San Ramon Incumbents Lead As Vote Counting Continues

SAN RAMON, CA - San Ramon Mayor Mark Armstrong continues to maintain a comfortable lead in the race for mayor, though the race for Council District 4 remains close as of early Wednesday morning.

As of 12:12 a.m. Wednesday, with 100% of precincts reporting, Armstrong led with 76.03%, or 13,576 votes, well ahead of swim coach Paschalis Ntatsos (14.15%, 2,527 votes), and 19-year-old student Emma Chigbu (9.82%, or 1,753 votes.)

“I'm deeply grateful for the tremendous support and confidence our community has shown in me, and especially thankful to my family, campaign team, friends, and fellow community leaders who encouraged me along the way. I look forward to continuing to serve all the residents of San Ramon,” Armstrong said in a statement.

In District 2, incumbent Councilmember Richard Adler leads challenger Chirag Kathrani by approximately 70-30%.

In District 4, incumbent Vice Mayor Marisol Rubio led challenger Jeffrey Joh by just 101 votes as of early Wednesday morning. Rubio received 2,166 votes, or 51.25%, narrowly ahead of Jeffrey Joh, who received 2,060 votes, or 48.75 percent.

“I am keeping an open mind but remain optimistic about the remaining votes,” Rubio said, asserting that she is “one of the most effective Councilmembers on the council.”

“I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout this campaign. I've run a grassroots campaign with just a few hundred dollars and I'm proud of how far we've come,” Joh said in a statement. “It's certainly a close race, and I'm eagerly following the remaining vote count. Whatever the final outcome, I'm grateful for the trust so many neighbors have placed in me, and I remain committed to serving the community I grew up in.”

Armstrong, a retired Army colonel and former Federal emergency Management agency official, was appointed to the San Ramon City Council following the 2020 election. He was elected to the council in 2022, then elected mayor in 2024. He campaigned on strengthening the city’s finances, and attracting businesses and managing development, especially around Bishop Ranch.

In District 2, incumbent Richard Adler faced tech entrepreneur and nonprofit director Chirag Kathrani. Adler is a retired insurance professional who was appointed to the council after Armstrong became mayor. This is his first election. Adler proposed controlling spending, using developer fees to support infrastructure and transportation improvements, and expanding police technology. Kathrani advocated strengthening open-space protections, reducing traffic congestion, and supporting small businesses.

In District 4, Vice Mayor Marisol Rubio faced technology strategist Jeffrey Joh, a San Ramon native and UC Berkeley graduate. Rubio was elected in 2022 after erving on the Dublin San Ramon Services District board. She emphasized financial stability, transportation safety, wildfire preparedness, and environmental protection.

Joh campaigned on issues like balancing development with neighborhood preservation, supporting schools and families, and improving government infrastructure.

The other major race affecting Danville is the race for San Ramon Valley Unified School School Board of Education’s Area 5. As of 12:12 a.m. Wednesday, incumbent Rachel Hurd leads substitute teacher Joel Woods 64.77% (5,081 votes) to 35.23% (2,764 votes.)

The campaign dealt with issues like declining enrollment, financial pressures, and questions about staffing and class sizes.

Woods, who has worked in classrooms throughout the district, proposed improving student attendance to increase state funding and reducing administrative expenses and outside contracts. Hurd, who has served on the board since 2006, proposed solutions like a new parcel tax, a school facilities bond, and priority-based budgeting.

Here are some other races to pay attention to:

U.S. House District 10

State Assembly District 16

Measure RTM - Regional Transit Measure

Dublin San Ramon Services District Director Division 2:

Danville Mayor

Dublin Mayor

Pleasanton Mayor

Here's a full list of Contra Costa County votes.