Claudia Jimenez Announces Run for Richmond Mayor

Why I’m Running for Mayor

I’m running to be mayor because the progress we’ve made for the people of Richmond is real – but it is not guaranteed to last. To continue moving in the right direction, Richmond needs a capable leader, one who knows how to take good ideas and turn them into real world improvements that uplift every person in every neighborhood. I believe that leader is me.

When I first ran for City Council in 2020, I said that I would accept no corporate contributions. In this mayoral race, I am making the same promise. Being a corporate-free candidate is especially important in Richmond. When I was elected to City Council in 2020 and again 2024, I owed no favors to the large corporations that influenced city decisions in past decades. When I make decisions, I put the needs of our residents first.

Over the past several years, the Richmond City Council has shown what local leaders can accomplish when we are rooted in progressive values and focused on concrete results. Today Richmond has the lowest homicide rate and highest city revenue in our history. This did not happen by accident – as a City Councilmember, I led the way on many of the public safety and financial reforms that got us here.

I have a history of making good things happen in Richmond, starting with fiscal stability.

• • I was one of the councilmembers who put a measure on the ballot to “Make Polluters Pay” for cleaning up the messes they have made in our city.

  • I then helped negotiate the $550 million settlement from Chevron that will strengthen our city for the next decade.

  • Prior to that, I led the effort to require large corporations to pay appropriate business taxes.

  • And I helped free Richmond from harmful Wall Street “swaps” — illegal, high risk financial instruments that were draining millions of dollars from the city’s bank accounts.

The stronger financial position that the city achieved as a result of my efforts means more money for the things people want for Richmond, like enhanced public safety and more pleasant public spaces.

• • During my first term, City Council significantly increased funding to the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS), a nationally recognized violence prevention program.

  • This year we launched the ROCK team to assist police in answering emergency calls related to mental health.

  • I also consistently advocate for greater funding for road repair, traffic safety, park enhancements, library renovations, landscaping, and other practical improvements that make Richmond a nicer place to live.

Look around and you will see that things are getting cleaner, safer, and more beautiful in Richmond every day. In fact, our city is a bright spot in a very bleak national setting. I enjoy telling people that everyone is welcome in Richmond, but keeping it a welcoming place for all of our diverse communities takes effort. As an immigrant elected leader, I know people are depending on me to show leadership as the Trump administration attacks both immigrants and US citizens around the nation. I drafted resolutions to strengthen our Sanctuary City protections and invest $1 million dollars in the local organizations that offer legal protections for targets of federal abuse. I also know that immigrants are not the only Richmonders threatened with displacement. That’s why I joined Councilmembers Doria Robinson and Sue Wilson in sponsoring a $1 million dollar program to improve the lives of Richmond’s Black residents. I see that city investment as a first step in reversing the forces that have been shrinking the size of Richmond’s black community for decades. As mayor I will continue to look for new ways that city government can serve people, especially during difficult times.

Richmond today is at a crossroads. We have unprecedented new revenue that we can invest in better housing, children’s services, public safety, parks and roads, environmental health, business and job creation, and anything else we dream of. To take advantage of this opportunity, the next mayor must be disciplined, knowledgeable, and focused on making choices that directly benefit Richmond residents now and in the future. As mayor, I will be the no-nonsense, results-oriented leader that Richmond needs today. And I will reach out my hand to anyone who is willing to work with me to make our city a safe and affordable place to live.

The future of Richmond is bright, and it belongs to all of us. I’m ready to lead our city into this next chapter with focus, energy, and experience. I hope I can win your support!

— Claudia Jiménez 2/25/26
Richmond City Councilmember, Candidate for Mayor