Alameda County voters will choose between three candidates for district attorney in the June 2 primary election. This is a high-profile race. The election follows the recall of the county’s first reform-DA and an ongoing debate over public safety and criminal justice reform.
Ursula Jones Dickson was appointed by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors after the recall of Pamela Price. Price is running to regain her seat. Gopal Krishan is a trial attorney and political newcomer.
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two will advance to the general election in November.
Race, recall and reform
Price was elected in 2022 as part of a wave of progressive prosecutors across the country. They campaigned to reduce mass incarceration, increase police accountability, and address racial inequality in the criminal legal system. Price, who previously challenged former DA Nancy O’Malley in 2018, became the first Black person and first Black woman elected as Alameda County district attorney.
While she had strong support from families victimized by police violence, opponents quickly mobilized, arguing her policies went too far and did not protect crime victims. Others said Price’s policies were poorly implemented, like the prosecution of the Alameda Police officers charged for the murder of Oaklander Mario Gonzalez.
Piedmont hedge fund manager Phillip Dreyfuss helped bankroll the campaign to recall Price in 2024. After voters recalled Price, Jones Dickson later filled the vacancy.
Jones Dickson, a former Superior Court judge and longtime prosecutor, was appointed by the county Board of Supervisors and has served as DA since 2025.
Ursula Jones Dickson: Stability and ‘keeping victims at the center’
Jones Dickson has campaigned on restoring stability and trust in the district attorney’s office. After 15 years in as a deputy district attorney, she was appointed as a judge.
According to her campaign website, her priorities include “keeping victims at the center” of the office’s work, prosecuting cases fairly, and reducing a significant backlog of cases. She also emphasizes rebuilding the office through (re)hiring experienced prosecutors and rebuilding trust for victims of crime.
She highlights collaboration with community partners and a focus on addressing serious and violent crime. Jones Dickson has framed her approach as a return to the core responsibilities of the DA’s office, especially seeking victims rights and public safety.
She has been criticized for recommending children be charged as adults, and for undoing death penalty resentencing in cases where evidence of racial bias was found in jury selection.
Pamela Price: A second change at reform, and a ‘balanced approach’
Price is running on her record as a reform prosecutor to “finish the job” she said she was elected in 2022 to do.
She advocates a “balanced approach” that combines public safety with efforts to reform inequities in the justice system. Her priorities include reducing unnecessary prosecutions, supporting victims, and holding police and public officials accountable through independent investigations.
Price, a longtime civil rights attorney, emphasized her experiences representing low-income residents, workers, and communities of color. She also pointed to her efforts while in office to focus on restorative justice and reducing punitive sentencing.
She said her reform campaign reflected the voters who elected her in 2022.
When Price won, she was the first openly elected DA in Alameda County since 1938.
Gopal Krishan: An outsider focused on public safety
Krishan is a trial attorney originally from India. He has positioned himself as an outsider focused on public safety.
He lists three priorities: preventing unlawful cooperation with ICE on immigration enforcement, prosecuting hate crimes, and a tough on crime approach.
He’s worked with immigrant communities and families affected by crime, he said. Public safety is a “fundamental right.” His campaign also calls for stronger enforcement and clearer outcomes from the district attorney’s office.
What the DA does
The district attorney decides how crimes are charged and prosecuted. The DA’s office includes more than 150 lawyers and has a budget of more than $111 million. The DA also oversees investigations and shapes policies like diversion programs, sentencing, and police accountability.
Distinct candidates for voters
The 2026 DA’s race presents voters with different visions for the office.
- Jones Dickson emphasizes experience, office stability, and a focus on victims
- Price centers reform, accountability, and changes to traditional prosecution practices
- Krishan focuses on no ICE, no hate crimes, and being “touch on organized crime”
Watch the candidates
The Alameda County Bar Association and League of Women Voters of Oakland hosted a DA’s forum. The Oaklandside also hosted a have hosted debates and candidate forums.
What’s next
If none of the three candidates wins a majority of votes on June 2, the race will continue in the November general election. The election will determine how Alameda County approaches public safety and criminal justice in the years ahead.
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