Dennis Donohue
CA · Mayor of Salinas
Mayor of Salinas since December 2024, who also held the post from 2006 to 2012, and a former Western Growers innovation center director. His priorities include housing and infrastructure, along with public safety and economic opportunity.
Where Dennis Donohue stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (1 record), Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Public Infrastructure (1 record)
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (3 records)
Mixed record
Housing Affordability (2 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support
Voted for a temporary citywide ban on new tobacco retailer licenses so the city could write tougher rules to protect youth. It passed 7-0.
June 30, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 oppose
Made the motion to adopt Salinas's two-year operating budget for 2026-2028, which also asked staff to weigh more money for rental assistance. It passed 6-0.
June 16, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
Voted to put a renewal of Measure G, the city's 1-cent sales tax, on the November 2026 ballot with no end date and a citizens oversight committee. The vote was 6-0.
June 2, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
As mayor, led the push for Measure K, a proposed 1-cent Salinas sales tax to hire police and fund gang prevention, on the November 2009 ballot. He called it a penny for peace.
October 29, 2009Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: montereycountynow.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
As mayor, led the push for Measure K, a proposed 1-cent Salinas sales tax to hire police and fund gang prevention, on the November 2009 ballot. He called it a penny for peace.
October 29, 2009Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: montereycountynow.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 2 support · 1 oppose
Seconded and voted for the sale of two downtown city parking lots to Taylor Fresh Foods for a hotel and housing project. The deal passed 5-1.
December 2, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
After renters forced a referendum, moved for the council to cancel its own repeal of the rent rules. A substitute motion sending the repeal to the November 2026 ballot passed 4-3, with him voting no.
September 23, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
Voted yes to repeal Salinas's rent stabilization, rental registry, just-cause eviction and tenant anti-harassment ordinances. The repeal passed 5-2.
June 3, 2025Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Voted yes to accept a sewer rate study and start the process to raise sanitary sewer rates. The motion passed 5-2.
April 22, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
Track record — General
General · 4 records
Voted to censure fellow Councilmember Andrew Sandoval for some of his actions. The censure passed 5-1, with Sandoval abstaining.
January 13, 2026
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
Was picked by Monterey County's 12 mayors for a seat on the county Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), which rules on city boundaries and water districts. He beat Soledad Mayor Anna Velazquez.
February 7, 2025
Source: montereycountynow.com
Was declared elected mayor of Salinas when the City Council certified the November 5, 2024 election results.
December 3, 2024
Source: legistar2.granicus.com
Was honored in the Congressional Record by Rep. Sam Farr as he left the mayor's office. Farr credited him with leading a citywide effort against gang violence and with co-chairing the Measure V sales tax campaign.
November 29, 2012
Source: govinfo.gov
Past race Dennis Donohue ran in:
- Mayor · November 3, 2026 · Salinas city, California · incumbent