Election'26
A 21-year-old college student and retail worker has entered the race for Richmond City Council District 3, positioning himself as a voice for everyday residents in next June's primary election.
Manmeet Matthew Singh says youth is his strength, not a weakness, in seeking public office.
"I am 21 years old, and I see that as a strength," Singh told the Grandview Independent. "Being young means I bring fresh energy, a student's perspective, and the lived experience of working and renting in Richmond today."
Born in Richmond in 2004, Singh's family immigrated from Fiji in search of a better life. Singh says his campaign centers on representation and the experiences of living in this city.
Singh4Richmond
Official Website: Manmeet Singh for Richmond (California) City Council 2026.
"Residents should vote for me because I represent the everyday experiences of Richmond as a student, renter, and retail worker," Singh said. "I understand the challenges people face, and my campaign is about ensuring City Hall listens to and acts on the voices of its residents."
Singh will face two other candidates in the District 3 race. The incumbent, Doria Robinson, and newcomer Brandon Evans.
Richmond city council races kick into gear ahead of 2026 election
Doria Robinson held her campaign kickoff event to formally enter the race for Richmond City Council District 3 last Saturday, officially declaring her reelection bid. “We knew the holidays were coming up, and people kept asking me, ′ Are you running?” Robinson said at the Richmond Civic Center Plaza event.
Soren Hemmila
The candidate's website, singh4richmond.com, describes him as "your neighbor seeking change in the community." On the site, Singh wrote that he never set out to be a politician but became motivated to run after witnessing issues affecting his community.
"I've always been more of a problem-solver, whether it's helping my neighbors, creating an understanding of civic issues, or helping friends think through civic challenges," Singh said. "But living in Richmond, I've seen how everyday issues affect all of us. I realized that waiting for someone else to fix things wasn't enough."
The June 2026 primary will be Richmond's first under a new majority-vote system.
In addition to the District 3 race, four candidates have filed to run for mayor, including incumbent Eduardo Martinez and challengers Ahmad Anderson, Demnlus Johnson III, and Mark Wassberg.
Four candidates file for Richmond mayor’s race; council seats draw challengers
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
Soren Hemmila
District 4 has also drawn multiple challengers, with Jamin Pursell and Keycha Gallon running to unseat incumbent Soheila Bana. District 2 incumbent Cesar Zepeda is running for reelection and has not yet drawn any challengers.
The primary election is scheduled for June 2026.
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