Two other incumbents up for reelection \u2014 District 1 Councilmember Rosemary Kamei and District 3 Councilmember Anthony Tordillos \u2014 ran unopposed. Meanwhile, the final vote count<\/a> also confirms a win for Measure A, an increase to San Jose\u2019s hotel tax<\/a> to pay for city services, which finished with more than 67% support.<\/p>\n The trio of remaining contests sets the stage for campaigns that feature bitter rivalries as well as sharp policy divides \u2014 and could tee up high-spending showdowns between San Jose\u2019s opposing labor and business political blocs.<\/p>\n District 9<\/p>\n In District 9, the June primary \u2014 which drew 39.1% of Santa Clara County\u2019s eligible voters to the polls\u00a0 \u2014 has sent Genny Altwer<\/a>, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Gordon Chester<\/a>, a longtime city employee in the Public Works department, to the November runoff.<\/p>\n Altwer, a business-aligned candidate, came out of primary night as the frontrunner, taking home 35.5% of the vote. For his part, Chester, who secured strong labor backing<\/a>, managed to win the hard-fought race for the second place spot with 22.2%.<\/p>\n Whoever wins will replace Vice Mayor Pam Foley, who is terming out of the District 9 seat in December. She represents a largely suburban district in southwest San Jose that includes the Willow Glen, Hillsdale and Cambrian Park neighborhoods.<\/p>\n Finishing closely behind Chester, Scott Hughes, Foley\u2019s longtime chief of staff, won 18.9%, followed by serial entrepreneur Mike Hennessy in fourth place, who had 17.8%. Seasoned tech worker Rick Ator trailed in fifth with 5.4%.<\/p>\n Since the election, Altwer, who previously worked in law enforcement, has managed to line up support from what had been two rival camps, winning the endorsements of both Foley and Hennessy, according to her campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cThis race is about who can get the job done on the toughest challenges facing San Jose families,\u201d Altwer told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cI\u2019m so glad our message resonated in the primary, and I look forward to talking with more neighbors over the next four months about the choice they face: real plans and results, or more of the same.\u201d<\/p>\n Throughout the primary election, Chester \u2014 who recently received an endorsement from state Sen. Dave Cortese \u2014 differentiated his campaign in a crowded field with a platform focused on plans to boost affordability by supporting more home building, while also creating more walkable, dynamic neighborhoods.<\/p>\n \u201cOur team worked very hard to reach voters,\u201d Chester told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cWe showed them that we\u2019re serious about safety, we\u2019re focused on real solutions, not fear, and we\u2019re focused on building a sustainable intergenerational San Jose.\u201d<\/p>\n District 7\u00a0<\/p>\n Incumbent District 7 Councilmember Bien Doan nearly avoided a runoff, taking in 47.8% of the vote, just below the 50% threshold needed for an outright victory. Instead, the campaign will continue as he faces off against longtime rival and frequent critic, East Side Union High School District trustee Van Le.<\/p>\n Le, who has run for the District 7 seat<\/a> three time before, squeaked out a second place victory with 22.4% of the vote. It was just enough to edge out International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union member Rafael Garcia, who won 20.1%. City Hall staffer Hanh-Giao \u201cHG\u201d Nguyen finished in fourth place with 9.5%.<\/p>\n Doan and Le \u2014 both prominent figures in San Jose\u2019s Vietnamese community<\/a> \u2014 have clashed publicly on several occasions. They will now battle to represent a district that encompasses portions of central and East San Jose, including the Little Saigon Business District.<\/p>\n Over the course of the primary race, Doan, who has enjoyed a formidable fundraising lead over his opponents, has spotlighted his work in office to improve public safety and street conditions and make new investments in the district\u2019s parks.<\/p>\n \u201cThese results show residents recognize the progress we have made together: safer neighborhoods, stronger city services, cleaner public spaces and a more responsive City Hall,\u201d Doan told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cI am proud to have broad support<\/a> from business, labor<\/a>, police, fire, elected officials, neighborhood leaders and residents across our community.\u201d<\/p>\n Le, who founded the popular Children\u2019s Moon Festival before becoming a local education leader, acknowledged she faces an uphill battle to defeat Doan. Still, Le said she sees a path to victory, promising to work to repair unity within the district, which she said has been undermined by a string of high-profile<\/a> feuds involving Doan<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cFor too long, many residents have felt unheard and overlooked,\u201d Le told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cOur community needs safer neighborhoods, cleaner streets, responsible use of taxpayer dollars, support for small businesses, practical solutions to homelessness and a city government that is transparent, accountable and focused on results.\u201d<\/p>\n District 5\u00a0<\/p>\n In District 5, centered around the Alum Rock neighborhood, the final vote tally has set up a rematch between the district\u2019s incumbent Councilmember Peter Ortiz and Nora Campos<\/a>, a former San Jose councilmember and state lawmaker who lost to Ortiz in the district\u2019s 2022 election.<\/p>\n Ortiz secured a commanding lead with 44.9% of the June vote, compared with Campos\u2019 20.2%. Trailing just behind Campos, the race\u2019s other two candidates, local education leader Karen Martinez and broadcast journalist Vy Dang, finished with 17.4% and 17.2% respectively.<\/p>\n Ortiz \u2014 who drew the lion\u2019s share of labor-bloc spending in the primary \u2014 ran on his record in office, highlighting his work to protect immigrants, prevent catalytic converter thefts and marshal a new era of public investment<\/a> in East San Jose.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m extremely proud of our big lead because this campaign was powered by hundreds of volunteers and supporters from across the district and the area,\u201d Ortiz told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cIt\u2019s gratifying to see that the voters share our priorities for the future \u2014 safer and cleaner neighborhoods, a lower cost of living and expanded economic opportunity for every family in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
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