Here's Where Pleasanton's Local Election Races Stand

PLEASANTON, CA — Pleasanton Mayor Jack Balch maintained a comfortable lead over Councilmember Julie Testa as of Wednesday morning. Mayors in Dublin and San Ramon also led the polls Wednesday morning, while Livermore Mayor John Marchand ran unopposed.

As of 2:07 a.m. Wednesday, Balch led Testa 69.34% (11,213 votes) to 30.66% (4,958 votes.) Testa is termed out of running for her current seat in District 3, so if she loses, she will be off the council.

“I’m very grateful for the tremendous support from our Pleasanton community. While ballots are still being counted, I’m encouraged by the results and humbled by the trust residents have placed in me,” Balch said in a statement Wednesday. “It’s been an honor to serve as Mayor, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together.”

Balch, an accountant who has served on the City Council since 2020 and as mayor since 2024, listed fiscal stabilization, pension management, and retaining critical services for Pleasanton as his top priority. Testa, a business owner who has served on the council since 2018, listed fiscal sustainability, “responsible, affordable housing”, and public safety and quality of life as her top priorities.

During the campaign, the two candidates differed sharply on several issues. Balch opposed Measure PP, a failed 2024 measure that would have raised the sales tax one half-cent, arguing for greater budget scrutiny before seeking additional money. Testa supported the measure, arguing that the city needed substantially more revenue.

In a candidate forum, Balch advocated including parts of East Pleasanton from the city’s housing element, arguing that Pleasanton needed realistic sites to meet housing requirements and avoid litigation. Testa argued that East Pleasanton lacked sufficient transit for high-density housing, and would be better suited to industrial development.

Balch and Testa also disagreed over how to address vacant downtown storefronts. Balch advocated for business permitting reforms and revisions to the city’s downtown plan, while Testa advocated more direct engagement with property owners.

Both candidates favored Measure HH, a 2026 proposal to raise the city’s transient occupancy tax paid by hotel and motel guests from 8% to 10% by July 1, 2027, and 10% to 12% by July 1, 2028. The measure, which appears poised to pass, is expected to raise $2.8 million in General Fund revenue once fully implemented, though Testa wants a full increase implemented immediately rather than phased in over two years.

In District 1, former Pleasanton Councilmember and current Zone 7 Water Agency Director Kathy Narum leads Vin Kruttiventi, a technology entrepreneur and former congressional candidate.

Narum, who served on the Pleasanton City Council from 2013-2022, named public safety, fiscal responsibility, and clean water as the top issues Pleasanton faces right now. Narum said that if elected, she would prioritize intensifying economic development activity, including redevelopment of the Stoneridge Shopping Center, to help rebuild the local tax base.

Kruttiventi, an engineer and tech executive, listed the city’s budget deficit, empty commercial space, and public safety response times as the top three issues faced by the city. Like Narum, Kruttiventi said that he would work with stakeholders to fill business vacancies at Stoneridge and Hacienda in order to generate more revenue and prevent further cuts.

In District 3, Alameda County Health communications professional and former PUSD Board Trustee Jamie Yee is leading tech entrepreneur Reena Gupta as of Wednesday morning.

Yee listed long-term fiscal stability, transparency, and accountability; responsible housing growth and infrastructure, public safety, and a strong local economy as the top three issues facing Pleasanton. Yee said that in her first year, she would work with city staff to ensure the council receives more comprehensive information about major decisions, including their costs, alternatives and long-term financial implications.

Gupta listed fiscal sustainability, economic vitality, “thoughtful” growth, and restoring civic engagement and trust as the three main issues facing Pleasanton. In her first year, she said she would focus on attracting businesses, promoting tourism and the local economy, and supporting thoughtful development.

Here are some other races to follow:

Pleasanton Unified Board Member, Area 5:

Measure I:

Measure RTM:

Dublin San Ramon Services District Board

Congressional District 14:

Assembly District 16:

Assembly District 20:

San Ramon Mayor:

Dublin Mayor:

Livermore Mayor:

All results from Alameda County: