Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Neptune to Launch a Creator-First, Customizable Algorithm Social Platform to Rival TikTok

21 hours ago

Kamala Harris Will Not Run for Governor of California in 2026

22 hours ago

Trump Pushes for Release of Epstein, Maxwell Grand Jury Testimony

24 hours ago

Trump Says US to Hit India With 25% Tariff Starting Friday

1 day ago

Tariff Revenues Hit Record $150 Billion Amid Trump’s Trade Talks, Fox Business Reports

1 day ago

Israeli Minister Hints at Annexing Parts of Gaza

1 day ago

Fed Likely to Hold Rates Steady Despite Trump’s Push for Big Cuts

1 day ago

What’s Behind California’s Frozen Housing Market?

2 days ago

Marjorie Taylor Greene Is First Republican Lawmaker to Call Gaza Crisis a ‘Genocide’

2 days ago
2020 Fresno Mayoral Poll: Police Chief and Janz Lead Brand
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
April 26, 2019

Share

An exclusive GV Wire mayoral poll in advance of the 2020 election finds Police Chief Jerry Dyer and Fresno County Deputy District Attorney Andrew Janz faring well in potential match-ups with incumbent Lee Brand.
GV Wire asked 300 likely voters who they would choose among two high-profile potential candidates —Dyer and Janz — and Brand, who is seeking re-election.
Dyer is preferred in a three-way race, with Janz a close second. Janz holds an edge in a one-on-one matchup against Brand.

The Candidates

Thanks to the Fresno City Council last year removing time limits for fundraising, Brand has amassed a six-figure campaign chest. Through the end of 2018, the latest reporting date, Brand raised more than $445,000.
Janz has publicly stated that he is considering a mayoral bid. In 2018, he gave Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) his most competitive election, raising millions in the process. Nunes prevailed, winning 52.7% of the vote.
Janz’s showing raised his name recognition among city voters — 51% of Fresno’s registered voters are in the 22nd congressional district.
“I haven’t decided whether I’m running for mayor. But this poll tells us what we already know — Fresno is ready for a change,” Janz said.
Dyer is scheduled to retire as Fresno police chief in October after 18 years. A public search for his successor is underway. He would not commit to extending his public career.
“I do not know what the future holds for me, other than finishing strong as the police chief,” Dyer said. “These are certainly interesting numbers, but it is simply a poll.  The decision for me to run for political office in the future would not be based on a poll, but rather a calling.”
Brand declined GV Wire’s request for comment.

The Poll

In the poll, Dyer received 31%, Janz 26%, Brand 18%, “some other Democrat” 15% and “some other Republican” 10% support.

Minus the generic options, Dyer garnered 39%, Janz 37%, and Brand 24% support.

In a runoff scenario between Janz and Brand, poll takers chose Janz with 53%. That included one-third of Republicans crossing over for Janz. Thirty percent of Democrats said they would vote for Brand.

GV Wire developed the poll, conducted by Focus Vision — an international market research company with an office in Fresno. Respondents answered an online survey April 8-16.
The poll has a margin of error of +/- 6%.

The Demographics

Although the mayoral position is nonpartisan, political affiliations are important to many voters. Brand and Dyer are Republicans; Janz is a Democrat. Also, Dyer does not live in the city of Fresno, despite serving as its police chief. To run, he would need to move within the city limits 30 days prior to filing, which would be approximately December 2019.
Other potential candidates, according to Fresno political watchers, include former councilman and supervisor Henry R. Perea and current councilwoman Esmeralda Soria.

Brand Finished Strong in 2016

In the 2016 mayoral race, early polls showed Brand trailing, and during the June primary, Perea earned 45% of the vote to Brand’s 31%.
However, Brand rallied to edge Perea, receiving 51% of the vote.
The most recent figures from the county clerk show 245,776 registered voters in the city: 41% Democrats, 28% Republican, 26% no party preference. The remainder are registered with other parties.

March Primary

The mayoral primary is March 3, 2020, less than 11 months away. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a runoff would take place in November.
Since Fresno held its first election under the strong mayor format in 1996, no incumbent has lost when running for a second term.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Mexico Trade Deal Extended for 90 Days

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Nathaniel Smith

DON'T MISS

Judges Question Whether Trump Tariffs Are Authorized by Emergency Powers

DON'T MISS

US Treasury Chief Says He Expects Fed Chair Announcement by Year’s End

DON'T MISS

Fresno Illustrator Debuts as Author With Gamer’s ‘100 First Words’ Children’s Book

DON'T MISS

The Trump Presidency Takes a Better Turn

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Killed in Hit-and-Run, Suspect Vehicle Located

DON'T MISS

Wall Street Jumps as Microsoft Enters $4 Trillion Club After Results

DON'T MISS

Community and Saint Agnes Named Among Best Regional Hospitals

DON'T MISS

US Navy Jet Crashes in Fresno County Field. Pilot ‘Safe’ After Ejecting

UP NEXT

Fresno Illustrator Debuts as Author With Gamer’s ‘100 First Words’ Children’s Book

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Killed in Hit-and-Run, Suspect Vehicle Located

UP NEXT

Community and Saint Agnes Named Among Best Regional Hospitals

UP NEXT

US Navy Jet Crashes in Fresno County Field. Pilot ‘Safe’ After Ejecting

UP NEXT

Madera Man Sentenced to 34 Years to Life in Fresno Murder Case

UP NEXT

Visalia Suspect in Fatal Assault and Serial Sexual Battery Cases Arrested in Alaska

UP NEXT

Costa Blasts GOP Over Medi-Cal Cuts. His 2026 Opponent Defends Them

UP NEXT

Could Madera Poach Stalled Costco? It’d Be ‘a Significant Financial Blow,’ Says Dyer

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Arrest Eight at DUI Checkpoint

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Navpreet Singh

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

US Treasury Chief Says He Expects Fed Chair Announcement by Year’s End

2 hours ago

Fresno Illustrator Debuts as Author With Gamer’s ‘100 First Words’ Children’s Book

2 hours ago

The Trump Presidency Takes a Better Turn

2 hours ago

Fresno Man Killed in Hit-and-Run, Suspect Vehicle Located

2 hours ago

Wall Street Jumps as Microsoft Enters $4 Trillion Club After Results

2 hours ago

Community and Saint Agnes Named Among Best Regional Hospitals

3 hours ago

US Navy Jet Crashes in Fresno County Field. Pilot ‘Safe’ After Ejecting

14 hours ago

Madera Man Sentenced to 34 Years to Life in Fresno Murder Case

17 hours ago

High Noon Recalls Mislabeled Vodka Seltzers Shipped in Celsius Cans, NBC Reports

18 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: New Fresno Ordinance Targets Vacant Blighted Properties

18 hours ago

Trump Says Mexico Trade Deal Extended for 90 Days

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had agreed with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to extend an existing trade deal...

1 hour ago

President Donald Trump speaks with Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, during the "Making Health Technology Great Again" event in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 30, 2025. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)
1 hour ago

Trump Says Mexico Trade Deal Extended for 90 Days

Nathaniel Smith is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for July 31, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
2 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Nathaniel Smith

President Donald Trump speaks after signing the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 30, 2025. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)
2 hours ago

Judges Question Whether Trump Tariffs Are Authorized by Emergency Powers

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attends a press conference at government quarters Rosenbad after the trade talks between the U.S. and China concluded, in Stockholm, Sweden, July 29, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

US Treasury Chief Says He Expects Fed Chair Announcement by Year’s End

2 hours ago

Fresno Illustrator Debuts as Author With Gamer’s ‘100 First Words’ Children’s Book

2 hours ago

The Trump Presidency Takes a Better Turn

2 hours ago

Fresno Man Killed in Hit-and-Run, Suspect Vehicle Located

2 hours ago

Wall Street Jumps as Microsoft Enters $4 Trillion Club After Results

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend