More than two weeks after Election Day, the city of Berkeley has finally counted the votes and elected Adena Ishii, former president of the League of Women Voters and the city’s first Asian American mayor, as its new mayor.
If you think it took San Francisco a long time to decide the winner of an elected office, let me point out that it took the city of Berkeley more than two weeks to decide the winner of the mayoral race. But as of Wednesday night, the winner has been determined. The Chronicle reports that political newcomer Adena Ishii defeated Deputy Mayor Sophie Hearn in a very close 51% to 49% victory, with Ishii winning by just 1,039 votes. In aggregation of ranked choices.
City political newcomer Adena Ishii has been elected Berkeley’s next mayor, defeating two city political veterans, according to the latest results released Wednesday. https://t.co/acVlo1BCqR
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) November 21, 2024
Berkeleyside notes that Ishii will be the first Asian American mayor in Berkeley history, and the first woman of color to be the mayor of Berkeley.
Ishii, who has never run for office or held office, is an education nonprofit consultant and former president of the Berkeley-Albany-Emeryville chapter of the League of Women Voters. She takes over as mayor as the city of Berkeley struggles to redevelop the controversial People’s Park and clear out a controversial new encampment.
“My message in this campaign was that we needed a reset at City Hall, and that I had two City Council members resign because the city government had become broken and toxic,” Ishii told KQED. said in an interview. “We needed someone to focus on this problem.”
“My message was that we needed to reset City Hall, and that we had two council members resign because the city government had become broken and toxic. We need to focus on this issue. #berkeley via @KQEDnews https://t.co/RscpFwvxl1
— Dan Brekke (@danbrekke) November 21, 2024
KTVU notes that Vice Mayor Hahn was the heavy favorite and initially held a lead in election night results. However, Hearn fell behind in the ensuing placement match, conceding a goal on Wednesday night.
“With today’s new numbers, the outcome of this election is clear: Adena Ishii has been elected by the people of Berkeley to be our next mayor,” Hahn said in an email to supporters Wednesday. “I just called her to congratulate her and wish her all the best as she walks through what is probably a difficult time for our country and our community.”
Ishii will succeed current Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin. He has held the position for the past eight years and was just elected to represent the district in the state Senate.
RELATED: Berkeley voters don’t receive mail-in ballots, worried they may have been stolen (SFist)
Image: Adena Ishii, 2024 Berkeley Mayoral Candidate, via Facebook
