Dunning concedes in Richmond election; Jimenez, Wilson, and Brown maintain leads for City Council

Update: Friday, November 8, 2024

District 6 Candidate Shawn Dunning has conceded the race to incumbent Claudia Jimenez. In a social media post, Dunning said, "Whereas more votes will be counted over the next few weeks, based on today's latest update from the County (5,566 votes counted, and I'm trailing by over 1,000; I expect another 2,000 votes to come in), it's clear that Claudia Jimenez will remain as your Councilmember for the next four years. I called her a bit ago to wish her well and to offer my support."

Updated results this afternoon show Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, and Dr. Jamelia Brown leading in Richmond’s closely watched City Council races. With most precincts reporting and additional ballots counted, these candidates are positioned for victory, though results are not yet finalized.

In District 1, Dr. Jamelia Brown is currently leading over incumbent Melvin Willis with 294 votes, campaigning on a platform of change. 

Sue Wilson, a Richmond Progressive Alliance candidate running in District 5, has garnered approximately 56.86 percent of the vote, putting her 777 votes ahead of challenger Ahmad Anderson.

Incumbent Claudia Jimenez in District 6 has increased her lead with 59.63 percent of the vote, holding off challenger Shawn Dunning by more than a thousand votes.

Jiménez said that as more ballots have been counted, the trend shows that she will serve another four years as a Richmond City Councilmember.

“I am still committed to ensuring that those who are struggling the most in our city receive the support they need so that everyone can thrive. I will keep on building an effective and responsible city government that is truly accountable to all Richmond residents,” Jiménez said.

Jiménez reaffirmed her commitment to supporting city budgets representing community values and preserving services that uplift the community, especially for Richmond youth.

“I will make sure our council continues to reimagine public safety; that means addressing the root causes of violence and investing in innovative solutions for public safety,” Jiménez said. “I will keep on demanding strong environmental regulations and supporting fair taxation. I am here to work with all of you so we can continue to build a brighter and more equitable future for all.”

Richmond voters also weighed in on election reform. Measure J, proposing primary elections for municipal races, currently has 16,138 votes or 57.55 percent approval. However, Measure L, which would implement ranked-choice voting, is narrowly trailing with 15,018 or 53.67 percent. Since both measures are passing, the measure with the most votes will go into effect.

Don Gosney, the primary proponent of Measure J, said ranked-choice voting has gone down in flames nationwide. Gosney said while the results look promising, several more rounds are left before the results are certified.

"We’re grateful that the voters saw through the attempt to bamboozle them into thinking that Ranked Choice would be the most democratic way to elect members of the Council here in Richmond," Gosney said.

In the Area 2 West Contra Costa School Board race, Guadalupe Enllana is leading with 52.40 percent, while incumbent Otheree Christian follows with 47.60 percent.

The Contra Costa Democratic Party endorsed three candidates who are trailing in these council races.

These preliminary results signal potential changes in Richmond’s leadership and an ongoing interest in electoral reform, though final counts are still pending.

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