Preliminary results from early Wednesday show Laura Babitt and Syrak Micael leading in the Berkeley councilmember elections for Districts 1 and 7, respectively.
An auditor, Babitt is one of five candidates running to succeed incumbent Rashi Kesarwani, who has represented District 1 since 2018. The district includes the Berkeley Marina, Westbrae, Fourth Street and the Gilman District neighborhoods.
Babitt has received 26.6% of the vote so far, with environmental program manager Ross Bernet and therapist Daria Wrubel close behind at 25% and 23.2%, respectively. Policymaker Moni Gangopadhyay and energy efficiency engineer Steve Kromer have secured 16% and 9.1% of the vote, rounding out the field.
A financial auditor and operations director, Babitt has served as the president of the Berkeley Unified School District Board of Education and is a California Democratic Party delegate, according to her campaign website.
“As a Financial Controller managing global budgets, I know fiscal management is essential,” Babitt said in her candidate statement filed with the Berkeley City Clerk. “Our tax dollars must protect our first responders, build truly affordable housing, keep our streets paved, address homelessness with lasting solutions, and help small businesses thrive.”
In District 7, comprising the University of California, Berkeley campus and the Southside neighborhood, student organizer Micael is battling medical case manager Aidan Hill for a seat on City Council.
The winner will succeed Cecilia Lunaparra, who was elected in 2024 and is not seeking reelection.
As per Wednesday’s early results, Micael has secured 68% of the vote to Hill’s 32%.
Micael graduated in 2025 with a degree in economics and public policy and serves as the community engagement liaison for the Oakland Roots professional soccer team, according to his candidate statement submitted to the city clerk.
During his time at UC Berkeley, Micael was a member of the Cal Young Democratic Socialists of America and the Berkeley Student Food Collective and worked with the Alameda Labor Council.
He also serves on Berkeley’s Housing Advisory Commission for District 7.
“I have voted to hold landlords accountable, fund improved housing infrastructure, support housing development and renovate existing affordable housing,” Micael said in his statement. “I strongly believe that housing is a human right, that living should be affordable, and that everyone should feel safe in our city.”
Berkeley City Council races will be decided by ranked-choice voting, and the figures mentioned here indicate the number of votes secured by candidates as first-choice picks.