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On September 11, 2019, the City received a demand letter from attorney Scott J. Rafferty (“Rafferty”) which threatens legal action against the City under the California Voting Rights Act (“CVRA”) if the City does not transition from at-large to district-based elections of City Councilmembers.

On October 22, 2019, the City adopted Resolution of Intention No. 99-19 to transition from at-large to district-based elections of City Councilmembers. Under the “safe-harbor” provision, the ordinance to transition to district elections must be adopted no later than January 20, 2020.

The City Council asked the residents of Richmond to help plan the City’s change to by-district Council elections. The City of Richmond, like over 60 cities and 150 school districts across the state, is making a change in how voters elect the City Council.

Following adoption of the Resolution of Intention the City Council held public hearings on November 5, November 19, December 3, December 17, 2019, and January 14, 2020. In addition to the four public hearings, staff also held City Council Voting District Community Workshops on November 14 and November 18, 2019, at the Council Chamber; December 5, 2019, at Hilltop Community Church (Activity Room), 3118 Shane Drive, Richmond; December 10, 2019, at Booker T. Anderson Community Center, 960 S. 47th Street, Richmond, and January 6, 2020, at Veteran’s Hall, 968 23rd Street, Richmond.

On January 14, 2020, the City Council introduced and adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 03-20 N.S. The City Council also introduce an ordinance (first reading) adopting sections 2.16.050 (City Council Election Districts and Sequencing) and 2.16.060 (City Council Residency) of the Richmond Municipal Code to transition from at-large to by-district elections of City Councilmembers. The City Council selected map 115b to establish voting district boundaries and set the election sequence to 1, 5, and 6.

On January 21, 2020, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 04-20 N.S. adopting sections 2.16.050 (City Council Election Districts and Sequencing) and 2.16.060 (City Council Residency) of the Richmond Municipal Code to transition from at-large to by-district elections of City Councilmembers.

Beginning with the November 3, 2020, General Election, City Councilmembers will be elected by district for Districts 1, 5, and 6.

Councilmembers up for reelection in 2020 include:

Ben Choi

Jael Myrick

Melvin Willis





More information will be posted to this page as the process moves forward.