San Bernardino, as the county seat and the county’s largest city population-wise and its oldest municipality, is a trendsetter in multiple respects. It is further distinguished by having the largest city council in San Bernardino County, consisting of seven council members elected to represent the city’s seven wards, capped by an eighth member, the mayor, who is elected at-large.
With what were only two exceptions – the cities of Needles and Colton – San Bernardino County’s other 21 cites and two incorporated towns had five-member councils. Needles, the county’s smallest city population-wise, has a council consisting of six council members and a mayor. Colton, until 2022, likewise had a seven-member council with a mayor and six council members. Two years ago, however, Colton, San Bernardino’s immediate neighbor to the west on is south side, transitioned back to being a five-member council.
San Bernardino, in accordance with the municipal charter that had been in place from 1905 until the 2016, held its elections in odd-numbered years. In 2016, it became the last county city to go to even-numbered year elections. In gubernatorial election years, the city elects its mayor and its First, Second and Fourth ward council members. In presidential election years, the city’s voters in the Third, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh ward choose their council representatives.
Under normal and most circumstances, the San Bernardino mayor does not vote on matters decided by the city council. The exceptions to this are on matters relating to the hiring or firing of the city manager and city attorney, along with appointments to city commissions. The mayor is authorized to vote in those cases where the vote of the council has ended in a tie. The mayor also holds limited veto power with regard to council votes that passed by margins of 4-to-3 or 3-to-2.
Of note is that San Bernardino is a heavily Democrat city. Of its 106,873 registered voters, 48,523 of them or 45.4 percent affiliate with the Democratic Party, while 24,401 or 22.8 percent are Republicans. Nearly as many, 22.6 percent of the city’s voters, have no party affiliation, and 9.2 percent are members of the American Independent, Green, Libertarian, Peace & Freedom or other more obscure parties. Despite the Democrats overwhelming advantage in terms of voter registration, four of the council’s four current members – First Ward Councilman Ted Sanchez, Third Ward Councilman Juan Figueroa, Fourth Ward Councilman Fred Shorett and Seventh Ward Councilman Damon Alexander – are Republicans. Second Ward Councilwoman Sandra Ibarra, Fifth Ward Councilman Ben Reynoso and Sixth Ward Councilwoman Kimberly Calvin are Democrats, as is Mayor Helen Tran.
While municipal elections are under California electoral law considered to be nonpartisan in nature, in San Bernardino County, party affiliation is a major factor in local politics.
In March, Figueroa, running for reelection in the Third Ward and Mario Flores, who had challenged Calvin in the Sixth Ward, emerged victorious, gaining a majority of the votes cast in their respective elections, thus avoiding the need to compete in this week’s run-off. Also in March, Reynoso lost his bid for reelection in the Fifth Ward when two others in the race, former Councilman Henry Nickel and newcomer Kim Knaus, garnered more votes than he did. Similarly, in the Seventh Ward, Alexander’s hold on his position on the council slipped away when former City Attorney Jim Penman and longtime community activist Treasure Ortiz finished second and first in the vote, respectively. In the November 5 run-off in the Fifth District, Knaus, with 61 percent of the vote, outpolled Nickel, with 39 percent of the vote. In the Seventh Ward, Ortiz, with 56 percent of the vote, prevailed over Penman with 44 percent of the vote.
In this way, the 4-to-3 advantage to the Republicans over the Democrats on the council reverses itself. In the Third Ward, the Republican Figueroa remains in place. In the Fifth and Sixth wards, the Democrats Reynoso and Calvin are being replaced by Democrats Knaus and Flores. The overall Republican-to-Democrat balance on the council is being changed in the Seventh Ward, where the Republican Alexander is to be supplanted by the Democrat Ortiz.
Taken together with Tran’s Democratic Party affiliation, the political leadership in the city will move convincingly into the Democratic camp at the second city council meeting in December, when Knaus, Flores and Ortiz will be sworn in, along with Figueroa, and Reynoso, Calvin and Alexander will make their exodus from the council dais.
Beginning during Franklin Roosevelt’s Administration, for three decades beginning in 1936 when New Deal Democrat Harry Sheppard was elected to represent most of San Bernardino County, San Bernardino County was a Democratic County. In 1966, with the election of Jerry Pettis to Congress and Ronald Reagan as governor, San Bernardino County went Republican. It has remained a GOP bastion ever since, even after 2009, when countywide the number of registered Democrats eclipsed the number of registered Republicans throughout the 20,105 square-mile county. The now-significantly more numerous Democrats are gradually beginning to become more politically assertive and starting to take control of the county’s various local governmental entities away from the Republicans, who have historically turned out to vote in far greater numbers than their Democratic rivals.
In this way, the San Bernardino City Council switching from reddish purple to blue purple in this election city cycle is seen as a harbinger of San Bernardino County’s political future.

By M.R. Wainwright
In the aftermath of the 2024 general election, Helen Tran, Mayor of San Bernardino, finds herself isolated, her influence diminished, and her support base fractured. Her weakened position has left many residents and donors questioning her ability to lead, and her dwindling backing reflects a loss of confidence in her vision for the city. Once hopeful that Tran would bring meaningful progress, San Bernardino residents and city leaders alike have watched her administration falter, marked by missed opportunities, ineffective governance, and a disconnect from the community’s needs.
The election results only underscored Tran’s decreasing relevance. Her isolation became starkly evident with the decisive win of incoming Councilwoman-Elect Treasure Ortiz over former City Attorney Jim Penman, shutting down any hopes Tran may have had for a unified council under her leadership. Ortiz’s victory, alongside Kim Knaus’s election to the council, signaled a desire for fresh perspectives and highlighted Tran’s growing disconnect from a city in need of stronger, more cohesive leadership.
Further compounding her struggles was Tran’s involvement in the failed campaign of Dara Smith for County Assessor, a race marked by the support of out-of-town donors who seemed indifferent to local concerns. Smith’s loss delivered a resounding message that San Bernardino residents prioritize local interests over outside influence. Tran’s endorsement only reinforced perceptions of her as a mayor out-of-touch with the community, aligning herself with donors who did not reflect the city’s values.
The cracks in Tran’s support base have widened, with even her closest advisors beginning to quietly distance themselves. The failed recall efforts against her, disorganized and poorly executed, did more harm than good, highlighting her struggles to gain meaningful support within the city. Despite attempts to rally allies, Tran’s leadership missteps have become common concerns among her peers. With new council members like Knaus and Ortiz set to take office, Tran faces an increasingly isolated role as the council pivots toward San Bernardino’s future without her influence.
City Manager Rochelle Clayton’s recent decision to reach out directly to Councilwoman-Elect Ortiz and incoming Councilmember Knaus for individual discussions on the city’s future only underscores Tran’s diminishing relevance. The initiative, reportedly taken without Tran’s involvement, signals a new direction for San Bernardino—one that prioritizes collaboration and effective governance, distancing itself from Tran’s isolated administration.
Meanwhile, Tran’s standing with residents and donors is rapidly deteriorating, and fundraising records reflect a sharp decline in major contributions. Many large donors, once hopeful about her potential, are now withholding maximum contributions, with only token support remaining. For Tran, this lack of financial commitment paints a troubling picture, as even her backers appear hesitant to invest in her leadership. The growing disillusionment among donors suggests that, in the next election, Tran may find herself squarely in the crosshairs, with residents and funders alike seeking leadership that places the city’s interests first.
Recognizing her inability to deliver, Tran’s close advisors are quietly exploring new paths, seeking opportunities in neighboring cities like Rialto, where effective governance and collaboration seem more promising. Developers and donors, initially optimistic about Tran’s administration, are redirecting their support to campaigns and projects in nearby jurisdictions, viewing San Bernardino’s future under her leadership as incompatible with their goals. For Tran, this shift marks a devastating blow, as those who once supported her look elsewhere for effective leadership.
Tran’s failed association with the chaotic recall attempt only further alienated her allies, driving a wedge between her and remaining supporters. Poorly executed and mismanaged, the recall effort raised questions about her judgment and further damaged her credibility among donors. The failure of the recall not only backfired but also highlighted the disarray within her leadership, casting doubt on her ability to unify her base or rally support for future initiatives.
As the dust settles, it’s evident that Tran’s future as mayor is bleak. Her repeated missteps and fading influence depict a leader rapidly losing her grip on authority. With new council members ready to assume office, Tran finds herself sidelined, facing a political landscape that no longer welcomes her. As San Bernardino moves toward a new chapter under leadership committed to making tangible improvements, Tran is relegated to the role of spectator, watching as others work to achieve the progress she once promised but failed to deliver.
In sum, Helen Tran’s tenure as Mayor of San Bernardino has been marked by missteps, isolation, and now a clear message from the electorate: the city is moving forward—without her. Her term may go down as one of San Bernardino’s most profound missteps—a cautionary tale that a well-intended community leader can also easily become self-centered, becoming the very enemy they once aimed to remove from office.