Jenn Chawla, center, a candidate for the District 1 seat on the Sacramento City Council, stands with Mayor Kevin McCarty and Councilmember Karina Talamantes in a photo from her campaign.
Courtesy Jenn Chawla
In a sign of division roiling City Hall, Sacramento’s mayor on Thursday endorsed Jenn Chawla, who is running against District 1 Councilmember Lisa Kaplan.
Councilmember Karina Talamantes joined Mayor Kevin McCarty in backing Chawla, a political newcomer and former FBI investigative specialist to represent North Natomas and parts of Robla. Talamantes represents District 3, which borders Kaplan’s district to the south.
“I am proud to endorse Jenn Chawla for City Council,” McCarty said in a news release sent by Chawla’s campaign. “Her integrity, background in the FBI, and deep commitment to community service give her a unique perspective to address public safety and neighborhood issues.”
Kaplan wrote in a text that differences are the cornerstone of democracy, and she will always fight for what is right.
“I will continue fighting for my district and the City as a whole as we face a budget deficit, homelessness crisis, affordability impacts and need to protect our neighborhoods and grow our economy,” she wrote. “As always, I’ll serve with my colleagues in a professional manner because there is never a time for petty politics.”
McCarty’s and Talamantes’ decision comes as Kaplan has secured endorsements of longtime local political fixtures and new elected officials.
Sacramento Council members Phil Pluckebaum, Rick Jennings, Eric Guerra, former Mayor Darrell Steinberg, state Sen. Angelique Ashby, Assemblymember Maggie Krell, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho and Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper all back Kaplan, according to her website.
Council members Caity Maple and Mai Vang have not announced their decision in the District 1 race.
Vang is running to unseat Rep. Doris Matsui in Congress. Kaplan opted to endorse Matsui over Vang, who presents the most serious challenger for Matsui, 81, since she was elected to the seat previously held by her husband in 2005.
Kaplan has represented District 1 since 2022, but is a familiar name in local politics. An attorney who graduated from the McGeorge School of Law, Kaplan served on the Natomas Unified School Board District for decades before she launched her bid for City Council.
Kaplan has long focused on public safety, expanding amenities and making streets safer. She sought to hire more police officers as the Sacramento Police Department’s ranks thinned amid a nationwide plunge of applicants seeking a career in law enforcement.
Chawla lists the many of the same priorities, according to her website. She listed combatting mail theft, addressing homeless encampments with accountability and compassion, increasing police officers and seeking safer streets as central planks of her campaign.
The recent months have left Kaplan and McCarty on opposing sides.
On Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Kaplan questioned McCarty’s plan to expand homelessness services as the city grappled with a $66 million budget deficit. She also backed a proposal to undo an ordinance McCarty relied upon to approve three micro-communities.
Talamantes also signed onto that proposal, as both council members said they approved of micro-communities but sought more transparency in the process. On Thursday, Talamantes said she needed “strong working relationships” on the dais in her statement backing Chawla.
“I need to be able to work very closely with the councilmember that represents the neighboring district,” Talamantes said in a statement also distributed by Chawla’s campaign. “Jenn is incredibly smart and is a straight shooter. Natomas residents deserve someone who will stand up for them and for Sacramento’s working families.”
McCarty and Talamantes met with Chawla on Thursday for a meeting before the endorsement was released. The mayor had previously appeared at a celebration of Holi, the Hindu spring festival of colors, that the Chawla campaign held earlier this month in Northlake Park.
This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 5:58 PM.
The Sacramento Bee
Ishani Desai is a government watchdog reporter for The Sacramento Bee. She previously covered crime and courts for The Bakersfield Californian.