Sacramento, CA (May 25, 2023) - Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced that he would not seek a third term as Mayor of Sacramento Thursday. Here is what community members have been saying about the announcement:

U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui:

“Mayor Darrell Steinberg is a champion of Sacramento, serving our community for over 25 years in the State Capitol and City Hall,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui. “He has dedicated his career to empowering every day Sacramentans – using his wealth of knowledge and determination to fight for Sacramento’s families and lift up our underserved communities. He has worked diligently to build up a robust and inclusive local economy while continuing to grow our city’s profile as an economic and cultural hub. Darrell has been a wonderful partner on the local level. He understands the importance of the partnership between the federal and local government to make things work for all Sacramentans. We share an unyielding love of Sacramento and its people, and I am fortunate to call him a good friend. His work will impact our great city for many years to come, and I thank him for his tireless public service to our community.”

Former City Councilmember and State Sen. Angelique Ashby:

“Darrell Steinberg has spent more than half of his life in service to the people of Sacramento. It’s hard to think of anyone who has dominated local politics more than: Councilmember, Assemblymember, Senator, Mayor Steinberg. He’s an absolute force of nature. I know first-hand how tough he is to beat in an election. I couldn’t do it. But I also know how hard he works, because I’ve had the opportunity to be his partner for many years on a variety of large efforts across our region - including leading during a pandemic.

*Mayor Steinberg attends the swearing in of former Council colleague Angelique Ashby as Sacramento’s new state senator.*

He wears his heart on his sleeve. I’ve seen him cry with the mother of a fallen officer, sit with the family of a person experiencing homelessness, listen carefully to members of our community who feel left behind, and I’ve watched him take an impossible conflict between opponents and mediate to consensus.

Mayor Steinberg was given some tough years to serve as our mayor. He has not complained. Instead, he dug in and gave this City everything he had to offer. And along the way he has inspired a tremendous number of people to get involved, to participate and to serve. His legacy will not be as simple as a building, or a region - rather it is woven through the works of every person that he has helped, encouraged, or mentored and every project that he has championed, funded or led. They are far too numerous to list, but it is fair to say that Darrell Steinberg has been a titan of leadership for Sacramento, and we are all beneficiaries of his talent, tenacity, and intellect.

I have no doubt that his next chapter of life will be dutifully spent in service to others, using all the skills he has accrued to make meaningful progress on some of our state’s most persistent concerns.”

City Manager Howard Chan

“Sometimes cities elect the right leader for the right time; Mayor Steinberg has been that leader for Sacramento. For the past six-plus years, he has used his unique skill set and relentless compassion to guide our city through events both challenging and historic. When the City needed more funding for public safety and community services, it was the Mayor who had the vision to develop and champion the second Measure U sales tax. When we were faced with a global pandemic, it was the Mayor who developed the financial framework to quickly disperse over $200 million in federal resources to our neighborhoods and businesses.

I am incredibly grateful for the close partnership we have developed over the years. Together with the Council, we have led the city through unprecedented crises. Truth is, I would not have been able to do my job as city manager without the Mayor’s support and mentorship. If there is one constant with Mayor Steinberg, it is his unwavering commitment to doing right by his city. During his latest tenure at City Hall, he has remained accessible, accountable, authentic and always on the side of Sacramentans. You often will hear constituents refer to the Mayor simply as ‘Darrell.’ That means he is on a first-name basis with people who feel they truly know him and can speak directly and honestly with him. I can’t think of a higher praise -- or better legacy -- for a leader than that.”

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty

“Mayor Steinberg has dedicated decades of his life to improving the lives of all Sacramentans. Despite historic adversities and intense pressure, he has guided our city with the utmost distinction and grace. As Mayor, he delivered significant results that will benefit Sacramento for generations to come.”

Vice Mayor Eric Guerra, City of Sacramento:

*Mayor Steinberg and Vice Mayor Eric Guerra show their Republic pride*

“Since Mayor Steinberg was president of the Tahoe Park Neighborhood Association, I have known his commitment to advocate for our neighborhoods. With his partnership we have been able to bring a regional economic driver like Aggie Square to our region and a diverse pipeline of housing options to Stockton Boulevard. It’s been a pleasure to serve along side him and we look forward to more work ahead.”

Mai Vang, Mayor Pro Tempore, City of Sacramento:

“For three decades, Mayor Darrell Steinberg has dedicated his live to serving a city that we both love dearly. I have seen first-hand his commitment and thoughtful decision-making process in addressing the needs of our residents. From prioritizing mental health statewide, to increasing local investments in youth services, to his commitment in addressing racial inequities serving alongside me as Co-Chair of the Racial Equity Committee – I am grateful for Mayor Steinberg’s leadership over the years in bringing people together that may not always align to address our toughest challenges in the region.”

*Mayor Steinberg with his City Council colleagues in 2023*

Councilmember Rick Jennings, City of Sacramento:
“I have been witness to Darrell’s passion and commitment to Sacramento not only during his time as our City’s Mayor bit also during his service to our community on the City Council, in the State Assembly and State Senate. He has always put our community and service to others above self. While he may not have been born in Sacramento, he is Sacramento through and through and we have benefitted from his commitment and passion. It has been my privilege and honor to serve with my friend these past seven years and I look forward to finding out what his next chapter of community service will look like.”

Former State Sen. Richard Pan, MD:

“It’s been an honor to partner with Mayor Steinberg to build a more vibrant Sacramento. From our time in the Legislature working to save the Kings, to being a legislative partner for his mayoral successes in breaking ground on Aggie Square, building our new Courthouse and securing Centene’s California headquarters in Natomas, I thank Darrell for his unwavering commitment to and love for our City.”

Gary May, Chancellor, UC Davis:

“Mayor Steinberg is a forward-thinking leader who has helped build a stronger future for Sacramento. As part of our shared vision for Aggie Square, Mayor Steinberg has been a true partner with the university in implementing a vision for the region that actively engages local residents, provides job opportunities, and adds economic benefits and programs for generations to come. To my friend and partner, you are an exemplary leader committed to helping the community thrive beyond measure. It's an honor to be on this journey with you to help create a brighter tomorrow.”

Jonathan Porteus, CEO, WellSpace Health:

“Darrell Steinberg has transformed Sacramento. The capacity of our community to engage in open dialogue and agree or disagree with policy of direction is a testament to his capacity to foster civic discourse. If I must limit my comment to one significant initiative elucidating Mayor Steinberg’s leadership I would point to his first year in office when he single-handedly brought the Whole Person Care initiative to Sacramento, despite the fact it was not intended to a be a city-led initiative. As a result, this highly impactful program brought tens of millions of dollars into our communities for social services and set the stage for an astonishing re-engineering of the statewide Medi-Cal program in the form of CalAIM. Darrell Steinberg has given us tools and opportunities - it is up to us to choose to use them.”

Richard Lewis, Executive Director (Ret.), Broadway Sacramento:

Recognizing the crucial role Sacramento’s arts organizations play in enriching the city’s culture, Mayor Steinberg said he’d support the Creative Economy, and he’s repeatedly made good on that promise. When Covid hit and arts groups had to suspend their programming, losing their primary revenue streams, the mayor directed funds to support their ongoing operations. He literally saved many arts organizations, including Broadway Sacramento!

*Sacramento Republic FC owner Kevin Nagle (far left) with Mayor Steinberg and Republic General Manager Todd Dunivant*

Todd Dunivant, President & General Manager, Sacramento Republic FC:

“Congratulations, Mayor Steinberg on a tremendous run leading our indomitable city. Your steadfast support of Republic FC and our shared vision of a downtown stadium is something our club, and the entire city, will be eternally grateful for in the generations to come. Thank you for your humility, for your leadership, and for all the sacrifices you have made for the benefit of Sacramento. We appreciate you and we salute you.”

Rachel Rios, Executive Director, La Familia Counseling Center:

“We have been incredibly grateful for Mayor Steinberg’s leadership and his inclusiveness to address the needs of all Sacramentans. He has led Sacramento through some challenging times and his work to shed light on mental health issues has helped not just Sacramento but all of California. La Familia’s Opportunity Center could not have been a reality without his support and we are extremely grateful.”

Emily Baime Michaels, Midtown Association:

“Midtown Association is incredibly grateful for the continued partnership we have had with Mayor Steinberg over the last seven years. When the COVID-19 pandemic brought small businesses in our city to the brink of disaster, city leadership under the mayor helped to develop a brand new al fresco dining program, providing opportunities for bars and restaurants to keep their doors open. Further, the mayor was instrumental in helping provide financial support to keep Midtown’s streets clean and safe and invest in our local artists through ARPA funding and relaunching Second Saturday. Finally, the Mayor has brought fundamental policies forward to address the homelessness crisis, which led to the creation of the Emergency Shelter & Enforcement Act, as well as the subsequent City and County Partnership.”

Josh Wood, CEO, Region Business:

“Darrell Steinberg has demonstrated himself time and again as a pro-business Mayor who fought for Sacramento with incredible political skills and sincere compassion for his fellow Sacramentans. He led our City through troubled times and held us together with values that created tangible results in people’s lives.

We are proud to have partnered with him on Measure O and establishing the Measure O partnership agreement to fund homeless services. Mayor Steinberg has also been a champion of local small business. He worked closely with us on saving as many restaurants as possible during COVID and fire closures. Additionally, he established the largest local banking program in the nation, which helped put commercial loans into disadvantaged communities.

He will be remembered as a great mayor and will be dearly missed. That said, we will cheer him on and continue to partner with him closely as he leads our city forward on the important issues of our time.”

Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO:

“Mayor Steinberg's legacy will forever be intertwined with the successes of the organized labor movement in Sacramento. His collaborative approach and tireless efforts have fostered an environment of cooperation and dialogue, enabling workers and employers to find common ground and forge mutually beneficial solutions. Through his leadership, Mayor Steinberg has reaffirmed the indispensable role that unions play in shaping a fair and equitable society.

As we bid farewell to Mayor Darrell Steinberg's tenure, the Sacramento Central Labor Council AFL-CIO stands ready to build upon the progress made under his guidance. We are committed to working closely with the next administration to ensure that the interests and well-being of workers remain a top priority.

The Sacramento Central Labor Council AFL-CIO extends its deepest gratitude to Mayor Darrell Steinberg for his unwavering support and advocacy for organized labor. We salute his remarkable contributions and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.”

Kevin Ferreira, Executive Director, Sacramento-Sierra Building and Construction Trades Council (SBCTC):

“Mayor Steinberg has been a champion for blue collar workers. Creating good construction jobs with living wages and benefits and opening up career pathways in union apprenticeships. He will be greatly missed by the Building Trades when he finishes his tenure as our City’s mayor.”

Cathy Rodriguez Aguirre, President & CEO, Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

“Mayor Steinberg ensured that voices that had long been ignored were heard. When the opportunity came to invest in small business, he successfully advocated for funding not just for those in our central city but also for those in our diverse corridors. His actions acknowledged the economic contributions being made by our Latino-owned and minority-owned businesses. His tenure has been about creating an inclusive economy that provides access to opportunities that lead towards prosperity for all. Mayor Steinberg has been a champion for all of Sacramento.”

Mayor Steinberg with Azizza Davis Goins, president of the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce (left0; Pat Fong Kushida, CEO of the Sacramento and California Asian Chambers of Commerce (near right); and Cathy Rodriguez Aguirre, president and CEO of the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Pat Fong Kushida, President & CEO, Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce

“Mayor Steinberg has been a tireless champion for our undeserved communities of Sacramento. Working with Mayor Steinberg on inclusive economic development priorities has been an honor and a privilege. His commitment that Sacramento’s minority small businesses have a voice and the necessary resources to start, retain, and grow their businesses resulted in the formation of the Sacramento Inclusive Economic Development Collaborative (SacIEDC) made up of our regional and ethnic chambers, and business improvement district entities all working side by side. The collaborative worked tirelessly to help our minority small business community survive during the pandemic, and post pandemic the work continues.”