Christopher Cabaldon is a consummate public servant, small business owner, and visionary leader that has dedicated his career to addressing pressing social challenges and improving communities throughout Northern California. As the former mayor of West Sacramento for over two decades, Cabaldon was instrumental role in transforming the once-forgotten industrial town into an entrepreneurial city. Today, it is celebrated as “America’s most interesting small city” and one of the world’s “21 Smart Cities to Watch.”

Cabaldon’s commitment to innovation and progress is evident in his groundbreaking initiatives, including establishing universal preschool, career pathways, college savings accounts, as well as flood protection, sustainable land use, urban farms, and next-gen transit. He understands how to bring together diverse stakeholders to address the tough challenges on behalf of the people he serves. 

Cabaldon is a well-known an influential figure in local and national politics. He chaired the Jobs, Education & the Workforce Committee at a national organization of mayors and led the Asian/Pacific and LGBT caucuses of the League of California Cities. His personal journey as a gay man has been featured in the Logo network’s Coming Out Stories series, and his writing on marriage equality has contributed to the solidification of marriage equality in US law. 

He was the first Filipino LGBT mayor elected in the country and ultimately became the longest serving LGBT mayor in United States’ history.

Cabaldon is broadly recognized as a thought-leader in education and public policy. He served as President of the Linked Learning Alliance and policy counsel to the Regents of the University of California and has a deep understanding of the region’s educational and policy needs. He has also been appointed by five governors from both political parties and was appointed by President Barack Obama to the National College Promise Board, which was chaired by Dr. Jill Biden.

Cabaldon is also a small business owner and intimately understands the challenges our businesses face. As an employer who withstood the Great Recession and the pandemic, he understands how to balance budgets and make payroll – in good times and, especially, in tough times. 

In 2019, Cabaldon joined the faculty at Sacramento State University where he served as a Professor of Public Policy and Administration. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Economics from UC Berkeley and an M.P.P.A. from Sacramento State.

He lives in West Sacramento and looks forward to the opportunity to earn the support of residents throughout State Senate District 3.