FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 4, 2026
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (408) 596-3849
MAYOR VICKI VEENKER
RE-ELECTED
TO PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL
Veenker thanks the community, pledges continued focus on climate solutions, thoughtful housing, and excellent city services alongside returning and incoming colleagues.
View Election Night Photo Gallery
PALO ALTO, CA — Following the certification of election night results, Palo Alto Mayor Vicki Veenker will return to the Palo Alto City Council for a second four-year term.
Mayor Veenker issued the following statement:
“Thank you, Palo Alto, for participating in our local democracy and placing your trust in me to continue serving our city for another term. Serving as your Councilmember and Mayor has been one of the great privileges of my life, and I am deeply honored to keep working on your behalf.
Over the course of this campaign, walking our neighborhoods and speaking with residents across town, I heard clearly what matters most: creating housing options that allow essential workers and families to stay in our community, modernizing our electrical grid to lead on regional climate action, and protecting the exceptional parks, libraries, and city services that anchor our daily quality of life.
I want to offer my sincere congratulations to my colleague and former Mayor Ed Lauing on his re-election. Ed’s institutional knowledge, diligence, and consistent leadership remain invaluable to our city. I also warmly welcome Bryna Chang to the council. Bryna brings fresh energy and vital community perspective, and I look forward to working collaboratively with both of them and the full council to tackle our shared priorities.
Effective local governance is about listening respectfully and finding common ground to get to ‘yes.’ I look forward to continuing that work together.”
About Mayor Veenker
Veenker was first elected to the Palo Alto City Council in 2022 and has served as Mayor during her first term, emphasizing environmental stewardship, regional collaboration, and transparent, fact-based civic leadership. Veenker chairs the Climate committee and represents the city across key regional power, air, and environmental boards. A seasoned legal professional, she manages Veenker Law Offices and Veenker Dispute Resolution, following a distinguished career as a Silicon Valley IP partner, adjunct law professor, and co-founder of Women’s Professional Soccer. She holds degrees in Biochemistry and Political Science from Indiana University and earned her J.D. from Georgetown University.