The 2022 San Jose mayoral election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the next mayor of San Jose for a two-year term. A top-two primary was held on June 7, 2022, and no candidate received more than 50% in this primary election. Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez and San Jose City Councilmember Matt Mahan advanced to a November 8 runoff election. On November 16, Cindy Chavez conceded the race to Matt Mahan.
Due to San Jose term limits, which sets a maximum of two total terms, incumbent mayor Sam Liccardo was not eligible to run for reelection. The 2022 mayoral election would be the last held on a gubernatorial election cycle, as a result of the passage of Measure B in 2022. Following mayoral elections were to coincide with the presidential election cycle. This meant that the winner of the 2022 election would have a two-year term rather than the standard four years. However, they would be allowed to serve for two full four-year terms afterward, for a total of 10 years. The election was nonpartisan, as are all local elections in California.
Background San Jose is the 10th largest city in the United States. All local elections in the State of California are officially nonpartisan. San Jose uses a top-two primary system; if no candidate received a majority of the June 7, 2022 vote, a runoff would be held between the top two candidates on November 8, 2022.
On April 28, 2021, San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez, who then represented Council District 3, Downtown San Jose, announced his candidacy. On the same day, Councilmember Dev Davis, who represented District 6, Willow Glen, also announced a campaign for mayor.
Primary candidates Declared Cindy Chavez, President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (2020–present), former vice mayor of San Jose (2005–2007), former San Jose city councilmember for District 3 (1998–2006), and candidate for mayor in 2006 (Democratic) Dev Davis, San Jose city councilmember, District 6 (2016–present) (Independent) Travis Hill, student Matt Mahan, San Jose city councilmember, District 10 (2021–present) (Democratic) Raul Peralez, San Jose city councilmember, District 3 (2014–present) (Democratic) James Spence, former San Jose police officer (Republican) Marshall Woodmansee, San Jose State University student (Independent)
Disqualified Jonathan Esteban, candidate for Nevada's 4th congressional district in 2020
Primary election Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CindyChavez DevDavis MattMahan RaulPeralez UndecidedFM3 Research (D)FM3 Research (D)February 24 – March 1, 2022587 (LV)± 4.0%27%5%17%7%44%Tulchin Research (D)Tulchin Research (D)February 5–10, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%28%6%7%13%40%New Bridge Strategy (R)New Bridge Strategy (R)June 28 – July 1, 2021400 (LV)± 4.9%23%4%5%7%59%
Results
General election Results
Notes
Partisan clients
References