Voters in District 3 will decide whether to reelect the incumbent or choose a new Stockton City Council representative in the June 2 primary election.
The Stockton City Council is the city’s primary legislative body. It approves the city budget, levies taxes and makes or amends city laws, policies and ordinances.
The city council has seven members, including the mayor. The mayor is elected at large, while the other six members are elected from the city’s six districts.
District 3 is located in north Stockton and extends southwest of March Lane. It had a population of 54,757 in the 2020 census.
Starting Jan. 1, councilmembers will receive a salary increase to $40,000 annually, or $3,333.33 monthly, with no benefits. They currently earn $30,832.62 annually, or $2,569.40 monthly. The position is part time.
Michael Blower, the incumbent, is seeking reelection. He assumed office in January 2023 after winning the election outright against Shoua Lo and Bridget Hawley-Ortiz in the June 2022 primary election for Stockton City Council District 3. This year, he is facing three challengers: educator Jessica Toccoli, realtor and business owner Joey Veltri, and Stefanie Alfaro, who has listed no ballot designation.
A candidate must receive a majority of votes to win outright. If no candidate receives a majority, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff in the general election.
The campaign has centered on economic development, homelessness, infrastructure and city governance, with candidates offering differing approaches to addressing those issues.
Blower has emphasized his experience on the city council, economic development efforts and support for established city policies and procedures.
Alfaro has focused on homelessness, mental health services, infrastructure issues and what she described as “a new beginning” for Stockton City Hall.
Toccoli has said she supports enforcing existing laws and backing law enforcement. Her campaign has drawn criticism over mailers that local organizations have described as containing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
Visit our Elections page throughout the day Tuesday, June 2, for the latest news, results and more as the California 2026 Primary gets underway.
Veltri has focused on supporting local businesses and encouraging economic growth. Mailers from his campaign have also prompted criticism from local organizations, which have described them as containing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
Neither Toccoli nor Veltri has participated in candidate forums during the campaign, and neither responded to requests for comment about their absence.
Blower has been endorsed by elected officials and labor organizations, including U.S. Reps. Josh Harder and Jerry McNerney, state Rep. Heath Flora, former state Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman and former state Rep. Carlos Villapudua, as well as labor groups including the California Federation of Labor Unions AFL-CIO, the North Valley Labor Federation, Operating Engineers Local 3, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 442, the San Joaquin Building Trades Council, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, Stockton Firefighters Local 456 and SEIU Local 1021.
Alfaro, Toccoli and Veltri have not reported any endorsements.
Ballots may be dropped off at any of the county’s 27 secure ballot drop boxes. Voters can view hours and locations on the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters website. On Election Day, voters may cast ballots at any of the county’s 130 polling places, the registrar of voters’ office or drop boxes. Voting is available until 8 p.m. June 2.
This story will be updated as election results come in.
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Blower faces three challengers in Stockton City Council District 3 race
Reporting by Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record / The Record
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