Anderson concedes Richmond mayor's race, says he'll be back in 2028

Ahmad Anderson conceded Richmond's mayoral runoff to Claudia Jiménez on Tuesday, after updated results from the Contra Costa County Elections Division put her ahead by 3,309 votes.

Jiménez had 17,446 votes, or 55.2 percent, to Anderson's 14,137, or 44.8 percent, in results posted Tuesday afternoon.

"First of all, I want to congratulate Mayor-elect Claudia Jiménez. I enjoy the back and forth around issues, but as I've said previously, I know that one thing's for certain: we both love the city of Richmond," Anderson told the Grandview Independent in a phone call Tuesday. "It really is a defining moment that should be clear to all that we need to work together to enhance the quality of life in the city of Richmond."

Anderson told Grandview that supporters of both candidates need to show up at City Council meetings and neighborhood council meetings. He also called on them to reach the roughly 28,000 registered Richmond voters who did not cast a ballot, calling low turnout the most disappointing part of the race.

“It tells me that people are still disengaged, disenfranchised, and that’s both on those who are elected as well as those who have been candidates,” Anderson said.

Anderson said he isn't leaving local politics.

"There's an election in 2028. Stay tuned. I'm not going anywhere," he said. "You will still continue to hear from me through Facebook, through Nextdoor, through Instagram. I'm going to be around like the mosquito you wish you could find in the middle of the night."

Jiménez widens lead in Richmond mayor’s race as fire bond holds above two-thirds

Claudia Jiménez has widened her lead over Ahmad Anderson in Richmond’s mayoral runoff with 54.3 percent of the vote, according to updated results released Friday afternoon. Jiménez had 13,883 votes to Anderson’s 11,680, a 2,203-vote margin. Her lead was 1,196 votes after

Grandview IndependentSoren Hemmila

Jiménez said in a statement posted to her campaign's Facebook page last week, "While it may take a week or more to finish counting all of the ballots, we can see from the batch of results released by Contra Costa County Elections today that I will be your next Mayor of Richmond," Jiménez wrote. "I am deeply honored by the support that the people of Richmond have shown for this campaign and the principle that guided it – that we can build a city where we take care of one another and all rise together."

"To those who did not vote for me, please know that I will work hard to earn your trust as Mayor. I look forward to spending the next four years building bridges and working side-by-side with anyone who is interested in making positive changes in our community. This includes candidate Ahmad Anderson, who also wants to see great things happen for our city," she wrote. "There is only one Richmond, and I feel grateful to be part of it with you."

Jiménez, who represents District 6 on the City Council, and Anderson were the top two finishers in the June primary. Mayor Eduardo Martinez finished third. Jiménez's win means the council will appoint someone to fill the rest of her District 6 term.

Richmond incumbents claim victory as mayoral race heads to November runoff

Claudia Jiménez led a five-candidate field in Tuesday's Richmond mayoral primary, according to unofficial results posted Friday by the Contra Costa County Elections Division. Jiménez collected 6,915 votes, or 37.55 percent of votes cast, with all precincts reporting. Ahmad Anderson finished second with 5,306 votes,

Grandview IndependentSoren Hemmila

Fire station bond

Measure Q, a $120 million bond to repair and rebuild Richmond's fire stations and firefighter housing, had 70.2 percent in favor. It needs two-thirds, or about 66.7 percent, to pass. The bond would cost property owners an estimated average of $22.15 per $100,000 of assessed value each year, according to the county ballot materials.  

School parcel tax

Measure V, which would renew the West Contra Costa Unified School District parcel tax, has 75.3 percent of the vote across the district. It also needs two-thirds to pass.