2020 Fresno mayoral election explained
| Election Name: | 2020 Fresno mayoral election |
| Flag Image: | Flag of Fresno, California.svg |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 Fresno mayoral election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Election Date: | March 3, 2020 |
| Next Election: | 2024 Fresno mayoral election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Turnout: | 40.29% |
| Image1: | Jerry Dyer 2021 official portrait (cropped).jpg |
| Candidate1: | Jerry Dyer |
| Party1: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Popular Vote1: | 50,914 |
| Percentage1: | 51.6% |
| Candidate2: | Andrew Janz |
| Party2: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Popular Vote2: | 39,430 |
| Percentage2: | 39.9% |
| Mayor |
| Before Election: | Lee Brand |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Jerry Dyer |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 2020 Fresno mayoral election was held on March 3, 2020, to elect the mayor of Fresno, California. Republican Jerry Dyer was elected after winning a majority in the primary.
Incumbent mayor Lee Brand did not run for a second term. It was the first time in the city's history in which an incumbent eligible for re-election chose to retire the seat.[1]
Municipal elections are officially nonpartisan; candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot. However, a few candidates had, either previously or during their campaigns, publicly affiliated with political parties. Jerry Dyer identified as a Republican, Andrew Janz identified as a Democrat, and Nickolas Wildstar identified as a Libertarian.[2] [3] [4]
Candidates
Declared
- Jerry Dyer, former Fresno Chief of Police
- Bill Gates, immigrant and businessman[5]
- Floyd Harris Jr., civil rights activist and pastor[6]
- Andrew Janz, county prosecutor and candidate for in 2018[7]
- Brian Jefferson, homeless advocate
- Richard Renteria, former insurance broker and candidate for mayor in 2016
- Nickolas Wildstar, political activist, rapper, and candidate for governor in 2018 and Fullerton City Council in 2018[8] [9]
Withdrew
- Elliot Balch, operations officer of the Central Valley Community Foundation[10]
- Luis Chavez, city council member[11]
Declined
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s)
administered | Sample
size | Margin
of error | Lee
Brand
(R) | Jerry
Dyer
(R) | Andrew
Janz
(D) | Other /
Undecided |
|---|
| GV Wire | January 4, 2020 | 500 | ± 4.0% | – | 45% | align=center | 47% | 8% |
| GV Wire | April 18–16, 2019 | 300 | ± 6.0% | 47% | – | align=center | 53% | – |
| 24% | align=center | 39% | 37% | – |
| 18% | align=center | 31% | 26% | 25% |
|
Results
Since Dyer won a majority in the initial round of voting, no runoff needed to be held. If one had been required, it would have taken place on November 3, 2020.
See also
Footnotes
References
Notes and References
- News: McEwen . Bill . February 7, 2020 . Dyer or Janz? Your Guess Is as Good as Any. . GV Wire . January 15, 2021.
- Web site: Calix . Brianna . Andrew Janz avoids political labels. How will that look if he's Fresno's mayor? . Fresno Bee . 13 February 2021 . 13 February 2020.
- Web site: Jerry Dyer . Ballotpedia . 13 February 2021 . en.
- Web site: The NOW Normal: Nickolas Wildstar Is The Only Black Libertarian Republican Running For Governor In 2022 . www.radio.com . 13 February 2021 . en . 13 November 2020.
- News: Taub . David . February 17, 2020 . Don't Like Dyer or Janz for Mayor? Alternatives Include a Bill Gates. . GV Wire . January 15, 2021.
- News: Tehee . Joshua . October 29, 2019 . Community activist and church leader throws hat into Fresno mayoral race . The Fresno Bee . January 15, 2021.
- News: Calix . Brianna . February 13, 2020 . Andrew Janz avoids political labels. How will that look if he's Fresno's mayor? . The Fresno Bee . January 15, 2021.
- Web site: Wildstar 2020 .
- Web site: Nickolas Wildstar . Ballotpedia . 30 April 2021 . en.
- News: Miller . Thaddeus . August 13, 2019 . Another Fresno mayor candidate is out of the race. Who's left? . January 15, 2021.
- News: Calix . Brianna . August 1, 2019 . Luis Chavez ends bid for Fresno mayor. These candidates are left . The Fresno Bee . January 15, 2021.
- News: Fresno Mayor Lee Brand won't seek re-election, but field of candidates keeps growing. Calix. Brianna. May 20, 2019. The Fresno Bee.
