Alameda County voters will choose among three candidates for district attorney in the June 2 primary election, a closely watched race that comes after the recall of the county’s first reform-minded district attorney and amid continuing debates over public safety and criminal justice reform.
The candidates are incumbent District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson, former District Attorney Pamela Price, and trial attorney and political newcomer Gopal Krishan.
If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the two leading candidates will advance to the general election in November.
Race, Recall, and Reform
Price was elected district attorney in 2022 as part of a national movement of progressive prosecutors who sought to reduce incarceration, increase police accountability, and address racial disparities in the criminal justice system. She made history as the first Black person and first Black woman elected as Alameda County district attorney.
Price drew strong support from families affected by police violence, but her tenure also generated significant opposition. Critics argued that some of her policies prioritized reform at the expense of public safety and support for crime victims. Others contended that her office struggled to effectively implement key initiatives, including the prosecution of Alameda police officers charged in the death of Oakland resident Mario Gonzalez.
In 2024, a recall campaign backed in part by Piedmont hedge fund manager Phillip Dreyfuss successfully removed Price from office. Following the recall, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors appointed Ursula Jones Dickson to fill the vacancy.
Jones Dickson, a former Superior Court judge and veteran prosecutor, has served as district attorney since her appointment in 2025.