This guide begins with ballot issues and concludes with candidate races.
Berkeley Speaks is not taking positions on ballot measures or candidates in this election.
However, we have created candidate profiles that bear on some of the key races. We also have a detailed article on Measure GG at “Go Green with Measure GG!” We hope these will provide useful information as you select your choices.
Berkeley ballot measures
The single letter measures were placed on the ballot by city council, the double letter measures by community initiative.
- W: expands the amount of tax money from the wealthy for homeless services.
- X: small rise in property taxes for the Library.
- Y: small rise in property taxes for the parks, trees and landscaping.
- Z: extend the very successful Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax from temporary to permanent.
- AA: technical reauthorization of continue spending on measures previously passed.
- BB: Strengthen tenants protection and provide tenants right to organize.
- CC: This measure has been dubbed the “Corporate Con” and the “Fake Rent Relief” measure. It was place on the ballot by landlords. The Green Party says it would curtail the powers of the rent board and that it “is an anti-tenant initiative in reaction to Measure BB.” Read up on the two measures in the Voter Information Guide, which was mailed to all voters, including pro and con arguments and rebuttals.
- DD: Prohibit Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. Read about the measure in the Voter Information Guide.
- EE and FF: These two measures would raise taxes to provide for paving streets and fixing sidewalks. FF would provide more funds than EE. Another difference is that FF allocates a portion of the funds for safety improvements.
- GG: Large Buildings Fossil Fuel Tax. This is the climate action on the Berkeley ballot this year. Initiated by Berkeley People’s Alliance (BPA). See the Berkeley Speaks article in this issue, “Go Green with Measure GG!”
- HH: Healthy Indoor Air Quality for City Buildings. Compel city management to provide ventilation in libraries, senior centers, City Hall, fire stations etc., as labor has urged for years. Also initiated by Berkeley People’s Alliance (BPA). See the opinion piece in this issue, “Measure HH: the Healthy City Buildings Ordinance.”
Selected state ballot measures
- Proposition 3: Right to Marry, protects same-sex marriage.
- Prop. 6: Eliminate involuntary servitude for incarcerate persons
- Prop. 33: Repeal Costa Hawkins Act, which greatly limited rent control
- Prop. 34: Restricts spending of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, backed by landlords
- Prop. 36: Boost mass incarceration, supported by District Attorneys
Local candidate races
- Berkeley Mayor: key candidates are Kate Harrison, Sophie Hahn, and Adena Ishii. See Profile of Kate Harrison at https://berkeleyspeaks.org/profile-kate-harrison/
- City Council District 2: key candidates are Jenny Guarino and Terry Taplin. See Profile of Jenny Guarino at https://berkeleyspeaks.org/profile-jenny-guarino-city-council-district-2/
- City Council District 3: candidates are Ben Bartlett, John (Chip) Moore, and Deborah Matthews. See Profile of Chip Moore at https://berkeleyspeaks.org/profile-chip-moore-city-council-district-3/
- State Senate: candidates are Jovanka Beckles and Jesse Arreguin. See Profile of Jovanka Beckles at https://berkeleyspeaks.org/profile-jovanka-beckles/
- State Assembly: candidates are Margot Smith and Buffy Wicks. See Profile of Margot Smith at https://berkeleyspeaks.org/profile-margot-smith-state-assembly/
- County Supervisor: candidates are Nikki Fortunato Bas and John Bauters. See Profile of Nikki Bas at https://berkeleyspeaks.org/profile-nikki-fortunato-bas-for-county-supervisor/
- Potential recall of District Attorney Pamela Price. See profile at https://berkeleyspeaks.org/recall-da-pamela-price/
- Rent Board candidates are (the first four are the slate nominated by the 2024 Berkeley Tenant Convention): Avery Arbaugh, Xavier Johnson, Dominique Walker, Alfred Twu; and Carole Marasovic and Andy Kelley.
- BUSD (school board): key candidates are Ana Vasudeo, Jen Corn, and Laura Babitt.