Politics in the South Bay feels a bit like a high-stakes chess match lately. If you’ve been watching the San Jose election results, you know the board just got a whole lot more complicated. We aren't just talking about names on a ballot; we're looking at a fundamental tug-of-war between labor unions and the business-friendly "common sense" caucus that’s been backing Mayor Matt Mahan.
It’s personal. It’s expensive. Honestly, it’s a little chaotic.
Last year, the city was rocked by the Omar Torres scandal—a situation so messy it left District 3 without a voice for months. But with the recent certification of the special election results, Anthony Tordillos has officially stepped into that seat, defeating Gabby Chavez-Lopez with a solid 64.4% of the vote. That win was a massive sigh of relief for the moderate wing of the council, but the breathing room is temporary.
Why? Because the 2026 primary is already breathing down our necks.
The Tordillos Win and the District 3 Cleanup
Anthony Tordillos didn't just win; he dominated. After the dust settled from the June 2025 special runoff, he walked into City Hall with a mandate to focus on housing. It was a weird race. Initially, Mayor Mahan backed his own deputy chief of staff, Matthew Quevedo, but Quevedo missed the runoff by a literal handful of votes—six, to be exact.
Tordillos is a bit of a wildcard. While Mahan eventually endorsed him, political observers like Guy Marzorati have noted that Tordillos leans more progressive than the person he replaced. He’s a housing advocate at heart. For a city where a starter home costs more than a small island, that's the kind of energy people are looking for. But the turnout was abysmal. Only 17.7% of registered voters in District 3 bothered to show up.
When nearly 80% of your neighbors stay home, the "results" reflect the most motivated, not necessarily the most representative.
The 2026 Horizon: Five Seats on the Line
We are currently heading into a massive election year. Five out of the eleven seats on the San Jose City Council are up for grabs in 2026. This is the big one. If the labor-backed candidates can flip just one or two of these, Mahan’s ability to push through his homelessness and budget policies basically evaporates.
The Incumbents Facing the Fire
Four incumbents are asking for another four years:
- Rosemary Kamei (District 1): Generally seen as a steady hand, but she’ll have to answer for the mounting city deficit.
- Anthony Tordillos (District 3): He just got there, but he has to do it all over again for a full term.
- Peter Ortiz (District 5): The East Side is going to be a battleground. He’s likely facing a rematch against Nora Campos, a former councilmember who doesn't give up easily.
- Bien Doan (District 7): Doan is facing heat from Van Le and Hanh-Giao Nguyen. District 7 politics are notoriously "sharp," and this year won't be an exception.
Then there’s District 9. Vice Mayor Pam Foley is termed out. This is the "Open Seat" everyone is eyeing. Scott Hughes, Gordon Chester, Genny Altwer, and Mike Hennessy are already scrambling for support. Foley has been a reliable vote for the business community, so if a labor-aligned candidate like a therapist or a grassroots organizer takes this, the power shift would be seismic.
Homelessness and the $52 Million Hole
You can't talk about San Jose election results without talking about the "Big H": Homelessness. For five years straight, every city survey says the same thing. Residents are frustrated. They see the tents, they see the trash, and they see the price tag.
Mayor Mahan has tied his political soul to the "shelter-first" model—getting people into tiny homes and then clearing the encampments. It’s a controversial move. Some say it’s the only way to reclaim the streets; others argue it’s just shuffling poverty around.
But there’s a new problem. The budget.
The city is staring down a projected $52.9 million deficit. This isn't just "we should spend less on office supplies" money. This is "we might have to cut services or stop hiring cops" money. Candidates in the upcoming 2026 cycle are going to be grilled on how they plan to keep the lights on without raising taxes that nobody can afford.
What Most People Get Wrong About San Jose Voting
People think San Jose is a monolith. It’s not.
The San Jose election results usually show a deep divide between the "Business Majority" (represented by folks like Mahan and Foley) and the "Labor Progressive" wing (Peter Ortiz, etc.).
Business groups, led by organizations like the Silicon Valley Organization’s PAC, are planning to drop around $500,000 this cycle. They want "development-friendly" candidates. They want it to be easier to build houses so the economy doesn't stall out. On the flip side, the South Bay Labor Council is pushing for tenant protections and higher wages.
The 2026 primary on June 2nd will be the first real temperature check. If no one gets more than 50% in those five council races, we go to a runoff in November.
Actionable Steps for San Jose Residents
If you’re living in Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9, your vote is actually the most powerful thing in the city right now. Don't let a 17% turnout define your neighborhood's future.
- Check your district: Go to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters website. With redistricting, you might not be in the same district you were in four years ago.
- Mark March 6, 2026: That’s the filing deadline. If you don't like the current options, keep an eye on who signs up at the last minute.
- Track the money: Check the City Clerk’s "Form 460" filings. Seeing who is cutting $5,000 checks for a candidate tells you exactly who that candidate will be listening to after the inauguration.
- Attend a "Common Ground" meeting: Various neighborhood associations hold these. It’s where you can actually ask a candidate "What are you doing about the pothole on 4th Street?" instead of listening to a stump speech.
The 2026 elections aren't just a formality. They are a referendum on whether San Jose's current "common sense" direction is actually working or if the city is ready to swing the pendulum back toward a labor-led agenda. Either way, the results will shape the skyline—and the sidewalk—for the next decade.