DATE: October 7, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Attorney
SUBJECT
Title
Hayward Municipal Code Chapter 2, Article 13: Review of Campaign Finance Regulations, including campaign expenditures and contributions, as the City converts from At-Large Council Elections to District Elections Starting in 2026
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the City Council receives this report providing information and possible options to consider updating and amending the City’s campaign finance regulations with a specific emphasis on campaign expenditures and contributions as the City converts from at-large Council elections to Council district elections, starting with two districts in 2026 and subsequently four districts in 2028.
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SUMMARY
In 2024, the City initiated a detailed and lengthy process to convert its at-large elections for the six members of the City Council to district elections. The office of Mayor remains at large. Conversion to City Council districts is staggered, with Districts 1 and 6 up in November 2026, and Districts 2, 3, 4 and 5 up in November 2028.
The purpose of this work session is for the City Council to consider whether the campaign finance regulations should be adjusted in light of the conversion to district-based elections. Relevant to the analysis is Hayward’s population, 162,500, as presented during the district conversion process and based on the 2020 census. There are approximately 27,000 residents in each of the six districts.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report