Sacramento councilwoman Katie Valenzuela will run for re-election next year
Sacramento City Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela will seek re-election next year, she announced Tuesday.
The expected announcement confirms that self-proclaimed democratic socialist Valenzuela and the more moderate Phil Pluckebaum will face off next year for the high profile seat that includes downtown and midtown.
In her announcement, Valenzuela highlighted the fact that she is the only sitting council member that has opened a homeless shelter site that remains in operation — the Miller Park Safe Ground. City Manager Howard Chan last month planned to close that site, but decided to reopen it after Valenzuela criticized the decision. Unhoused people now live there in 17 trailers, which were previously sitting unused in a city lot.
“The issues we face today are decades in the making, caused by policy choices that for many years have just made things worse,” Valenzuela’s announcement read. “We need the courage to tackle these challenges differently and sincerely, and to be unwilling to kick the can any further down the road. Of course we need more housing, but we need a thoughtful approach. We have to address the root issues: more resources, improved collaboration, and stronger partnerships. It’s clear that we have already begun making a difference, and we know that we have only just begun to scratch the surface.”
Council members Caity Maple, Mai Vang and Mayor Darrell Steinberg have endorsed Valenzuela, while former councilmen Jeff Harris and Steve Hansen, have endorsed Pluckebaum, according to their campaign websites.
Valenzuela defeated Hansen in 2020. The district formerly included midtown, downtown and Land Park. Starting Jan. 1, 2025 it will include East Sacramento instead of Land Park, due to redistricting.
She is the council’s most liberal member, and has previously said she wants to reduce police funding in order to redirect the money to homelessness and prevention. She has so far been unsuccessful in that, but her viewpoint on the topic has made her controversial. A recall campaign launched against her twice, but missed the deadline to submit 7,800 signatures earlier this month and is now dead.
The primary is scheduled for March 5. Council members Sean Loloee, Eric Guerra, Mai Vang, and Steinberg will also be up for re-election. Steinberg has not yet announced whether he will seek re-election. Harris and Hansen are considering mayoral runs.
