MassVoter.com← CambridgeMunicipal votes · 2026–2027 Council
Cambridge City Council
How the Cambridge City Council voted, from the City Clerk's official minutes. 9 councillors, all elected citywide by ranked-choice (proportional representation) voting; the council elects one of them Mayor. Sworn in January 5, 2026. Mayor: Sumbul Siddiqui; Vice Mayor (the minutes say Vice Chair): Burhan Azeem; both elected at the inaugural meeting after councillors changed their first-ballot votes. Ayah Al-Zubi and Timothy Flaherty joined the council; Paul Toner and Ayesha Wilson left. Final Actions are posted through October 5, 2026; the full minutes run through June 1, 2026. The end date (January 2028) is a placeholder for the next inauguration. Covers 25 meetings so far, January 5 to October 5, 2026.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the City Council do? It is the city’s lawmaking body. It passes local laws (ordinances), votes on the yearly budget, and approves borrowing and zoning changes.
The council hires the city manager, who runs the city day to day and proposes the budget.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 44 § 32 (city budgets)Your Cambridge ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Vote Transparency Score
Cambridge City Council: 9 out of 10 · Open
How easy Cambridge makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the city’s records, not any official. Checked October 10, 2026.
- Minutes postedAn official record of votes is posted for nearly every meeting more than three months old.Full points: 2/2
- Each vote namedWhen councillors split, the record lists how each one voted.Full points: 3/3
- Posted quicklyMost recent meetings have an official record posted, but two do not.Part points: 1/2
- Past years onlineCity Council records going back to 2002 are online.Full points: 1/1
- Readable textThe records are text you can search and copy.Full points: 1/1
- Member photosThe city’s website shows a named photo of each councillor.Full points: 1/1
How the city can raise its score
- Posted quickly (+1): Post minutes within 30 days. If approval takes longer, post a draft marked “Draft – not yet approved” and replace it later.
How we score · Something wrong, or has the city made a change? Email info@massvoter.com and we’ll re-check.
A monthly email on its votes, starting in November. We'll also tell you if this score changes.
Council sessions
Coming up
- Mon, Oct 19 · 5:30 pmRegular City Council Meeting →
- Mon, Oct 26 · 4:00 pmCity Council Joint Roundtable/Working Meeting with the Cambridge School Committee →
- Mon, Oct 26 · 5:30 pmRegular City Council Meeting-CANCELLED →
- Thu, Oct 29 · 5:15 pmFamily Policy Council Meeting →
- Mon, Nov 2 · 5:30 pmRegular City Council Meeting →
- Mon, Nov 9 · 5:30 pmRegular City Council Meeting →
From the agendas Cambridge posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
Councilors
MayorSumbul SiddiquiMayor · At-large · at 25 of 25 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Vice MayorBurhan AzeemVice Mayor · At-large · at 25 of 25 meetings
Ayah Al-ZubiCouncillor · At-large · at 24 of 25 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Timothy FlahertyCouncillor · At-large · at 25 of 25 meetings
Marc McGovernCouncillor · At-large · at 24 of 25 meetings
Patricia NolanCouncillor · At-large · at 23 of 25 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Denise SimmonsCouncillor · At-large · at 25 of 25 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Jivan Sobrinho-WheelerCouncillor · At-large · at 25 of 25 meetings
Catherine ZusyCouncillor · At-large · at 24 of 25 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the roll call at the start of each meeting in this record. Councilors who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Attendance
25 full-board meetings so far this year, through October 5. Ties share a rank.
1Burhan Azeem25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Timothy Flaherty25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Sumbul Siddiqui25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Denise Simmons25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%6Ayah Al-Zubi24 of 25 meetings96%6Marc McGovern24 of 25 meetings96%6Catherine Zusy24 of 25 meetings96%9Patricia Nolan23 of 25 meetings92%41 full-board meetings in 2025. Ties share a rank.
1Patricia Nolan41 of 41 meetings Every meeting100%2Sumbul Siddiqui40 of 41 meetings98%2Catherine Zusy40 of 41 meetings98%4Marc McGovern39 of 41 meetings95%4Denise Simmons39 of 41 meetings95%4Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler39 of 41 meetings95%4Paul Toner39 of 41 meetings95%8Burhan Azeem38 of 41 meetings93%9Ayesha Wilson36 of 41 meetings88%37 full-board meetings in 2024. Ties share a rank.
1Marc McGovern37 of 37 meetings Every meeting100%1Patricia Nolan37 of 37 meetings Every meeting100%1Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler37 of 37 meetings Every meeting100%1Ayesha Wilson37 of 37 meetings Every meeting100%1Catherine Zusy13 of 13 meetings · served from Sep Every meeting100%6Sumbul Siddiqui36 of 37 meetings97%6Paul Toner36 of 37 meetings97%8Joan Pickett21 of 22 meetings · served until Aug95%9Denise Simmons35 of 37 meetings95%10Burhan Azeem34 of 37 meetings92%35 full-board meetings in 2023. Ties share a rank.
1Paul Toner35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%1Quinton Zondervan35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%3Burhan Azeem34 of 35 meetings97%3Dennis Carlone34 of 35 meetings97%3Alanna Mallon34 of 35 meetings97%3Sumbul Siddiqui34 of 35 meetings97%3Denise Simmons34 of 35 meetings97%8Marc McGovern33 of 35 meetings94%9Patricia Nolan31 of 35 meetings89%35 full-board meetings in 2022. Ties share a rank.
1Burhan Azeem35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%1Dennis Carlone35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%1Alanna Mallon35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%1Patricia Nolan35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%1Denise Simmons35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%1Paul Toner35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%1Quinton Zondervan35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%8Marc McGovern34 of 35 meetings97%8Sumbul Siddiqui34 of 35 meetings97%40 full-board meetings in 2021. Ties share a rank.
1Alanna Mallon40 of 40 meetings Every meeting100%1Patricia Nolan40 of 40 meetings Every meeting100%1Sumbul Siddiqui40 of 40 meetings Every meeting100%1Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler40 of 40 meetings Every meeting100%5Dennis Carlone39 of 40 meetings98%5Marc McGovern39 of 40 meetings98%5Quinton Zondervan39 of 40 meetings98%8Denise Simmons38 of 40 meetings95%8Timothy Toomey38 of 40 meetings95%46 full-board meetings in 2020. Ties share a rank.
1Sumbul Siddiqui46 of 46 meetings Every meeting100%1Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler46 of 46 meetings Every meeting100%1Timothy Toomey46 of 46 meetings Every meeting100%1Quinton Zondervan46 of 46 meetings Every meeting100%5Alanna Mallon45 of 46 meetings98%5Patricia Nolan45 of 46 meetings98%5Denise Simmons45 of 46 meetings98%8Dennis Carlone44 of 46 meetings96%8Marc McGovern44 of 46 meetings96%35 full-board meetings in 2019. Ties share a rank.
1Dennis Carlone35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%1Marc McGovern35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%1Denise Simmons35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%1Timothy Toomey35 of 35 meetings Every meeting100%5Jan Devereux34 of 35 meetings97%5Alanna Mallon34 of 35 meetings97%5Sumbul Siddiqui34 of 35 meetings97%8Craig Kelley33 of 35 meetings94%8Quinton Zondervan33 of 35 meetings94%32 full-board meetings in 2018. Ties share a rank.
1Alanna Mallon32 of 32 meetings Every meeting100%1Marc McGovern32 of 32 meetings Every meeting100%1Sumbul Siddiqui32 of 32 meetings Every meeting100%1Denise Simmons32 of 32 meetings Every meeting100%1Quinton Zondervan32 of 32 meetings Every meeting100%6Dennis Carlone31 of 32 meetings97%6Jan Devereux31 of 32 meetings97%6Timothy Toomey31 of 32 meetings97%9Craig Kelley29 of 32 meetings91%From the official minutes: full-board meetings only (committee meetings are not counted). Members are counted only for meetings held while they served, and arriving late counts as attending. The minutes rarely say why a member was absent.
A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: every full City Council meeting with a posted record from January 1, 2018 through October 5, 2026 (326 meetings: regular and special meetings, the inaugural meetings, and roundtables and public hearings where the council took a recorded vote). Committee meetings, the Special Committee of the Whole, the City Clerk screening committee and executive sessions are not loaded. The votes come from the City Clerk’s “Final Actions”, which give the result of each agenda item and, for roll calls, list the councillors under YEAS, NAYS, PRESENT and ABSENT. When those lists account for every councillor at the meeting, MassVoter shows each councillor’s vote (“present” votes are shown as present; councillors listed absent are left out of that vote). When the names and the printed count disagree, a councillor is listed twice, or a named councillor is not on the meeting’s attendance list, MassVoter shows the count only and adds a note. Results written with no count (“ORDER ADOPTED”, common in 2018 and 2019) and voice votes (written “VV9”) show the result only; MassVoter never assumes a vote was unanimous. “Affirmative vote of nine members” with nine councillors present is shown as each voting yes. Items only placed on file, referred, tabled or delayed by a Charter Right with no recorded vote are not listed. Resolutions (congratulations, condolences) and communications from the public that the Final Actions record one after another with the same result and the same roll call are listed as one vote, with a note naming the items. For 17 meetings in 2020 and 2021 the posted Final Actions file holds the meeting transcript instead of the results, for four others its text cannot be read, and for three 2019 meetings no Final Actions were posted; for those, the votes are read from the city’s iQM2 meeting page and each item’s vote record. The elections of the Mayor and Vice Mayor at the inaugural meetings come from the minutes and show the result only, with a note quoting the ballots. Not here: the January 6, 2020 and January 3, 2022 inaugural meetings and a few 2018, 2019 and 2022 special meetings and hearings, for which the city has posted no Final Actions or minutes, and the June 23 and August 6, 2026 meetings (not yet posted). The council’s narrative minutes (posted through June 1, 2026) also record procedural roll calls, such as closing public comment, that are not in the Final Actions; those are not loaded. We will ask the City Clerk about each noted vote.
Votes where councilors disagreed
Most council votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one councilor voted no or abstained, newest first.
Oct 5Postponing the roll out of the Outer Huron Bike…Motion: Adopted as Amended by Substitution [6-3-0]Passed 6–3 · No: Flaherty, Simmons, Zusy
October 5, 2026: Postponing the roll out of the Outer Huron Bike Lanes from the Bicycle Safety Ordinance until we solve the parking problem.
Adopted as Amended by Substitution [6-3-0]
Yes: Al-Zubi, Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-WheelerNo: Flaherty, Simmons, Zusy
From the minutes
“RESULT: Adopted as Amended by Substitution [6-3-0] YEAS: Councillor Al-Zubi, Vice Mayor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui NAYS: Councillor Flaherty, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zusy PRESENT: None ABSENT: None.”
Oct 5That the City Manager is requested to confer with…Motion: Adopted as Amended [8-0-1-0]Passed 8–0 · Abstained: Flaherty
October 5, 2026: That the City Manager is requested to confer with the relevant staff and departments to implement the recommendations following the May 2025 Human Services & Veterans Committee meeting, such as...
Adopted as Amended [8-0-1-0]
Yes: Al-Zubi, Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, ZusyAbstained: Flaherty
From the minutes
“RESULT: Adopted as Amended [8-0-1-0] YEAS: Councillor Al-Zubi, Vice Mayor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Siddiqui NAYS: None PRESENT: Councillor Flaherty ABSENT: None.”
Oct 5Resolutions adopted together (2 resolutions, RES 2026-137 to RES…Motion: Adopted [8-0-1]Passed 8–0 · see note
October 5, 2026: Resolutions adopted together (2 resolutions, RES 2026-137 to RES 2026-138)
Adopted [8-0-1]
Yes: Al-Zubi, Azeem, Flaherty, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, ZusyThe Final Actions record the same result and vote for each of these 2 resolutions (RES 2026-137, RES 2026-138); MassVoter lists them as one vote. Marc McGovern is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: Adopted [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Al-Zubi, Vice Mayor Azeem, Councillor Flaherty, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Siddiqui NAYS: None PRESENT: None ABSENT: Councillor McGovern.”
Oct 5Resolutions adopted together (4 resolutions, RES 2026-139 to RES…Motion: Adopted [9-0-0]Passed Unanimous, 9 present · see note
October 5, 2026: Resolutions adopted together (4 resolutions, RES 2026-139 to RES 2026-142)
Adopted [9-0-0]
The Final Actions record the same result and vote for each of these 4 resolutions (RES 2026-139, RES 2026-140, RES 2026-141, RES 2026-142); MassVoter lists them as one vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: Adopted [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Al-Zubi, Vice Mayor Azeem, Councillor Flaherty, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Siddiqui NAYS: None PRESENT: None ABSENT: None.”
Sep 28A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative…Motion: ORDER 1A ADOPTED [8-0-1]Passed 8–0 · see note
September 28, 2026 (Special meeting): A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the FY27 tax rate. FINALIZED IN COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 28, 2026
ORDER 1A ADOPTED [8-0-1]
The Final Actions name Marc McGovern in this vote, but that councillor is not on the attendance list for the meeting. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER 1A ADOPTED [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Al-Zubi, Vice Mayor Azeem, Councillor Flaherty, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Siddiqui NAYS: None PRESENT: None ABSENT: Councillor Simmons.”
Sep 28A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative…Motion: ORDER 1B ADOPTED [9-0-0]Passed 9–0 · see note
September 28, 2026 (Special meeting): A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the FY27 tax rate. FINALIZED IN COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 28, 2026
ORDER 1B ADOPTED [9-0-0]
The Final Actions name Marc McGovern in this vote, but that councillor is not on the attendance list for the meeting. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER 1B ADOPTED [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Al-Zubi, Vice Mayor Azeem, Councillor Flaherty, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Siddiqui NAYS: None PRESENT: None ABSENT: None.”
Sep 28City Council opposition to H.R. 8870 and Increases in…Motion: Adopted [VV9]Passed · see note
September 28, 2026: City Council opposition to H.R. 8870 and Increases in Federal Truck Size and Weight Limits
Adopted [VV9]
The Final Actions record a voice vote ("VV9") without saying how each councillor voted, so MassVoter shows the result only.
Sep 28That the regular City Council meeting scheduled for Monday,…Motion: Adopted [VV9]Passed · see note
September 28, 2026: That the regular City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, October 26, 2026, be and hereby is canceled.
Adopted [VV9]
The Final Actions record a voice vote ("VV9") without saying how each councillor voted, so MassVoter shows the result only.
Sep 28That the City Council hold a joint Roundtable/Working Meeting…Motion: Adopted [VV9]Passed · see note
September 28, 2026: That the City Council hold a joint Roundtable/Working Meeting with the Cambridge School Committee on Monday, October 26, 2026, from 4:00–6:00 PM, to discuss the FY28 budget planning process and...
Adopted [VV9]
The Final Actions record a voice vote ("VV9") without saying how each councillor voted, so MassVoter shows the result only.
Sep 28That the City Council hold a Roundtable/Working Meeting on…Motion: Adopted [VV9]Passed · see note
September 28, 2026: That the City Council hold a Roundtable/Working Meeting on Monday, November 30, 2026, from 4:00–6:00 PM, to discuss the future uses of City-owned properties.
Adopted [VV9]
The Final Actions record a voice vote ("VV9") without saying how each councillor voted, so MassVoter shows the result only.
From the Cambridge City Council’s official Final Actions, posted by the City Clerk on the city’s meeting portal (and, for meetings before late January 2026, the Open Meeting Portal), linked from the City Council page. We check every vote against the councillors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Councillor photos: City of Cambridge (cambridgema.gov), from the official headshots on each councillor’s City Council page. Former councillors show initials.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →