2024 Sacramento mayoral election

The 2024 Sacramento mayoral election was held on March 5, 2024, with a runoff scheduled for November 5 because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the primary election. It will elect the mayor of Sacramento, California. Municipal elections in California are officially nonpartisan.

Sacramento mayoral election, 2024

March 5, 2024 (primary) November 5, 2024 (general)

Candidate Flojaune Cofer Kevin McCarty Primary election 26,287 28.3% 20,269 21.8% General election TBD TBD   Candidate Richard Pan Steve Hansen Primary election 20,107 21.6% 19,738 21.2% General election Eliminated Eliminated

First round results by precinct Cofer:      20–30%      30–40%      40–50%      50–60% McCarty:      20–30%      30–40% Pan:      20–30%      30–40%      40–50% Hansen:      20–30%      30–40% Tie:      30–40%      50%      No data

Incumbent Mayor Darrell Steinberg

Epidemiologist Flojaune Cofer took the first spot in the general election, with state assemblyman Kevin McCarty narrowly beating out former state senator Richard Pan and former city councilor Steve Hansen for the second spot. The Sacramento Bee identified Cofer as the most progressive candidate in the race, with McCarty as the "second most progressive," Pan as the "second most moderate," and Hansen as the "most moderate."

Background

Incumbent Mayor Darrell Steinberg was first elected as Sacramento mayor in 2016 and reelected in 2020. In 2020, he said he did not plan to seek a third term in office, even though his Strong-mayor ballot measure would have allowed him to seek a third term since it would not apply to his first term, which had occurred before its intended passage. However, since Measure A was voted down by 57% of Sacramento voters, he would be able to run for a third term regardless.

In February 2023, he stated that he was "officially undecided" and that he was "holding the option open". His Chief of Staff Mary Lynne Vellinga stated that he would make his announcement by the end of May 2023. On May 23, he announced that he would run for the office of California Attorney General instead.

Candidates

Advanced to general election

• Flojaune Cofer, epidemiologist and former chair of Sacramento's Measure U Community Advisory Committee (2019–2022)
• Kevin McCarty, California state assemblyman from the 6th district (2014–present) and former city councilor from the 6th district (2010–2014)

Eliminated in primary

• Jose Avina, fitness business owner and U.S. Marine Corps veteran
• Julius Engel, asset protection manager and disbarred lawyer
• Steve Hansen, former city councilor from the 4th district (2012–2020)
• Richard Pan, former California state senator from the 6th district (2014–2022)

Withdrawn

• Maggy Krell, Planned Parenthood California chief legal counsel (running for state assembly)

Declined

• Eric Guerra, city councilor from the 6th district (2015–present) and runner-up for AD-10 in 2022 (running for re-election)
• Jeff Harris, former city councilor from the 3rd district (2014–2022) (endorsed Hansen)
• Darrell Steinberg, incumbent mayor (2016–present)

Endorsements

Flojaune Cofer

Local officials

• Bridgette Dean, former director of the Sacramento Department of Community Response (2020–2022)
• Katie Valenzuela, city councilor from the 4th district (2020–present)
• Mai Vang, city councilor from the 8th district (2020–present)

Newspapers and other media

• The Sacramento Bee

Labor unions

• Los Rios College Federation of Teachers (AFT Local 2279)
• National Nurses United and California Nurses Association
• National Union of Healthcare Workers (co-endorsed with McCarty)
• Sacramento City Teachers Association
• SEIU United Healthcare Workers West (co-endorsed with McCarty)
• Service Employees International Union Locals 1021 and 2015

Organizations

• Black Women Organized for Political Action Sacramento County
• National Women's Political Caucus Sacramento
• Our Revolution
• Sacramento Democratic Socialists of America
• Sunrise Movement Sacramento
• Wellstone Progressive Democrats of Sacramento

Political parties

• California Working Families Party

Steve Hansen

Local officials

• Eric Guerra, city councilor from the 6th district (2015–present)
• Jeff Harris, former city councilor from the 3rd district (2014–2022)
• Lisa Kaplan, city councilor from the 1st district (2022–present)
• Annise Parker, former Mayor of Houston (2010–2016) and president of LGBTQ Victory Fund

Labor unions

• Sacramento Police Officers Association and Deputy Sheriffs Association

Organizations

• Equality California
• LGBTQ Victory Fund
• Sacramento Association of Realtors
• Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce PAC
• Sacramento Stonewall Democrats

Kevin McCarty

Local officials

• Caity Maple, vice mayor of Sacramento (2024–present) from the 5th district (2022–present)
• Karina Talamantes, mayor pro tempore of Sacramento (2024–present) from the 3rd district (2022–present)

Labor unions

• International Association of Fire Fighters Local 522
• National Union of Healthcare Workers (co-endorsed with Cofer)
• Sacramento Central Labor Council
• SEIU United Healthcare Workers West (co-endorsed with Cofer)

Richard Pan

State legislators

• Angelique Ashby, state senator from the 8th district (2022–present)

Municipal officials

• Thien Ho, Sacramento County District Attorney (2023–present)
• Jimmie Yee, former Sacramento County supervisor from the 2nd district (2007–2015) and former interim mayor of Sacramento (1999–2000)

Labor unions

• AFSCME Union of American Physicians and Dentists

Organizations

• Sacramento District Dental Society PAC

Results

2024 Sacramento mayoral primary election

Candidate		Votes	%
Flojaune Cofer		26,287	28.28
Kevin McCarty		20,269	21.81
Richard Pan		20,107	21.63
Steve Hansen		19,738	21.24
Jose Avina		5,619	6.05
Julius Engel		920	0.99
Total votes		92,940	100.00

2024 Sacramento mayoral general election

Candidate		Votes	%
Flojaune Cofer
Kevin McCarty
Total votes			100.00

External links

Official campaign websites

• Jose Avina for Mayor
• Flojaune Cofer for Mayor
• Julius Engel for Mayor
• Steve Hansen for Mayor
• Maggy Krell for Mayor (dead link; withdrawn)
• Kevin McCarty for Mayor
• Richard Pan for Mayor