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[]

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[]

, businesswoman and former mayor of Riverside (1990-1994)^[1]^[2]
Gary R. Supek, quality analyst^[1]
Ronald O. Loveridge, incumbent mayor and college teacher^[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
	5,680	22.51
Steven Portillo Torres	706	2.80
Gary R. Huspek	643	2.55
Total votes	25,229	100

2001[]

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[]

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[]

, 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
	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
Party	nonpartisan	Nonpartisan
Popular vote	14,387	6,421
Percentage	67.74%	30.23%

Mayor before election

Ronald O. Loveridge
Democratic

Elected Mayor

Ronald O. Loveridge
Democratic

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	Mike Gardner
Party	nonpartisan	Nonpartisan	Nonpartisan
First-round vote	10,112	8,345	5,144
First-round percentage	30.63%	25.28%	15.58%
Second-round vote	47,098	33,889
Second-round percentage	58.16%	41.84%


Candidate	Andy Melendrez
Party	Nonpartisan
First-round vote	4,461
First-round percentage	13.51%

Mayor before election

Ronald Loveridge
Democratic

Elected Mayor

Rusty Bailey
Independent

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

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	1,138v	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	Nancy Melendez
Party	nonpartisan	Nonpartisan	Nonpartisan
Popular vote	33,033	7,994	5,151
Percentage	59.42%	14.38%	9.27%

Mayor before election

Rusty Bailey
Independent

Elected Mayor

Rusty Bailey
Independent

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 3, 2020 (first round)^[10]
November 3, 2020 (runoff)^[11]

2024 →


Candidate	Patricia Lock Dawson	Andy Melendrez
Party	nonpartisan	Nonpartisan
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	Nonpartisan	Nonpartisan
First round	6,530 11.93%	2,910 (5.32%)
Second round	Eliminated	Eliminated

Mayor before election

Rusty Bailey
Independent

Elected Mayor

Patricia Lock Dawson
Independent^[12]

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

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "city_report_1997" (PDF). www.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2008.
^ ^a ^b ^c 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "city_report_2001" (PDF). www.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 2, 2008.
^ ^a ^b "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.
^ ^a ^b "CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRAR OF VOTERS TO THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS OF ELECTION RETURNS". December 1, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "RESOLUTION NO. 22429". City of Riverside. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Riverside County CONSOLIDATED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION November 6, 2012". Riverside County. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ "RIVERSIDE: Mayor Loveridge leaves legacy after 32 years". Press Enterprise. November 30, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "RESOLUTION NO. 23021". City of Riverside. July 26, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ ^a ^b "RESOLUTION NO. 23564". City of Riverside. June 8, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Election Results - November 3, 2020 | City Clerk". www.riversideca.gov. Riverside, California. 2020. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020.
^ "Patricia Lock Dawson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 2, 2021.

[results1997-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "city_report_1997" (PDF). www.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2008.

[CardelucciObit-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.

[results2001-3] "city_report_2001" (PDF). www.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 2, 2008.

[results2005-4] "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.

[results2009-5] "CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRAR OF VOTERS TO THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS OF ELECTION RETURNS". December 1, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

[results1-6] "RESOLUTION NO. 22429". City of Riverside. Retrieved October 3, 2019.

[results2-7] "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.

[results2016-9] "RESOLUTION NO. 23021". City of Riverside. July 26, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2019.

[results2020-10] "RESOLUTION NO. 23564". City of Riverside. June 8, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2021.

[2020runoff-11] "Election Results - November 3, 2020 | City Clerk". www.riversideca.gov. Riverside, California. 2020. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020.

[12] "Patricia Lock Dawson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 2, 2021.

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