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Four candidates have filed to run for mayor of Richmond, and multiple city council seats also drew challengers, as the city prepares for its first primary under a new majority-vote system, according to documents filed with the city clerk as of October 3, 2025.
The June 2026 election will be the first conducted under a new primary system approved by Richmond voters in November 2024. Under Measure J, candidates must receive more than 50 percent of the votes to win outright. If no candidate receives a majority in the primary, the top two vote-getters advance to a November runoff election. The measure, backed by local trade unions and the Richmond Police Officers Association, besting a competing ranked-choice voting initiative.
The mayoral race features incumbent Eduardo Martinez and three challengers: Ahmad Anderson, Demnlus Johnson III, and Mark Wassberg.
Anderson holds a degree in political science from UC Berkeley with an emphasis in public administration, and said he’s running because the city needs new leadership that will unite rather than divide.
“We need a leader who is willing to work for the entire city to bring us together,” Anderson said at a June community event. “If you look at our city council meetings, if you look at our business and how we run the city, the city is polarized.”
Anderson, who was born at Richmond Hospital and grew up on South 18th Street, has worked for 25 years in the fields of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, with expertise in human resources. Anderson previously chaired the city’s Economic Development Commission for two years.
Demnlus Johnson III, another mayoral challenger, brings experience in local government and community advocacy to the race. Johnson is a fourth-generation Richmond resident whose great-grandparents migrated to the city during World War II to work in the Kaiser shipyards. Johnson previously served on the City Council and as vice mayor. He worked as a school community outreach worker at Richmond High School and served as shop steward for the Teamsters.
“Not only do we need a new mayor, but we need a new direction for the city of Richmond,” Johnson said. “I feel as though a lot of that progress has been rolled back. The potential that we still have as a city has not been met.”
Johnson, originally from the Iron Triangle neighborhood and now living in North and East Richmond, also worked in the office of the late Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal D. Glover.
Perennial candidate Mark Wassberg, a Richmond High School graduate from the class of 1975, worked as a mechanic in Richmond for 45 years. Wassberg said he is running to make Richmond safe and criticized Martinez’s association with the Richmond Progressive Alliance, which he said supports policies he opposes.
“Richmond can’t have a mayor that supports terrorists and communists as he is doing with the RPA,” Wassberg said.
Martinez, who taught in Richmond schools before entering politics, said he is running for re-election to complete projects he began as mayor.
“I’m running because I started a lot of initiatives, and I want to see them through,” Martinez said. “Like the port, I still want to move the Red Oak Victory ship next to the Ferry Building so there’s synergy between the Red Oak and Rosie the Riveter. I want to diversify the economy, starting with the port.”
Martinez added he hopes to push forward long-delayed development projects such as the Prologis Hilltop property.
“Prologis has been holding on to it, waiting to see what kind of council we’re going to have, hoping maybe they’ll change the zoning,” Martinez said. “We’re going to make it happen.”
In the council races, District 3, currently held by Urban Tilth Executive Director Doria Robinson, has so far drawn one challenger.
Brandon Evans, who describes himself as “the son of the South Side,” is running for the seat. Born and raised in Richmond, Evans has worked in community and nonprofit spaces for the past decade and helped elect school board members and councilmembers, including Dr. Jamelia Brown, to the Richmond City Council.
“If elected, I absolutely want to prioritize opportunities for young people,” Evans said, citing his experience with the city’s employment and training program that worked with more than 800 youth and young adults. He also wants to pursue what he calls an “industrial renaissance” by bringing innovation to the city’s industrial sites.
District 4 has attracted three candidates: Soheila Bana, Keycha Gallon, and Jamin Pursell.
Bana, the incumbent District 4 councilmember, described herself as “a mother of two, a retired researcher and engineer, a community advocate, and Chair of the West Contra Costa Fire Safe Council.”
“Shaped by my lived experiences, I am a pragmatic progressive with a deep commitment to public safety, equity, and community empowerment,” Bana said.
“I’m running to enhance public safety and quality of life in Richmond. From expanding affordable housing to reducing violence, I’ve seen how local government can make a tangible difference. My agenda is to represent the community and ensure Richmond becomes a safer, healthier, and better place for all residents and businesses.”
Bana, who was elected to the council in 2022, has focused on wildfire prevention, regional emergency coordination, and neighborhood resilience. As Fire Safe Council chair, Bana has helped bring state and federal attention to local disaster readiness. She has also advocated for balanced housing growth, fiscal transparency, and investments that improve city infrastructure and community health.
“Our city’s challenges are complex, but solutions are possible when we work collaboratively,” Bana said. “Public safety doesn’t just mean policing — it’s about housing security, mental health, and having a clean, prepared city. I’m committed to making Richmond a model for how diverse communities can thrive together.”
Gallon, a longtime labor advocate and community organizer, said she is running to bring fairness, safety, and opportunity to all parts of Richmond.
“I proudly served as a shop steward for over 15 years, advocating for fairness, respect, and equality in the workplace,” Gallon said. “I was raised in one of the most underserved areas of Richmond, so I understand firsthand the importance of making public safety a true priority — especially after losing my brother to gun violence.”
Gallon, who holds an MBA in project management and serves as Executive Director of Keyz 2 The Future, said her campaign is focused on creating sustainable community programs that promote healing and opportunity.
“Strong leadership means elevating the voice of the people, breaking disparities, and creating lasting equity that uplifts the entire community — not just certain organizations or groups,” Gallon said. “Our community deserves leadership that delivers on its promises.”
Pursell, a May Valley resident, community organizer, and small business owner, said he has spent more than a decade bringing residents together around environmental safety, inclusion, and public health. Pursell serves on the Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Commission and with Richmond Rainbow Pride.
“My work centers on collaboration, equity, and practical solutions that make Richmond stronger,” Pursell said. “I believe in a clean, green environment, safe streets, and neighborhoods we can all be proud to walk through — reflecting the best of who we are as a community.”
“I’m running for City Council in District 4 for a unified district and city,” Pursell said. “My first priorities include filling critical vacancies, investing in robust infrastructure, and strengthening the quality of life across our community. Richmond succeeds when we put the residents, businesses, and nonprofits that form its foundation first in all decisions.”
Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda, who represents District 2, also confirmed he will seek re-election.
“There are a lot of things that are still not done that I started,” Zepeda said. “One of the biggest is bringing a hospital back to West County. Data shows we need four more hospitals beyond Kaiser, and even getting one would be huge. It takes a lot of energy and time, but it’s something I’ve been advocating for years.”
Zepeda, who co-founded Richmond Rainbow Pride and the Hilltop District Neighborhood Council, said his community involvement across many organizations helped shape his approach to city leadership.
The primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026.
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