Kenneth Anderson (California)

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Kenneth Anderson

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

April 15, 2025

Education

Medical

Bell Grove University

Personal

Birthplace

Oakland, Calif.

Religion

Baptist

Profession

Pastor

Contact

Campaign website

Kenneth Anderson ran in a special election to the Oakland City Council to represent District 2 in California. He lost in the special general election on April 15, 2025.

Anderson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Kenneth Anderson was born in Oakland, California. Anderson earned an M.D. from Bell Grove University. His career experience includes working as a pastor and affordable housing developer.

Elections

2025

See also: City elections in Oakland, California (2025)

General election

General election for Oakland City Council District 2

Select round: Round 5 Round 4 Round 3 Round 2 Round 1

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Charlene Wang in round 5 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Charlene Wang	59.4	7,008	736	Won (5)
		Kara Murray-Badal	40.6	4,782	362	5
	Submit photo	Harold Lowe	0.0	0	-1,617	4
		Kanitha Matoury	0.0	0	0	3
	Submit photo	Paula Thomas	0.0	0	0	2
		Kenneth Anderson	0.0	0	0	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Charlene Wang	51.0	6,272	250	Won (5)
		Kara Murray-Badal	35.9	4,420	123	5
	Submit photo	Harold Lowe	13.1	1,617	152	4
		Kanitha Matoury	0.0	0	-686	3
	Submit photo	Paula Thomas	0.0	0	0	2
		Kenneth Anderson	0.0	0	0	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Charlene Wang	48.3	6,022	71	Won (5)
		Kara Murray-Badal	34.5	4,297	34	5
	Submit photo	Harold Lowe	11.7	1,465	50	4
		Kanitha Matoury	5.5	686	88	3
	Submit photo	Paula Thomas	0.0	0	-303	2
		Kenneth Anderson	0.0	0	0	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Charlene Wang	47.5	5,951	46	Won (5)
		Kara Murray-Badal	34.0	4,263	40	5
	Submit photo	Harold Lowe	11.3	1,415	34	4
		Kanitha Matoury	4.8	598	39	3
	Submit photo	Paula Thomas	2.4	303	34	2
		Kenneth Anderson	0.0	0	-246	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Charlene Wang	46.9	5,905	0	Won (5)
		Kara Murray-Badal	33.6	4,223	0	5
	Submit photo	Harold Lowe	11.0	1,381	0	4
		Kanitha Matoury	4.4	559	0	3
	Submit photo	Paula Thomas	2.1	269	0	2
		Kenneth Anderson	2.0	246	0	1

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,583
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Anderson in this election.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kenneth Anderson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Anderson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Dr. Kenneth Anderson is a distinguished professional with a diverse background spanning civil rights activism, housing development, philanthropy, and religious leadership. Since 2010, he has served as the Senior Pastor of the historic Williams Chapel Baptist Church in Oakland, CA (District 2), an institution that has been a cornerstone of community service for over 85 years.

Educational Journey

Dr. Anderson’s academic path reflects his commitment to continuous learning. He completed internship programs at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and graduated from Bell Grove Theological Seminary in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2007, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies with a minor in Philosophy. His educational pursuits continued, and in 2010, he obtained a Master of Divinity degree focusing on Pastoral Care and Community Development.

Recognition and Advanced Achievements

His exceptional dedication to ministry and community service was recognized when the President of Bell Grove honored him with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. Further demonstrating his academic prowess, Dr. Anderson earned a Ph.D. in Christian Counseling from Pneuma Theological Seminary in Oakland, CA, in 2018.

Leadership and Affiliations

Currently, Dr. Anderson holds significant leadership roles, including:

• Moderator of the Bible Way District Association (formerly Christian Fellowship District Association)

• 2nd Vice-President of the Progressive Baptist State Convention of Ca

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• 1. Improving Stable Housing:

  2. Enhancing Public Safety:

  3. Promoting Sustainable Local Development:
• “Reverend Anderson has a plan to save Oakland district 2: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”
• Rev Kenneth Anderson was born and raised in Oakland and cares about the City's welfare.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Key public policy issues to focus on include:

Strengthening the Economy: Consistently ranked as the top priority, with emphasis on reducing inflation, creating jobs, and addressing economic disparities123.

Healthcare Reform: Improving access, affordability, and mental health services remains critical13.

Education Policy: Addressing high tuition costs, enhancing curricula, and integrating technology to prepare students for the digital age16.

Immigration and Border Security: Balancing national security with humane immigration practices and economic needs13.

Climate Change and Energy Policy: Transitioning to sustainable energy sources and addressing environmental challenges.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Oakland City Council members play a critical role in shaping the city's governance and policies. Their key responsibilities include:

Setting Policies and Laws: They establish city policies, approve ordinances (local laws), and address issues like zoning, permits, local taxes, and public safety13.

Budget Approval: They review and approve the city's budget, ensuring resources align with community priorities13.

Oversight and Appointments: Members appoint individuals to various boards and commissions, providing oversight for city services and programs3.

Representation: Each council member represents one of seven districts or serves at-large, addressing constituents' concerns and advocating for their needs23.

Committee Work: They participate in committees to review legislation, monitor city operations, and recommend actions to the full council47.

Community Engagement: Council members engage with residents to ensure informed decision-making and foster transparency8.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Wells Fargo Bank as a Teller main branch on Franklin Street.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2025 Elections

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Government

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Newsletters

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External links

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Candidate

Oakland City Council District 2

Website