San Mateo voters in District 3 will choose between two familiar faces this fall: incumbent Councilmember Rob Newsom Jr., who is seeking another term, and Seema Patel, who is challenging him for the seat. The district covers an eastern stretch of El Camino Real running from Laurie Meadows up to around East Fourth Avenue, and it's one of three council seats on San Mateo's ballot this November.
Two Familiar Faces, One District Seat
San Mateo has three council seats up for grabs this election, including the District 3 contest between Newsom and Patel, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal. Newsom is the incumbent councilmember representing the district and is running for another term, the newspaper reports. Both candidates are officially listed on the city's election page for the District 3 seat, alongside contests for Districts 1 and 5, which are also on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the City of San Mateo.
Patel has expressed support for pedestrian and bicycle safety. She also helped raise funds to activate the pedestrian mall and rallied residents to save it, according to the report.
A Proposed Sales Tax Measure
San Mateo is also considering a quarter-cent transactions and use tax measure, known as Measure H, for the November ballot. The city's election page lists Measure H as a planned quarter-cent sales tax measure for the November general municipal election.
Historic-resource policy has also been part of San Mateo's council debate. Newsom voted to give the council authority to designate some properties as historic without owner consent, according to San Mateo Forward.
A Contested Planning Commission Vote
The two candidates' history extends beyond this campaign. According to San Mateo Forward, the City Council in May declined to reappoint Patel, who had served as Planning Commission chair since 2024, and James Horsman took her seat instead. The outlet reports that Newsom voted against reappointing Patel and, in its account, did not recuse himself or disclose a conflict of interest given that she is now his election opponent.
San Mateo Forward also reports that city staff have identified the comprehensive zoning update and the next phase of housing reform as among the Planning Commission's most consequential upcoming tasks — work that will now proceed without Patel on the commission.
What's Left Unresolved
Neither candidate's full platform has been laid out in detail beyond the positions already noted, and there is no available polling, fundraising, or endorsement data to indicate how the race is shaping up ahead of November. The Daily Journal reported the initial matchup. Voters in District 3 will settle the contest on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
