Here on 55th Street, the candidates for mayor are more focused on napping, cuddling and playing than they are partisan bickering.

Let's go see your constituents.

Mary Owen, a 57 year old project manager whose 11 year old Shiba Inu Mimi is running, called the contest a much needed reprieve from the animosity shown in the nation's capital.

Well, Mimi is running for mayor of 55th Street.

Her campaign slogan is She'll bark when it matters.

You know, honestly, I think everyone just needs a little levity from this anxiety filled election season.

And so this has just been a pure joy for our neighborhood.

Just toe be out here and be talking with the constituents, having everybody tell us how they enjoy just seeing the dogs and the cats running this and it's been a lot of fun.

The 55th Street Merrill race started with one incumbent cat named Wally running unopposed, but a few cats and dogs pounced on the opportunity to make it competitive.

Kirsten Russell, a 49 year old photography teacher, has a 10 year old tabby, who jumped in the race with the campaign slogan Change Miao.

Well, we heard that, um, there was a cat called Wally, who was representing himself to be the mayor of 55th Street, and we decided that our cat Betty seemed Merrill and that maybe we needed a change on 55th Street and we thought, We just jump jump on in.

Russell's eight year old daughter, Maeve, will cast her ballot for Betty.

She's really good and she wants to crush the patriarchy, and so that's why I'm gonna vote for her.

She's awesome, Owen said.

It's a chance to share the importance of civic engagement and participation with kids.

That's right.

Well, we are having an election.

It's a ranked election, and we're making up ballots with all of the pets faces on it.

And our graphic artist neighbor Kelly, is making a ballot box.

And mostly we're teaching the kids about democracy and about, uh, fairness equity, you know, justice, And, uh, we're gonna have all the kids, make a choice, put it in the ballot box, have a little talk about democracy in our country and just, you know, and of course, candy because it's Halloween night.

Rachel Kattner, a 43 year old school librarian, put six year old Pitbull mix Macy on the ballot with the slogan.

Keep Oakland rough.

The amount of like pet puns that come out are just incredible.

And you just the way toe to really enjoy our neighborhood, enjoy your neighbors.