Stockton is never boring when election season rolls around. If you’ve lived here long enough, you know the vibe. One minute we're talking about revitalization, the next we're arguing about the police budget or how to actually get people off the streets and into housing. The 2024 race for mayor was a wild ride from the jump, mostly because the incumbent, Kevin Lincoln, decided to take a shot at Congress instead of sticking around for a second term.
That left the door wide open. Honestly, it felt like every big name in local politics wanted a seat at the table. By the time the dust settled, we were looking at a classic showdown between two very different visions for the city.
The Big Names: Stockton Mayor Candidates 2024
When the primary kicked off in March, it was a crowded house. You had Tom Patti, a San Joaquin County Supervisor with deep ties to the business community and a background in boxing (he literally trained with Mike Tyson’s mentor, Cus D'Amato). Then you had Christina Fugazi, a longtime educator and former Vice Mayor who is basically a walking encyclopedia of Stockton city code.
But they weren't alone. The primary also featured:
- Dan Wright: A City Councilmember and former educator who had been a steady hand in local governance for years.
- Jesus Andrade: A former councilman who focused heavily on neighborhood unity and economic models.
- Jessica Velez: A nonprofit founder who brought a grassroots, community-first perspective to the stage.
- Shakeel Ahmad: A businessman looking to bring a more corporate-style efficiency to City Hall.
Why the Primary Surprised People
Going into March, most people figured Tom Patti would lead the pack. He did. He pulled in about 34% of the vote. He's got name recognition and a "tough on crime" brand that resonates in certain parts of town. But the real story was the fight for second place. Christina Fugazi managed to edge out Dan Wright by a relatively thin margin—about 22.6% to Wright’s 18.7%.
✨ Don't miss: Economics Related News Articles: What the 2026 Headlines Actually Mean for Your Wallet
It meant the November runoff was going to be a Patti vs. Fugazi head-to-head. Republican-leaning supervisor versus Democrat-leaning teacher. Even though the office is technically nonpartisan, everyone knew the stakes.
The Runoff: A Tale of Two Campaigns
By the time November 5, 2024, arrived, the rhetoric had dialed up to eleven. If you drove down Pacific Avenue or hammered through the Miracle Mile, you couldn't miss the signs. Patti’s campaign was big on "results" and leveraging his experience at the county level. He talked a lot about his "shelter first" plan for homelessness, arguing that his connections in the county gave him the best chance to secure funding and get things moving quickly.
Fugazi took a different tack. She leaned into her identity as a science teacher. Her whole pitch was about being "disciplined"—studying the data, finding the root causes, and not just throwing money at symptoms. She hammered home the need for better police retention. Stockton has struggled for years to keep officers from jumping ship to other departments, and she made that a cornerstone of her platform.
The 209 Times Factor
You can't talk about a Stockton election without mentioning the "209 Times." It’s that local social media powerhouse/blog that people either love or absolutely loathe. In 2020, it was credited (or blamed) for helping take down Michael Tubbs. In 2024, the site was heavily critical of Fugazi, often framing her as part of the "old guard." Patti, meanwhile, generally had a much smoother relationship with the platform.
🔗 Read more: Why a Man Hits Girl for Bullying Incidents Go Viral and What They Reveal About Our Breaking Point
Did it matter? In the end, maybe not as much as people thought.
The Final Count: Who Won?
For a few days after the election, it was too close to call. But as the mail-in ballots were tallied, a clear trend emerged. On November 14, Christina Fugazi declared victory. The final certified numbers were pretty decisive:
- Christina Fugazi: 45,674 votes (54%)
- Tom Patti: 38,902 votes (46%)
Fugazi’s win was historic in its own way—she became the 4th woman to lead the city as mayor. She managed to build a coalition that crossed neighborhood lines, likely winning over people who were tired of the "combat" style of politics and wanted someone who sounded like they were ready to grade some homework and fix the potholes.
What’s the Game Plan Now?
Now that the 2024 election is in the rearview mirror, Fugazi has her work cut out for her. Being mayor of Stockton is a bit like being the captain of a ship that’s constantly being hit by rogue waves. You've got a vocal City Council, a persistent homelessness crisis, and a public that is—rightfully—impatient for change.
💡 You might also like: Why are US flags at half staff today and who actually makes that call?
She's talked about a few immediate priorities:
- Police Recruitment: Not just hiring more cops, but making sure they want to stay here.
- Audit Everything: Fugazi is big on fiscal transparency. Expect to see a lot of deep dives into where the money is actually going.
- Youth Programs: Given her background in education, she’s pushing for more STEM-related initiatives and safe spaces for kids.
How to Get Involved
If you live in Stockton, don't just complain on Facebook. The city council meetings are where the actual sausage gets made. You can find the schedule on the official city website.
Check your local district too. With Jason Lee winning the District 6 seat in a massive upset, the power dynamic on the council has shifted significantly. It’s a whole new era in Stockton politics. Keep an eye on the "3x3" committee meetings between the city and the Port of Stockton as well—that's where a lot of the big economic development conversations happen.
The most important thing you can do now is hold the new administration accountable to the promises they made on the trail. Watch the budget hearings. If they said they’d fix the hydrants or the parks, make sure they actually do it.