Full Breakdown
Pamela Price Announces 2026 Campaign for Alameda County District Attorney
12/6/2025, 12:12:50 AM
Background on Pamela Price's Tenure and Recall
Pamela Price, who made history as Alameda County's first Black woman district attorney, was elected in November 2022 on a platform advocating for criminal justice reform and police accountability. However, her tenure faced immediate backlash as crime rates rose during the pandemic. Critics accused Price of being too lenient, particularly after she implemented policies that limited charging minors as adults and restricted the use of sentencing enhancements. This discontent culminated in a recall election in 2024, where nearly 63% of voters opted to remove her from office, citing concerns over her handling of crime and workplace issues within her office.
Price's Campaign Announcement
On December 4, 2025, Price announced her candidacy for the June 2026 primary election, framing her return as a response to what she described as a failure of the current administration to address public safety and accountability. During her campaign launch in Hayward, Price criticized her successor, Ursula Jones Dickson, for allegedly failing to hold law enforcement accountable and for dismissing cases against corporate polluters. Price stated, “I will be the district attorney who puts people first. I will go after corporate criminals and I will hold law enforcement officers accountable when they harm the residents of this county.”
Key Issues and Criticism
Price's campaign focuses on restoring public trust, addressing gun violence, and ensuring equal treatment under the law. She has positioned herself against what she perceives as the influence of wealthy interests in local politics, specifically targeting billionaire Philip Dreyfuss, who funded the recall campaign against her. Price asserted, “Today, we say no, Alameda County is not for sale.” However, her announcement was met with swift criticism. The group Save Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) labeled her return bid as “an insult to victims” and a “threat to public safety,” emphasizing that crime rates have begun to decline since her removal.
Official Statements & Responses
In response to Price's campaign, Jones Dickson highlighted the challenges she inherited, including a backlog of over 2,000 cases. She stated, “Former District Attorney Pamela Price was recalled by 63% of Alameda County voters. She’s welcome to make the case...that they were wrong.” Critics, including victims' rights advocate Brenda Grisham, accused Price of prioritizing the rights of offenders over victims, asserting that “crime is finally going down because she’s gone.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “We need to show Donald Trump and his billionaire friends — whether they’re in Washington or Piedmont — that justice is not for sale in Alameda County.” — Pamela Price, Former District Attorney
- “When our DA refuses to look at cases we know were infected with racism and antisemitism, she is holding hands with racists and antisemites,” — Pamela Price
- “welcome to make the case, less than a year after that recall, that they were wrong. I trust the judgment of Alameda County voters.” — Ursula Jones Dickson, Current District Attorney
- “Our seniors were attacked, our businesses terrorized, and our community lived in fear. Since the recall, crime is finally falling. Her comeback attempt is dangerous, and we will fight it.” — Carl Chan, Oakland Chinatown Leader
What's Next
As the 2026 election approaches, Price's campaign is expected to draw significant attention amid ongoing national debates surrounding public safety and the role of progressive prosecutors. The outcome will likely reflect broader sentiments about criminal justice reform in the region and the effectiveness of Price's previous policies.
