Democrat Scott Sakakihara has thrown his hat into the California State Senate District 10 race, the winner of which will represent Milpitas, Fremont, Fairview, Hayward, Newark, Union City, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale, as well as the Alum Rock and East Foothills communities and parts of San Jose.
Current District 10 State Senator Aisha Wahab has launched a campaign committee to run for Congress.
Sakakihara has served as Vice Mayor and City Councilmember in Union City, and is a U.S. Navy reserve officer working in an intelligence role, as well as an attorney, a husband, and a father of three young children.
Said the candidate in a statement, “In the Navy, we live by a commitment to leave no one behind. I believe we as a society should live by these same words–especially today. In the State Senate, I’ll fight to make everyday life in California more affordable and easier, strengthen our social safety net, and build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable future for our kids.”
“We can’t sit back,” he continued, “when there are people living without shelter, neighbors who can’t pay for groceries, can’t make rent, can’t afford to buy a home. When there are people who can’t sleep at night because they don’t know if they can give their kids a better life than they had. California can do better.”
Coming from a family of farmers, produce workers, and engineers, Sakakihara runs with an emphasis on his strong work ethic and commitment to public service. During World War II, all four of Sakakihara’s grandparents were sent to Japanese-American internment camps here in California.
A graduate of UC San Diego (in a two-year timeframe) and a J.D. graduate of Harvard Law School, Sakakihara had internships and fellowships in Congress before serving in Barack Obama’s White House as his administration worked to pass the Affordable Care Act.
Sakakihara’s work in Union City has seen him fighting for new housing while helping the homeless and those in need of rental assistance.
The State Senate primary election comes up on June 2, 2026. Along with Sakakihara, Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano and Harris Mojadedi have also declared that they are also running for the State Senate District 10 spot. The top two candidates will run in November’s general election.
Learn more about Scott Sakakihara here.
