnyvale City Council will make decisions on housing, transit and the city's budget in the near future — and candidates seeking elected office are sharing their approaches to governing.
Sunnyvale voters attended a candidate forum on Sept. 18, hosted …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Election 2024: San Jose Official Wants to Keep Improving District 8

Domingo Candelas has hit the ground running since being appointed to represent District 8 on the San Jose City Council in 2023.
As the incumbent, he wants a chance to his continue the work he started for a full four-year …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Election 2024: San Jose D10 Challenger Wants to Change the Status Quo

For George Casey, the impetus for him running for San Jose City Council came from an event that left him frustrated about why the city wasn’t doing more to protect its residents.
A few years ago, his mother’s purse got …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Silicon Valley Water District Candidates Run for Open Seat

Self-proclaimed tech evangelist Bill Roth and former Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition leader Shiloh Ballard are competing for a seat on the Santa Clara Valley Water board of directors this November.
Ballard and Roth are vying for the District 2 seat, …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Election 2024: D10 San Jose Official Says He Has More to Do

San Jose Councilmember Arjun Batra's interest lies in identifying the perceived weaknesses in the city's systems — and working to fix them.
The San Jose City Council appointed Batra to represent District 10 in 2023 after Matt Mahan vacated the …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Cupertino Candidate Reenters Race Despite Health Concerns

A Cupertino official is back in the City Council race almost a week after she dropped out due to her health.
Councilmember Hung Wei on Monday said she will continue her reelection bid, despite previously suspending her campaign on Sept. …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Election 2024: Education Trustee Could Be First Hindu Woman in State Assembly

Signs supporting Tara Sreekrishnan lined the lawn beside PepperMint, an Indian restaurant in Sunnyvale. Inside, Sreekrishnan greeted dozens of supporters who helped themselves to a mouthwatering array of noodles, curries and other cuisines.
The people who entered came from all …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Election 2024: Assembly District 26 Director Ready to Move Up

Patrick Ahrens donned a brown apron embroidered with the words “Baskin Robins” on his birthday. He doled out scoops of ice cream to dozens of supporters and potential voters, flavors ranging from Baseball Nut and Jamoca Almond Fudge to mint …

San Jose Spotlight logo LOCAL NEWS
Santa Clara County Candidates Share Plans to Tackle Homelessness

Candidates vying for two open seats on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors are sharing their plans for the region's top issues: homelessness and housing.
Nonprofits PATH and Destination: Home hosted a candidate forum Wednesday moderated by those with …

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.