San Jose City Council — District 5
✦ AI Race Summary
Covers East San Jose, centered on the Alum Rock neighborhood — one of the city's most diverse districts (about 40% Latino, 38% Asian voters). Incumbent Peter Ortiz faces a four-way primary that includes a rematch with former councilmember Nora Campos. The runoff is expected in November.
Candidates · sorted by endorsements
Held the District 5 seat 2001–2010 and served in the State Assembly 2010–2016. Lost the 2022 District 5 runoff to Ortiz with about 45%. Long-time East Side political figure with deep ties to the area's Latino community. Seeking a return to the council on a public-safety and small-business platform. Raised $17,550 as of early 2026.
BAJC-Action · Endorsed
Hindu United Vote · Endorsed
Elected to the District 5 seat in the 2022 runoff with 54.8% over Nora Campos. Former Santa Clara County Board of Education trustee and youth-services nonprofit leader. Aligned with the South Bay Labor Council and the council's labor-backed faction. Has focused on tenant protections, mental-health response funding, and East Side infrastructure. Leading fundraiser in the race at $98,761.
Trustee for Area 2 of the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District, which covers East San Jose. Local education leader running on workforce training, housing affordability, and East Side school-to-career pipelines. Raised $13,779 as of early 2026.
Long-time news anchor for Vietoday TV, a San Jose–based Vietnamese-language network. Has covered immigrant-community issues for more than a decade. Running on small-business support, public-safety staffing, and immigrant outreach. Raised $4,500 as of early 2026 — the lowest fundraising total in the race.