Peter Ortiz
Nonpartisan · CA · San Jose City Councilmember, District 5
Peter Ortiz has represented East San Jose's District 5 on the San Jose City Council since 2023 and is seeking re-election in the November 2026 runoff against former councilmember Nora Campos after leading the June primary with about 45%. Raised by a single mother in East San Jose, he became the youngest-ever trustee of the Mount Pleasant School District board at 26 and later served on the Santa Clara County Board of Education, where he worked on ending the school-to-prison pipeline and expanding ethnic studies.
Track record
Government Efficiency
· 1 record
Directed city staff to analyze the financial tradeoffs of divesting San Jose investments from corporations involved in ICE detention or enforcement.
September 17, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Public Safety and Crime Control
· 2 records
Led San Jose council efforts to regulate the over-concentration of smoke shops in East San Jose and pushed the city to reaffirm non-cooperation with ICE enforcement alongside funding for immigrant legal defense.
November 14, 2025For
Source: sanjosespotlight.com · researched July 3, 2026
Co-authored and advanced a proposed San Jose ordinance prohibiting on-duty law-enforcement officers, including federal agents, from concealing their identities and requiring visible agency identification, with safety and undercover exemptions.
September 10, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Housing Affordability
· 2 records
Won council approval for a report quantifying housing cost burdens and evaluating new funding and financing strategies for very-low- and extremely-low-income affordable housing.
January 27, 2026For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Opposed reallocating Measure E affordable-housing funds, helping preserve tenant anti-displacement funding, and backed a tenant-preference policy for nearby residents in new affordable housing projects.
November 14, 2025For
Source: sanjosespotlight.com · researched July 3, 2026
Social Programs and Welfare
· 1 record
Secured an added $500,000 city-budget allocation for immigration services and emergency support for undocumented San Jose residents.
June 10, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Civil Rights
· 3 records
Led San Jose council efforts to regulate the over-concentration of smoke shops in East San Jose and pushed the city to reaffirm non-cooperation with ICE enforcement alongside funding for immigrant legal defense.
November 14, 2025For
Source: sanjosespotlight.com · researched July 3, 2026
Directed city staff to analyze the financial tradeoffs of divesting San Jose investments from corporations involved in ICE detention or enforcement.
September 17, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Co-authored and advanced a proposed San Jose ordinance prohibiting on-duty law-enforcement officers, including federal agents, from concealing their identities and requiring visible agency identification, with safety and undercover exemptions.
September 10, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Public Infrastructure
· 1 record
Co-authored council direction requiring a detailed relocation timeline and interagency site assessment for Berryessa Flea Market vendors, including potential VTA and BART locations.
May 13, 2025For
Source: sanjose.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
Elections
- Member, City Council, District 5 · November 3, 2026 · San Jose city, California · incumbent
Profile last researched July 3, 2026.