Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan took fire from members of his own party, as tensions erupted during the May 7 meeting of the Alameda County Democratic Party Central Committee. Former District Attorney Pamela Price, joined by unsuccessful mayoral candidate Vinnie Bacon, introduced a motion to censure Salwan, accusing him of defying core Democratic values. Though the motion failed in a lopsided 27-4 vote, it ignited a fierce intra-party battle that exposed deep divisions over homelessness policy and political loyalty.
At the heart of the clash is Salwan’s support for Fremont’s controversial Camping Ordinance, which bans unhoused residents from camping or storing belongings on public property. The ordinance originally included a clause that outlawed “aiding and abetting” encampments—language that sparked outrage from advocacy groups and civil rights attorneys.
Price, in her censure motion, called the policy “completely antithetical to the values and platform of the California Democratic Party.” The aiding and abetting clause was later removed in March, but that rollback hasn’t satisfied Price, who remains unconvinced that Salwan aligns with the party’s principles.
“The policy in Fremont adopted under his leadership is abhorrent,” Price said in an interview. “When we have a member who goes against what we believe, that member should be called out.”
Price’s motion also pointed to the Central Committee’s January 8 vote “overwhelmingly” opposing the Camping Ordinance. Beyond homelessness issues, the document accuses Salwan of a pattern of defiance, including backing candidates not endorsed by the party and supporting Price’s own recall last November. According to the committee’s bylaws, repeated support for non-endorsed candidates is grounds for expulsion under Article II, Section 11(a).
Despite the heated rhetoric and detailed charges, Price’s effort to formally censure Salwan hit a wall. Committee members rejected the motion by a wide margin. Salwan, in an attempt to defend his honor, took to social media days before the meeting, accusing party leaders of “focus[ing] on performative censures rather than governing and results.”
He later called the censure effort political score-settling: revenge by Price for his support of her recall and by Bacon for losing the 2024 mayoral race. Salwan received 11,327 more votes than Bacon in the November election, a margin of almost 15% of the vote.
“Hopefully, the people who brought this motion to the floor got the message it’s a new day in the local Democratic Party, and their colleagues are not here for the politics and performances, they’re here to improve people’s lives the best they can,” Salwan said.
The censure attempt reflects a larger unrest among local Democrats. At recent Fremont City Council meetings, community members have raised concerns about the council’s fidelity to Democratic values. Offering what he hopes are soothing words, Salwan insists he remains focused on progress.
“I’ll continue focusing on results—cleaner streets, safer neighborhoods, affordable housing, reducing homelessness, and bringing people together to get things done for Fremont residents,” he said.
