Everything you need to know about Pasadena elections results is happening right here. Keep checking back for the latest on the race for mayor, city council, and the Pasadena City College Trustees.
A note on the results
OFFICIAL RESULTS
The California Secretary of State's Office certified the final vote tallies on April 12, marking an official end to the March 5, 2024 Primary Election.
Voter Game Plan will be back in the fall to help you prepare for the Nov. 5 General Election.
Mayor
Mayor Victor Gordo won re-election. In Pasadena, the mayor is an at-large member of the city council, which means they represent the city as a whole, and also represent Pasadena on the state, national and international levels for legislative advocacy and lobbying.
About the candidates
Victor Gordo: Gordo is Pasadena's current mayor, and was running for a second term. He was elected to the city council in 2001, and served there until he was elevated to the mayor's seat in 2020.
Allen Shay: Shay is a local small business owner and real estate broker. He also ran for mayor in 2015, but lost with with only 4.2% of the vote in a crowded primary. He also unsuccessfully ran for city council in 2022. Shay congratulated Gordo on Instagram, saying: "Congratulations to Mayor Victor Gordo on his re-election, a big shout out to all the individuals that supported me, thank you to everyone who voted for me during this campaign and a special appreciation and thank you to my awesome political team that showed up and showed out at every phase of the campaign. Thank so much."
Pasadena City Council
Pasadena has what is called a council-manager form of local government, in which the city council and the city manager share power. Council members represent a geographic district and, among other duties, they set city policies and pass local laws and approve the annual budget. In this election, districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are on the ballot, meaning that almost all of the seven city council districts are up for a vote.
Council District 1
About the candidate
This race was an easy one to call — the only candidate is running unopposed.
Tyron Hampton: Hampton has been representing District 1 in Pasadena since 2015. You can read more about Hampton's campaign platform here.
Council District 2
About the candidates
Rick Cole won the election outright.
Rick Cole: Cole is a Pasadena planning commissioner and the city of Los Angeles’s chief deputy controller. He served as Pasadena mayor from 1992 to 1994 and District 2 councilmember from 1983 to 1995.
Felicia Williams: Williams was first elected to the city council in 2020 and was running for her second term. Williams represents Pasadena as the vice president of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority and works as a financial consultant to cities. Williams congratulated Cole on Instagram, saying: "Thank you so much to all who came out to vote. My commitment to the 2nd District has never wavered, and I will ensure a smooth transition of power to my opponent."
Council District 3
Justin Jones won this election outright. This was a special election to serve out the remainder of the term held by former council member John Kennedy, who died in office in 2022, shortly after being elected.
About the candidates
Justin Jones: Jones is the current District 3 council member and was appointed to the interim role by the city council after Kennedy's death. Jones leads the city’s environmental advisory commission and the human relations commission.
Brandon Lamar: Lamar is the California director of the national nonprofit Youth Advocate Program. He also serves on the Pasadena Rental Housing Board and chairs Pasadena’s Human Relations Commission.
Council District 4
Gene Masuda won re-election outright because he got more than 50% of the vote.
About the candidates
Gene Masuda: Masuda, a retired small business owner, was elected to city council in 2011 and is running for a fourth term. He serves on the City of Pasadena Legislative Committee, the Gold Line Construction Authority and the Joint Powers Authority.
Jonathan Horton: Horton serves on the Pasadena Human Relations Commission and is a Democratic campaign manager. He previously served as a federal case worker under Congressmember Judy Chu, where he assisted families on issues ranging from housing to immigration rights. On Instagram, Horton conceded the race to Masuda and thanked supporters, saying "This race isn't going to go any further... I'm super bummed, I'm doing okay though."
John Doyle: Doyle is a renewable energy developer who works on grid-scale wind and solar power generation and storage projects. His campaign platform was centered on creating more affordable housing and helping people stay housed.
Council District 6
This race was also an easy one to call — the only candidate ran unopposed.
About the candidate
Steve Madison: Madison has served as the District 6 council member since 1999 and is running unopposed for his seventh term.
Pasadena City College Trustees
Even if you don’t attend or work at a community college, a community college's board of trustees can make decisions that affect your life. For example: They approve expansion plans and new construction that can affect the surrounding community. Unlike many of the other races in March, this election isn't a primary — the top vote-getter in these races wins.
Area 2
About the candidates
James Aragon won this election outright.
James Aragon: Aragon was an adjunct professor and full-time counselor at Pasadena City College for more than 25 years before resigning in December 2021. He also serves as a board member with the Latinx Equality Alliance, which advocates for the wellbeing and health of the LGBTQ+ Latinx community.
Kevin D. Strotz: Strotz is a first-time candidate. He serves on the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee for Measure PCC. That $565 million bond overwhelmingly passed in November 2022 and is funding new and ongoing construction projects and upgrades at the college for the next several years.
Area 4
This race was another easy one to call — the only candidate ran unopposed.
The winner:
Tammy Silver: Her campaign was focused on a six-point plan that including improving support and counseling for students and working with the University of California and Cal State to improve transfer pathways and control costs.
Area 6
About the candidates
Ryan Liu won this election outright.
Ryan Liu: Liu is a PCC alumnus and now serves as an attorney for Cooley LLP. His platform listed student success as a priority; he says he’ll expand offerings in courses that are necessary to transfer to four-year colleges and universities, and expand internships and apprenticeships.
John Quintanilla: Quintanilla is also a PCC alumnus, and currently serves as school board president for the Rosemead School District. He wants to champion policies to better help students with special needs, citing a frustration he often sees in K-12: "Many times, special ed is stuck at the back of the campus."
