City of San Jose · Statewide General Election
San Jose City Council, District 5
Draft candidate list — early preview until the state’s official list publishes on August 27, 2026.
On the ballot
- Nora Campos
- Peter Ortiz — Incumbent
This person holds your district's seat on San Jose's 10-member City Council: city laws, the budget, and land use.
Incumbent Peter Ortiz faces Nora Campos in the East San Jose runoff: Ortiz took 44.9% of the June vote and Campos 20.2%, sending both to November since nobody cleared a majority (per San Jose Spotlight's report on the certified count).
The winner holds one of ten district seats on the San Jose City Council: city ordinances, the budget, and land use, alongside a citywide-elected mayor. A four-year term.
A rematch by another name: Campos, a former councilmember for this area and former state lawmaker, lost to Ortiz in 2022 (per the Spotlight). The question is whether two more years of Ortiz's record changes the answer voters gave then — his June share was more than double hers, but a runoff resets turnout.
Peter Ortiz
The sitting councilmember. The Spotlight's report describes his focus on immigrant protection and on the district's catalytic-converter theft problem; he led June's field with 44.9%.
Strengths
Incumbency, a June share more than twice his opponent's, and a record on district-specific issues (per the Spotlight).
Trade-offs
He beat this same opponent once already — a closer November would itself be information about his first term.
Keep in mind
His signature issues — immigrant protection, property crime — are the district's daily concerns; judge the record, not just the emphasis.
Nora Campos
A former San Jose councilmember and former state lawmaker who previously represented this area, making her second run against Ortiz after losing to him in 2022 (per the Spotlight). She took 20.2% in June.
Strengths
More years in elected office — council and state Assembly — than anyone else in these three runoffs.
Trade-offs
She has lost this seat to this opponent before, and June's 20.2% left a wide gap to close (per the Spotlight).
Keep in mind
Her case is experience over incumbency; a voter choosing her is betting the district wants its veteran back rather than its current representative continued.
Source review: Strong (88/100) · 2 cited sources
Official records anchor this contest, with a narrow source base.
- vote.santaclaracounty.gov (opens in a new tab)Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters — Official results certified, June 2, 2026 primary (certified June 30, 2026)
- sanjosespotlight.com (opens in a new tab)San Jose Spotlight — Six council candidates advance to November (July 2, 2026)
Last updated August 22, 2026.