Preliminary results as of early Wednesday show that incumbents Desrie Campbell and Kathy Kimberlin are expected to retain their seats on the Fremont City Council in Districts 2 and 3, respectively, while Ying Min Li is leading in the race for the District 4 seat.
Campbell holds decisive edge in District 2 race
Campbell is running against marketing director Keith Parker to continue representing District 2, which includes the city’s northern neighborhoods like Niles, Brookvale, Parkmont, and Cabrillo. Campbell defeated Parker in their previous matchup in 2022.
In Tuesday’s election, Campbell has secured 70.3% of the vote to Parker’s 29.7%, suggesting a decisive victory.
As she seeks reelection, Campbell said in her candidate statement submitted to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters that her focus will be on increasing access to public parks and open spaces and fixing roads and public infrastructure.
“Together, we have helped make Fremont the ‘best place to raise a family,’ ‘the happiest city,’ and one of the ‘best run cities in America.’ And there is still much more good work to be done,” Campbell said in her candidate statement.
Appointee Kimberlin leads in District 3
Over in District 3, which includes neighborhoods like Glenmoor, Sundale, 28 Palms, and parts of the Centerville district, appointed incumbent Kathy Kimberlin is leading her opponent, engineer Vipin Sharma, by a significant margin.
Kimberlin, who was appointed to the City Council in September 2024 after then-Councilmember Jenny Kassan resigned in the middle of her term, has garnered 72% of the votes counted, while Sharma has secured 28%.
In the 2022 elections, Kimberlin received the second-highest number of votes after Kassan, prompting city leadership to interview her for the vacant seat.
“I have made meaningful progress in addressing traffic issues, advocating for our unhoused neighbors, increasing support for local businesses, strengthening nonprofit partnerships, and enhancing public safety by working collaboratively to develop solutions that move the needle and reflect our community’s values and priorities,” Kimberlin said in her candidate statement reflecting on her two years in office.
Business owner Li prevailing in District 4
In District 4, business owner Ying Min Li is leading his three opponents in the City Council race to represent the city’s eastern neighborhoods like Kimber/Gomes, Cherry/Guardino, parts of downtown, and Lake Elizabeth.
Li has secured 43.8% of the vote, followed by Alameda County Water District Director Aziz Akbari at 33%, mental health advocate Manisha Pathak at 20%, and scientist Anurag Mishra, who got 3.2% of the vote.
“I will work to ensure our Police Department is fully staffed and equipped with the resources to keep every neighborhood safe,” Li said in his candidate statement. “Traffic has worsened because our infrastructure has not kept pace with Fremont’s growth. I will prioritize solutions that reduce congestion and shorten commute times.”
If Li wins, he will replace outgoing incumbent Yang Shao, who is being termed out after serving two consecutive terms.