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Berkeley Voters Decide Four Council Races

Voters in four City Council districts are choosing representatives in contests over housing, bike lanes, and Israel.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

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Voters in four Berkeley City Council districts cast ballots Tuesday in races over housing, bike lanes, and Israel that could shift the council's narrow 5-4 majorities. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should Berkeley allow more housing development in existing neighborhoods like Elmwood?

Voters in four Berkeley City Council districts are casting ballots in races that could shift the council's balance of power. Polls close at 8 p.m., and election officials will post an initial batch of results shortly after.

Why it matters

The races could change the council's balance of power, and recent 5-4 votes on policies including the police department's contract with Flock Safety and a proposed Hopkins Street bike lane show how narrow its majorities have been. A District 1 outcome could flip a narrow majority.

Four council districts are holding elections, with five candidates in District 1 and no clear front-runner. Results will come in batches after the 8 p.m. poll close, and the Alameda County Registrar of Voters will release the next round on Friday.

The players

Alameda County Registrar of Voters

The county office that tabulates and releases election results for Alameda County, including Berkeley's council races.

Igor Tregub

Incumbent Berkeley City Council member seeking re-election in District 4 against Majdi Gaith.

Mark Humbert

Incumbent Berkeley City Council member facing challenges in District 8 from Michael Wallman and Mari Mendonca.

The details

Incumbent Councilmember Igor Tregub is seeking re-election in District 4 against cafe owner Majdi Gaith, a race that has featured charges of antisemitism and anti-Palestinian racism. In District 8, incumbent Mark Humbert faces challengers Michael Wallman and Mari Mendonca, with a proposal to build more housing in the Elmwood neighborhood taking center stage, and Wallman and Mendonca have urged supporters to rank each other second.

Timeline

  1. 2024: The Berkeley mayor's race took just over two weeks to decide.

  2. Four years ago: A close District 1 contest took 10 days to declare a winner.

  3. November 3, 2026: Polls close at 8 p.m., and initial results are posted.

  4. Friday: The Alameda County Registrar of Voters releases the next round of results.

Seasonal Patterns

Berkeley's 2024 mayor's race took just over two weeks to decide, and a close District 1 contest four years ago needed 10 days to declare a winner. Tonight's ranked-choice races could extend that pattern of slow resolution in the city's council elections.

Berkeley residents in the four districts will see new council representatives chosen, which could change how housing, bike lane, and police contract decisions are made. Voters in District 1 and District 8 should watch for ranked-choice tabulation if no candidate clears a majority.

The takeaway

Berkeley's council races show how a few seats can decide close policy fights, so following the batched results and any ranked-choice rounds will reveal where the council's majority settles. Residents who want to track the outcome should check the official tallies as each release comes out.

What happens next

If no candidate in District 1 or District 8 receives a majority, those races will advance to ranked-choice voting.

Further reading

For broader context on how local races are shaped, see Elections coverage across Berkeley.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Berkeleyside.

Live Poll

Should Berkeley allow more housing development in existing neighborhoods like Elmwood?