District 6 is currently not up for election. The seat is being held by Councilmember Kelly Cox. She was first elected in 2024, unseating former Councilmember and convicted felon Anthony Becker. I list this district council race because it is obvious the only way for Mayor Gillmor to stick around will be to get Kelly Cox to quit. Gillmor cannot leave Kathy alone to be Mayor. When Councilmember Cox if/when or does quit, they will call a special election for the seat to happen in November with the other seats up for election.

District 6 was established in 2018 when the judge ruled for Council districts. 

Note to reader: these are my opinions.

Lisa Gillmor, It must have been written in the stars — prophesied by ancient civilizations — that Queen Lisa Gillmor would somehow remain in power for another eight years. Obviously that’s satire. But if you’ve watched politics in Santa Clara long enough, it almost feels believable. Gillmor is thankfully termed out as Mayor. Some argue she should have been out in 2022. Either way, many residents hoped December 2026 would mark the end of what critics call a long reign of political intimidation, debt accumulation, and backroom maneuvering. But don’t count on it being that simple. The likely path? A return to the City Council. If District 6 Councilmember Kelly Cox steps down in late spring or early summer 2026 — whether for career, personal, or political reasons — it creates the perfect opening. Cue Gillmor stepped in to “protect the city from the big bad 49ers,” positioning herself yet again as the only one who can save Santa Clara. Critics argue Cox has always been a placeholder, holding the seat until Gillmor could safely transition back. Pair that with Kathy Watanabe holding the Mayor’s office, and you have what opponents fear is a continued political machine. Watanabe won’t operate solo — she governs with alliances. If and when Gillmor returns to Council while allies secure Districts 2 and 3, a solid majority becomes very real.What stands in Gillmor’s way is growing public frustration. Many residents see a pattern: hostile work environments, legal controversies surrounding colleagues, aggressive confrontations with officials, and criminal behavior with a belief that she operates as untouchable. If elected again, Gillmor would go over 30 years on the City Council — three decades of influence in one city. That number alone is staggering. Thirty years of power. Thirty years of alliances and vendettas. Thirty years shaping the direction — and the debt — of Santa Clara. With Chahal and Hardy terming out in 2026, and Jain and Park in 2028, the board is resetting. The question isn’t whether Gillmor knows how to play the game. The question is whether voters are finally ready to end it.

George Guerra was a candidate in the 2024 elections and placed second in 2024 behind Kelly Cox and ahead of then incumbent Anthony Becker. If Gillmor runs, watch for either no one to run against her or someone like George Guerra again who was encouraged to run following the indictment of Anthony Becker by Councilmembers, like Councilmember Chahal. He will probably be encouraged to do so again and it would only be 2 years since the last election he ran in and he would still be relevant. George would be a good Councilmember and should have won District 6 in 2024.

Judy Nadler is former Mayor of Santa Clara serving from 1994-2002 and was a Councilmember before that. Judy probably wouldn’t run, she is not banned from running because term limits were passed in 2016. But if Gillmor were to run, her neighbor Judy Nadler would be the perfect opposition. Why? Because in 1994, Nadler beat Gillmor for Mayor.

Bottom Line: The 2026 election is Santa Clara’s crossroads — a rare chance to break decades of entrenched power and determine who truly governs the city. This is not just about who holds office; it’s about accountability, influence, and the direction of City Hall for years to come. Longtime political machines, alliances, and backroom deals will try to shape the outcome, but ultimately, the decision belongs to the voters. Will this year mark a genuine reset, or will history simply shuffle old players under new titles? If ancient civilizations really did foresee Queen Lisa Gillmor remaining in power in some way, residents now have their own power to write the next chapter — to reclaim the city, demand transparency, and refuse to let unchecked influence dictate Santa Clara’s future. Show up, pay attention, and make sure your vote counts. The next eight years — or decades — depend on it.

Roger Kint