From the Desk of 

splotch8

SJAA Team

San José Arts Advocates is a collaborative project driven by the San José creative community dedicated to education, advocacy, and action to support arts and culture.
May 7, 2026
Elections
SJAA Team

Voter Guide - 2026 Primary Everything you need to flex your arts vote!

In case you missed it — and judging by the polls, you’re not alone — there’s an election underway in California. Ballots are landing in mailboxes, and voters are taking stock of their options.

Here in San José, three council districts have contested primary elections, and the city is proposing to increase taxes on hotel stays to help balance the budget. As you wade into the waters of ballot statements, editorials, and glossy mailers, SJAA is here to cut through the noise and let you know what’s at stake for arts, culture, and the local creative economy.

We recently sent a questionnaire to all 13 city council candidates, asking them to weigh in on our key advocacy priorities and share their ideas for making San José more affordable and accessible for artists and cultural practitioners. We’re excited to share the responses we received, and perhaps more importantly, let you know who didn’t respond.

We also want you to have all the facts about everything on your June 2 ballot. You can visit the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters online to learn more about what’s on the ballot in your area and how to vote. Not a registered voter? There’s still time to get that done! And you can now register and cast a provisional ballot at any Vote Center through Election Day.

Keep reading for our synopsis of key races in San José, and as always, don’t hesitate to reach out to us with your questions, commentary, or curiosities. Just send us an email or slip into our DMs @sanjosearts.

Thanks in advance for flexing your arts vote!

City Council

District 5 (East San José)

Incumbent Councilmember Peter Ortiz is facing a cohort of challengers in his quest for a second term, including former District 5 councilmember and state assemblymember Nora Campos, whom he defeated in a 2022 runoff. Before joining the council, Ortiz served as a board member of the Santa Clara Office of Education and Mt. Pleasant School District. Also running are San José Evergreen Community College District Trustee Karen Martinez and former TV news anchor Vy Dang.

Ortiz currently holds a substantial lead in fundraising and endorsements, but the number of candidates could force a runoff if he fails to receive more than 50% of the vote, which is required to win outright. Of the four District 5 candidates, only Vy Dang responded to SJAA’s questionnaire. 

Meet the candidates:

Want to learn more? Nonprofit news outlet San José Spotlight shared this profile of the District 5 race.

District 7 (Central San José)

Incumbent Councilmember Bien Doan, a former San José firefighter, is being challenged for re-election by high school baseball coach Rafael Garcia, East Side Union High School District Trustee Van Le, and longtime city council staffer HG (Hanh Giao) Ngyuen. Doan is the third person in the past 12 years to hold this “hot” seat that includes Little Saigon and Happy Hollow, following two single-term councilmembers. That makes his re-election anything but a slam dunk.

After a slow start with fundraising, Doan has a substantial edge in cash on hand heading into the campaign’s final weeks. He also has support from Mayor Matt Mahan and former mayors Sam Liccardo and Ron Gonzales, as well as politically powerful labor and business interests. Of the District 7 candidates, only Van Le responded to SJAA’s questionnaire.

Meet the candidates:

Want to learn more? The District 7 candidates participated in a forum in early April, and San José Spotlight shared this recap.

* Please note that Councilmember Doan chose not to submit a questionnaire but did respond to SJAA’s request, citing a busy schedule of council and campaign activities as well as the volume of questionnaires candidates are asked to complete.

District 9 (Cambrian)

This is the only “open” council seat on the ballot, as Vice Mayor Pam Foley is terming out after eight years of service. Running to succeed her in this fairly suburban district that includes Cambrian Park Plaza are therapist and former police detective Genny Altwer, business product manager Rick Ator, city hall staffer Gordon Chester, local entrepreneur Mike Hennessy, and Foley’s current Chief of Staff Scott Hughes.

Altwer has a cash advantage heading into the primary’s final stretch, but major endorsements are split, with many prominent elected officials remaining neutral in anticipation of a November runoff. Foley is one key exception, perhaps unsurprisingly endorsing Hughes. Altwer, Ator, and Hughes responded to SJAA’s questionnaire.

Meet the candidates:

Want to learn more? San José Spotlight and the League of Women Voters hosted a District 9 candidate forum in March. Read more here.

Ballot Measures

Measure A

As our longtime advocates know, San José’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) is a voter-approved surcharge placed on hotel stays citywide. The current TOT consists of a 6% special fund tax — a portion of which is designated to support the Office of Cultural Affairs — and a 4% general fund tax that can be used for any purpose. Faced with a $65M budget deficit for FY2025-26, the City Council voted unanimously to place a measure on the ballot calling for an increase in the General Fund portion of the TOT from 4% to 6%, generating approximately $10M in new revenue. There would be no change to the special fund portion, meaning no additional funding for arts and cultural programs.

Since our inception, one of SJAA’s key priorities has been a reallocation of TOT funding to expand cultural grants and other programs that provide stability, sustainability, and opportunity to the local arts ecosystem. Our position has always been that arts, culture, and hospitality industries (currently referred to by city leaders as the “entertainment economy”) should receive a larger piece of this pie as the primary drivers of the TOT.

While SJAA has not taken a formal position on Measure A, we have called on the council to develop a spending plan for the potential new revenue that includes the entertainment economy. You can read our advocacy letter here.

Want to learn more? Look up your official voter guide for impartial analysis from the City Attorney as well as a statement of support from the proponents. Measure A currently has no organized opposition, and city officials are already including this revenue in their proposed operating budget.

Measure D

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (OSA for brevity’s sake) is a public agency that manages local preserves such as Coyote Valley, Rancho Cañada del Oro, and Sierra Vista, offering free, year-round access for hiking, biking, and other uses. They also protect farmland from development, host guided nature walks and educational programs, and support long-term conservation of natural habitats. The agency is primarily funded through parcel taxes and grants. To support its growing portfolio of efforts, OSA is requesting a new countywide parcel tax that would generate approximately $17M annually. 

Measure D was placed on the ballot through the initiative process and includes exemptions for seniors and low-income property owners, as well as a public oversight committee to monitor how the funds are spent. It’s supported by a number of local elected officials as well as the League of Women Voters. The only organized opposition is from the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association. SJAA has not taken a position.

Want to learn more? Look up your official voter guide for impartial analysis from the County Counsel as well as statements from supporters and opponents.