Mayoral elections in Riverside, California

Elections are held in Riverside, California to elect the city's mayor. Currently, such elections are nonpartisan and are regularly scheduled to elect mayors to four-year terms.

Elections before 1997

1997

Riverside, California mayoral election, 1997

← 1993 November 4, 1997[1] 2001 →

Candidate Ronald O. Loveridge Terry Frizzel Popular vote 14,331 5,680 Percentage 56.80% 22.51%

Mayor before election Ronald O. Loveridge Elected mayor Ronald O. Loveridge

The 1997 Riverside, California mayoral election was held on November 4, 1997, to elect the mayor of Riverside, California. It saw the reelection of Ronald O. Loveridge.

Candidates

• Terry Frizzel, businesswoman and former mayor of Riverside (1990–1994)^[1][2]
• Ronald O. Loveridge, incumbent mayor and college teacher^[1]
• Gary R. Supek, quality analyst^[1]
• Steven Portillo Torres, "politicalist", speaker, and collegiate^[1]

Results

1997 Riverside mayoral election results^[1]

Candidate		Votes	%
Ron Loveridge (incumbent)		14,331	56.80
Teresa "Terry" Frizzel		5,680	22.51
Steven Portillo Torres		706	2.80
Gary R. Huspek		643	2.55
Total votes		25,229	100

2001

Riverside, California mayoral election, 2001

← 1997 November 6, 2001[3] 2005 →

Candidate Ronald O. Loveridge Sam Cardelucci Popular vote 14,560 5,625 Percentage 55.23% 21.34%   Candidate Letitia Pepper Peter G. Weber Popular vote 4,843 1,336 Percentage 18.37% 5.07%

Mayor before election Ronald O. Loveridge Elected mayor Ronald O. Loveridge

The 2001 Riverside, California mayoral election was held on November 6, 2001, to elect the mayor of Riverside, California. It saw the reelection of Ronald O. Loveridge to a third term.

Candidates

• Sam Cardelucci, owner of National Environmental Waste Co.^[2]
• Ronald O. Loveridge, incumbent mayor and college teacher^[3]
• Letitia Pepper, attorney and teacher^[3]
• Peter G. Weber, manufacturing manager^[3]

Results

2001 Riverside mayoral election results^[3]

Candidate		Votes	%
Ron Loveridge (incumbent)		14,560	55.23
Samuel D. "Sam" Cardelucci		5,625	21.34
Letitia Pepper		4,843	18.37
Peter G. Weber		1,336	5.07
Total votes		26,364	100

2005

Riverside, California mayoral election, 2005

← 2001 November 8, 2005[4] 2009 →

Candidate Ronald O. Loveridge Terry Frizzel Popular vote 29,092 10,515 Percentage 60.14% 21.74%   Candidate Ameal Moore Popular vote 8,658 Percentage 17.90%

Mayor before election Ronald O. Loveridge Elected mayor Ronald O. Loveridge

The 2005 Riverside, California mayoral election was held on November 8, 2005, to elect the mayor of Riverside, California. It saw the reelection of Ronald O. Loveridge to a fourth term.

Candidates

• Terry Frizzel, former mayor of Riverside (1990–1994)^[2]
• Ronald O. Loveridge, incumbent mayor and college teacher
• Ameal Moore

Results

2005 Riverside mayoral election results^[4]

Candidate		Votes	%
Ron Loveridge (incumbent)		29,092	60.14
Teresa R. "Terry" Frizzel		10,515	21.74
Ameal Moore		8,658	17.91
Write-ins		105	0.22
Total votes		48,370	100

2009

Riverside, California mayoral election, 2009

← 2005 November 3, 2009[5] 2012 →
Turnout	18.97%
Candidate Ronald O. Loveridge Art Gage Popular vote 14,387 6,421 Percentage 67.74% 30.23%
Mayor before election Ronald O. Loveridge Elected mayor Ronald O. Loveridge

The 2009 Riverside, California mayoral election was held on November 3, 2009, to elect the mayor of Riverside, California. It saw the reelection of Ronald O. Loveridge to a fifth term.

Results

2009 Riverside mayoral election results^[5]

Candidate		Votes	%
Ron Loveridge (incumbent)		14,387	67.74%
Art Gage		6,421	30.23%
Total votes		21,240	100%
Voter turnout		18.97%

2012

Riverside, California mayoral election, 2012

← 2009 June 5, 2012 (first round)[6] November 6, 2012 (runoff)[7] 2016 →

Candidate Rusty Bailey Ed Adkison Party Non-partisan Non-partisan First-round vote 10,112 8,345 First-round percentage 30.63% 25.28% Second-round vote 47,098 33,889 Second-round percentage 58.16% 41.84%   Candidate Mike Gardner Andy Melendrez Party Non-partisan Non-partisan First-round vote 5,144 4,461 First-round percentage 15.58% 13.51%

Mayor before election Ronald Loveridge Elected mayor Rusty Bailey

The 2012 Riverside, California mayoral election was held on April 9, 2012, and June 5, 2012, and November 6, 2012, to elect the mayor of Riverside, California. It saw the election of Rusty Bailey.

Incumbent mayor Ronald Loveridge opted against running for a sixth term.^[8]

Results

First round

10112

2012 Riverside mayoral election first round results^[6]

Candidate		Votes	%
Rusty Bailey		10,112	30.63
Ed Adkison		8,345	25.28
Mike Gardner		5,144	15.58
Andy Melendrez		4,461	13.51
Dvonne M. Pitruzzello		1,138	3.45
Aurora Chavez		1,122	3.40
Peter Benavidez		668	2.02
Total votes		33,017	100
Voter turnout		27.57%

Runoff

2012 Riverside mayoral election runoff results^[7]

Candidate		Votes	%
Rusty Bailey		47,098	58.16
Ed Adkison		33,889	41.84
Total votes		80,987	100

2016

Riverside, California mayoral election, 2016

← 2012 June 7, 2016[9] 2020 →
Turnout	44.99%
Candidate Rusty Bailey Paul Davis Party Non-partisan Non-partisan Popular vote 33,033 7,994 Percentage 59.42% 14.38%   Candidate Nancy Melendez Party Non-partisan Popular vote 5,151 Percentage 9.27%
Mayor before election Rusty Bailey Elected mayor Rusty Bailey

The 2016 Riverside, California mayoral election was held on June 7, 2016, to elect the mayor of Riverside, California. It saw the reelection of Rusty Bailey.

Because Bailey won a majority in the initial round of the election, no runoff was needed.

Results

2016 Riverside mayoral election results^[9]

Candidate		Votes	%
Rusty Bailey (incumbent)		33,033	59.42%
Paul Davis		7,994	14.38%
Nancy Melendez		5,151	9.27%
Vivian Moreno		2,719	4.89%
Patrick Benedict "Babatúndé" Small		2,262	4.07%
Sally Martinez		705	1.27%
Total votes		55,597	100%
Voter turnout		44.99%

2020

Riverside, California mayoral election, 2020

← 2016 March 5, 2020 (first round)[10] November 3, 2020 (runoff)[11] 2024 →

Candidate Patricia Lock Dawson Andy Melendrez Party Non-partisan Non-partisan First round 19,572 (35.76%) 23,788 (43.47%) Second round 67,779 (58.78%) 47,529 (41.22%)   Candidate Rich Gardner Guy A. Harrell Party Non-partisan Non-partisan First round 6,530 11.93% 2,910 (5.32%) Second round Eliminated Eliminated

Mayor before election Rusty Bailey Elected mayor Patricia Lock Dawson

The 2020 Riverside, California mayoral election was held on March 3, 2020, to elect the mayor of Riverside, California. It saw the election of Patricia Lock Dawson.

Results

First round

2020 Riverside mayoral election first round results ^[10]

Candidate		Votes	%
Andy Melendrez		23,788	43.47
Patricia Lock Dawson		19,572	35.76
Rich Gardner		6,530	11.93
Guy A. Harrell		2,910	5.32
Phil Long Tran "JD" Denilofs		1,253	2.29
Acea D. Stapler		676	1.24
Total votes		54,729	100
Voter turnout		38.23%

Runoff

2020 Riverside mayoral election runoff results^[11]

Candidate		Votes	%
Patricia Lock Dawson		67,779	58.78
Andy Melendrez		47,529	41.22
Total votes		115,308	100

2024

Riverside, California mayoral election, 2024

← 2020 March 5, 2024 2028 →

Candidate Patricia Lock Dawson Jessica Qattawi Party Non-partisan Non-partisan Popular vote 31,833 9,176 Percentage 77.6% 22.3%

Mayor before election Patricia Lock Dawson Elected mayor Patricia Lock Dawson

The 2024 Riverside, California mayoral election was held on March 3, 2024, to elect the mayor of Riverside, California. Incumbent mayor Patricia Lock Dawson secured a second term as mayor.

This was the first mayoral election since the election of Ronald O. Loveridge's fifth term as mayor in the 2009 mayoral election to not only have only two candidates on the ballot.

It was also the first election since 2016 to not progress to a runoff.^[12]

Candidates

• Patricia Lock Dawson, incumbent mayor^[13]
• Jessica Qattawi, small business owner^[13]

Results

2024 Riverside mayoral election^[14]

Candidate		Votes	%
Patricia Lock Dawson (incumbent)		31,833	77.62
Jessica Qattawi		9,176	22.38
Total votes		41,009	100

References

1. "city_report_1997" (PDF). www.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2008.
2. De Atley, Richard K. (March 11, 2014). "RIVERSIDE: Sam Cardelucci, council and mayoral candidate, dies". www.pe.com. The Press-Enterprise. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
3. "city_report_2001" (PDF). www.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 2, 2008.
4. "Riverside County Consolidated Special Statewide Election November 8, 2005 FINAL ELECTION RESULTS". www.election.co.riverside.ca.us. Riverside County, California. November 21, 2005. Archived from the original on December 30, 2005.
5. "CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRAR OF VOTERS TO THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS OF ELECTION RETURNS". December 1, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
6. "RESOLUTION NO. 22429". City of Riverside. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
7. "Riverside County CONSOLIDATED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION November 6, 2012". Riverside County. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
8. "RIVERSIDE: Mayor Loveridge leaves legacy after 32 years". Press Enterprise. November 30, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
9. "RESOLUTION NO. 23021". City of Riverside. July 26, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
10. "RESOLUTION NO. 23564". City of Riverside. June 8, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
11. "Election Results - November 3, 2020 | City Clerk". www.riversideca.gov. Riverside, California. 2020. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020.
12. "Presidential Primary Election, County of Riverside, March 5, 2024, Official Semi-Final Election Results" (PDF). March 5, 2024.
13. "Elections | City Clerk". riversideca.gov. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
14. "Election Results - March 5, 2024 | City Clerk" (PDF). voteinfo.net/. Riverside, California.