City elected office
Mayor of Riverside
This citywide office represents Riverside as its directly elected Mayor.
Review election coverage
Data coverage
- Government
- City of Riverside
- Public body
- Riverside City Council
- Electoral area
- City of Riverside
i
Static City of Riverside outline. The Mayor is elected by the full city rather than from a ward.
Office overview
The office at a glance
See what this office does, the government it belongs to, the area it represents, and how voters choose its officeholder.
What this office does
Represents Riverside citywide and presides over City Council meetings
The Mayor represents Riverside at large, presides over City Council meetings, and carries out responsibilities assigned by the city charter and municipal code.
City of Riverside Mayor's OfficeElection process
A majority can decide the office
The office uses a nonpartisan city election. A candidate receiving a majority can win; otherwise, the qualifying candidates proceed to a runoff election.
Open the 2028 Election PageCity of Riverside contextJuly 1, 2025 population estimate and 2020–2024 measures
These citywide figures describe the municipal government's shared setting. They are not ward-level estimates and do not measure office or officeholder performance.
People and households
- Population
- 323,057July 1, 2025 estimate
- Households
- 95,1762020–2024 estimate
- Median household income
- $91,0452024 inflation-adjusted dollars
Race and ethnicity
- Hispanic or Latino
- 55.6%May be of any race; 2020–2024
- White alone, not Hispanic
- 26.1%2020–2024
- Asian alone
- 8.2%2020–2024
- Black alone
- 6.3%2020–2024
Geography
- Land area
- 81.23 sq mi2020 Census geography
Current officeholder
Who currently holds this office?
The official Mayor's Office identifies Patricia Lock Dawson as Riverside's current Mayor and the city's only citywide elected officeholder.
Current officeholder
Patricia Lock Dawson
Mayor of Riverside
- Status
- Current officeholder
- First elected
Contact this office
- Office
- Riverside City Hall, 3900 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92522
Past elections
Election history
This section covers completed elections. Current and upcoming contests remain on the Election Page linked from the top of this Office Page. A published past Election Page contains the full candidate list, certified result, campaign-finance coverage, methodology, and source documents.
Election archive
2024 Mayoral Election page not yet published
The election is listed so the office chronology is clear, but its result and source documents have not yet been assembled into a Paper Trail Politics Election Page.
Election archive
2020 Mayoral Election page not yet published
The election is listed so the office chronology is clear, but its result and source documents have not yet been assembled into a Paper Trail Politics Election Page.
Public records
Records connected to this office
Open the official records used to follow the work, decisions, or disclosures connected to this office.
Council proceedings
City Council agendas and meeting records
Review agendas, staff reports, minutes, and other records of City Council proceedings.
Open official recordCity records
City Clerk online documents
Browse council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, campaign statements, and other public records maintained by the City Clerk.
Open official recordCampaign finance
City campaign filing portal
Search candidate and committee disclosure filings maintained for City of Riverside elections.
Open official recordNews and Press Releases
Updates from this office
Read press releases, official updates, and coverage selected by this office. Follow each link to its source.
Mayor's message
July 2026 Mayor's message focuses on housing
Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson discusses homeownership, missing-middle housing, local development reforms, and Riverside's housing pipeline.
Mayor's message
February Mayor's message addresses homelessness
The Mayor outlines legal constraints, city responsibilities, and Riverside programs addressing homelessness and related public concerns.
State of the City
Mayor presents Riverside's 2026 State of the City
The annual address reviews public safety, economic activity, neighborhood investment, housing, homelessness, parks, and city services.
Sources
Sources and data coverage
Review the public records used on this page, what Paper Trail Politics has captured, and what remains incomplete.
Current assessmentStrong coverage
The office identity, current officeholder, municipal geography, city context, current election cycle, public records, related offices, and reviewed sources are included.
Assessed August 18, 2026 · Current 2026 recordsHistorical Election Pages, complete officeholder succession, compensation, vacancy rules, and a deeper office-specific publication review remain incomplete.
Sources used on this page6 source organizations · 13 records
City of Riverside City Clerk
1 record from this source is used on the page.
City of Riverside GIS
1 record from this source is used on the page.
City of Riverside Mayor's Office
5 records from this source are used on the page.
Official government information about the office and public bodyhttps://riversideca.gov/mayor/Portrait source page for Patricia Lock Dawsonhttps://riversideca.gov/mayor/mayor-patricia-lock-dawsonMayor's message: July 2026 Mayor's message focuses on housinghttps://riversideca.gov/press/july-2026-monthly-message-housingMayor's message: February Mayor's message addresses homelessnesshttps://riversideca.gov/press/february-mayors-monthly-messageState of the City: Mayor presents Riverside's 2026 State of the Cityhttps://riversideca.gov/press/city-riverside-%E2%80%9Cleveling-%E2%80%9D-mayor-patricia-lock-dawson-proclaims-2026-state-city-address
City of Riverside
4 records from this source are used on the page.
2020 Riverside mayoral electionhttps://riversideca.gov/press/ucr-magazine-interviewCity Council agendas and meeting recordshttps://www.riversideca.gov/cityclerk/government-meetingsCity Clerk online documentshttps://www.riversideca.gov/cityclerk/online-documentsOfficial logo used when an update does not publish a reusable imagehttps://www.riversideca.gov/
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Riverside city, California
1 record from this source is used on the page.
City of Riverside NetFile portal
1 record from this source is used on the page.
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