Sacramento City Councilmember Katie Valenzuela has conceded defeat in her bid for re-election. The updated tally released Tuesday by Sacramento County showed her opponent Phil Pluckebaum with 50.63% of the vote and Valenzuela with 43.8%, meaning there will be no runoff.
“After a week of contacting voters to cure ballots, today’s update from the County shows there are simply not enough votes left to push this election to November,” Valenzuela said. “I have called Phil Pluckebaum to congratulate him and I commit to working with him to ensure a smooth transition as he takes office in December.”
Valenzuela was elected to the District 4 seat in 2020. As a Democratic Socialist, she is the city council’s most left-wing member. She has faced criticism for her hardline positions on issues like policing, housing, and homelessness.
Pluckebaum is a member of the city’s Planning and Design Commission, where he has served for eight years. He is also a project manager for UC Davis Health and previously served on the board of the River Park Neighborhood Association.
Pluckebaum had secured endorsements from the Harry S Truman Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento, the Sacramento Metro Chamber PAC, the Sacramento Police Officers Association, Teamsters Local 150, the Sacramento Bee, and a trove of elected officials, including Sheriff Jim Cooper, Democratic Rep. Ami Bera, and retired State Sen. Deborah Ortiz.
“I am deeply honored by the trust the voters of District 4 have placed in me as your next councilmember,” Pluckebaum said in a statement. “Every resident of District 4 will have a responsive advocate in City Hall. Together, we’ll strive to reduce homelessness, fight crime, build more housing, attract and retain good jobs, and enhance our quality of life.”