Mayoral election in Riverside, California (2024)

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← 2020
2024 Riverside elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: December 8, 2023
General election: March 5, 2024
Runoff election: November 5, 2024 (canceled)
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor
Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections)
Election type: Nonpartisan
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2024

The city of Riverside, California, held a general election for mayor on March 5, 2024. A runoff election would have been held on November 5, 2024, if no candidate had received a majority of the votes in the general election. The filing deadline for this election was December 8, 2023.

As of 2024, Riverside did not have term limits for the position of mayor. Mayors served a four-year term.


Elections

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Candidates and results

General election

General election for Mayor of Riverside

Incumbent Patricia Lock Dawson defeated Jessica Qattawi in the general election for Mayor of Riverside on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Patricia Lock Dawson
Patricia Lock Dawson (Nonpartisan)
 
77.6
 
31,833
Image of Jessica Qattawi
Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
22.4
 
9,176

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 41,009
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Additional elections on the ballot

See also: California elections, 2024

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March 5, 2024
November 5, 2024

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Jessica Qattawi

Image of Jessica Qattawi

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I am not a politician. I'm a resident that owns a local small business that is concerned about our city. I'm witnessing a decline of quality of life, struggles in doing business, public safety and our homeless issue keeps growing. I'm stepping up to help and make change. I am dedicated, passionate and strong enough to get the residents results we deserve."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

I am not a politician and that’s exactly what our city needs now.

I am committed to getting our residents results.

My three main priorities is Homeless issue, public safety and community engagement.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Riverside in 2024.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

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Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

I am not a politician and that’s exactly what our city needs now.

I am committed to getting our residents results.

My three main priorities is Homeless issue, public safety and community engagement.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

I am passionate about safety, housing and economic development.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

I look up to Mother Theresa and Princess Diana. Strong women that made history and committed to helping others.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

I am dedicated, determined, passionate and I am a humanitarian.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

The mayor that made Riverside better. Where individuals from all over the country will come to Riverside to learn how we did it.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

I believe the mayor should be an inspiration for their community. The mayor is responsible for listening to the constituents and providing them with resources and results when they are concerned or in need.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

I feel the mayor should be engaged with the community, supporting the local businesses and being available to the constituents.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

My city is amazing! We have so much to offer from history, landmarks and tons of opportunity.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

The past decade we have experienced an increase in homelessness. Our streets have become overwhelmed with homeless and my priority is to find a solution that will be long lasting.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

It should be a close relationship. Every city has different needs and we should communicate that to the state regularly.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

I believe it is very important for the community to be involved with decisions that city makes. I plan on inspiring my community to get more involved and inform them on how to do so.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

I plan on being very involved with the RPD and attending state meetings to fight legislative that does not allow us to protect our residents the way needed to ensure they feel safe.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JessicaQattawi2024.jpeg

Jessica Qattawi (Nonpartisan)

I have chosen to not accept and endorsements or donations from unions or large corporations to prevent any political obligations. I’m here for the people.



Mayoral partisanship

See also: Partisanship in United States municipal elections (2024)

Thirty-four of the 100 largest cities held mayoral elections in 2024. Once mayors elected in 2024, assumed office Democrats held 65 top-100 mayoral offices, Republicans 25, Libertarians held one, independents held two, and nonpartisan mayors held four. Three mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.

The following top 100 cities saw a change in mayoral partisan affiliation in 2024:[1]


What was at stake?

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Candidate survey

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About the city

See also: Riverside, California

Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California. As of 2020, its population was 314,998.

City government

See also: Council-manager government

The city of Riverside uses a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council—which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body—appoints a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives.[3]

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for Riverside, California
Riverside California
Population 314,998 39,538,223
Land area (sq mi) 81 155,857
Race and ethnicity**
White 52.8% 56.1%
Black/African American 5.9% 5.7%
Asian 8.7% 14.8%
Native American 0.8% 0.8%
Pacific Islander 0.3% 0.4%
Other (single race) N/A 14.3%
Multiple 7.3% 7.9%
Hispanic/Latino 53.6% 39.1%
Education
High school graduation rate 81.6% 83.9%
College graduation rate 24.1% 34.7%
Income
Median household income $72,738 $78,672
Persons below poverty level 13.2% 12.6%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


See also

Riverside, California California Municipal government Other local coverage
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ As of January 7, 2025, the party affiliation of one mayor elected in 2024 was unknown. Ballotpedia contacted El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson's campaign in December to inquire about his party affiliation and had not yet received a reply. As incumbent Oscar Leeser was a Democrat, this decreased the net gain for Democrats from two to one.
  2. ↑ [San Antonio Express-News, "‘I’m a Democrat’: Mayor Ron Nirenberg campaigns for Kamala Harris, embraces party label," September 14, 2024]
  3. ↑ Riverside City Charter, Art. II, accessed October 23, 2014
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