San Mateo residents who want to run for City Council can begin filing nomination papers Monday, July 13, at 8 a.m.
Three seats are up for grabs in the Tuesday, November 3 general election: Districts 1, 3, and 5.
The filing deadline is Friday, August 7, at 5 p.m., according to the city's candidate information page. If an incumbent in any of the three districts does not file for re-election, that deadline extends to Wednesday, August 12.
The City of San Mateo confirmed the dates in a post on X on Thursday, July 2, directing prospective candidates to contact the City Clerk's Office at [email protected].
Eligibility and paperwork
To qualify, a candidate must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a registered voter within the specific district they seek to represent. They must have lived continuously in San Mateo for at least 30 days before the final filing date.
Nomination forms are free. Candidates must pick them up in person at the City Clerk's Office, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m.), excluding city holidays. Council members serve four-year terms and may serve up to three consecutive terms. Candidates planning to raise campaign funds must also submit campaign finance paperwork.
County supervisor filing already open
The Board of Supervisors District 5 race is also on the November 3 ballot. Mark Church, San Mateo County's chief elections officer and assessor-county clerk-recorder, announced that the signatures-in-lieu-of-filing-fee period began Wednesday, July 8, and runs through Wednesday, July 29, at 5 p.m.
During this window, prospective candidates can collect signatures from registered voters in their jurisdiction to reduce or cover their filing fee. Petitions must be picked up at the Registration & Elections Division Office, 40 Tower Road, San Mateo.
Candidate seminar and contacts
The county Elections Office is hosting a candidate seminar on Wednesday, July 22, at 10 a.m. for anyone considering a run for county supervisor, school board, or special district seats. Sign up at smcacre.gov/elections.
For city council filing: [email protected]. For county races: [email protected] or (650) 312-5222.
