Jimenez announces bid for Richmond mayor against fellow progressive incumbent Martinez

"It's an incredible moment the city of Richmond is in and I feel we have a great opportunity to do bigger things. I feel like I have been showing the community how I can do things and deliver. As mayor, I will be the no-nonsense, results-oriented leader that Richmond needs today."

"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. She said she would not accept corporate donations."

"The mayor has faced strong scrutiny in recent months after he reshared social media posts he later acknowledged were antisemitic while issuing a public apology. The controversy split the community between those who called for his resignation and others who said Martinez has done good for the community."

Councilmember Claudia Jimenez announced her candidacy for Richmond mayor after receiving endorsement from the Richmond Progressive Alliance, a progressive political advocacy group. Elected to District 6 in 2020, Jimenez stated her decision came sooner than planned due to community encouragement. She committed to rejecting corporate donations and positioning herself as a no-nonsense, results-oriented leader focused on delivering for Richmond. The race includes incumbent Mayor Eduardo Martinez, nonprofit director Ahmad Anderson, former Councilmember Demnlus Johnson, and conservative Mark Wassberg. Martinez recently faced controversy after resharing antisemitic social media posts, creating community division between those demanding resignation and supporters acknowledging his prior contributions.

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