Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Jacksonville Mayor & City Council Election 2026

5 of 10

council seats up

6 contests

16 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Find a candidate

Mayor · 1 seat

James E. Bolden IIICandidate for Jacksonville mayor who says he has served the community as a leader, mentor and advocate.2sourced
Kevin ColeCandidate for Jacksonville mayor, listed on the Pulaski County ballot.1sourced
Jeff ElmoreIncumbentIncumbent Jacksonville mayor who spent 30 years in church ministry and owns two small businesses.2sourced

City Council Ward 1 Position 1 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 2 Position 1 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 3 Position 1 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 4 Position 1 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 5 Position 1 · 1 seat

Voters choose the mayor and one council seat (Position 1) in each of five wards. Today every Jacksonville voter votes on every seat; a ballot measure on Nov. 3 would limit each ward's two seats to that ward's voters.

2 notes on these statements

City Clerk-Treasurer Susan Davitt appears on the ballot for Ward 4, Position 1; the ballot lists her as City Clerk-Treasurer. Pulaski County Election Commission · Aug 24, 2026

Council Member Reedie Ray and Council Member Joy Kinman are listed on the ballot as council members. Pulaski County Election Commission · Aug 24, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Michael LaBronCouncilmember, Ward 3, Position 2; term ends 20285sourced Trenika McCoyCouncilmember, Ward 2, Position 2; term ends 20284sourced Katrina MimmsCouncilmember, Ward 5, Position 2; term ends 20284sourced Tanner RupleCouncilmember, Ward 1, Position 2; term ends 20284sourced Mary TwittyCouncilmember, Ward 4, Position 2; term ends 20284sourced

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesWard-only council elections, City contracts and purchasing oversight, Property condemnation and owner extensions Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Ward-only council elections

Where it standsA Nov. 3 referendum would have only each ward's residents elect that ward's two council members.

What's on the tableVoters decide the referendum; the next council would carry out whichever system passes.

The referendum would change the system so that only residents within a ward vote for the two council members from that ward. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · Sep 6, 2026
Organizers submitted enough signatures in early August to put the measure on the ballot. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · Sep 6, 2026
Mayor Jeff Elmore said he is remaining neutral on the referendum. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · Sep 6, 2026

City contracts and purchasing oversight

Where it standsA resolution on filing and keeping city contracts failed 4-5 in August after a dispute over a copier vendor change.

What's on the tableThe council will decide whether to set a policy on how contracts are filed and when purchases need its approval.

Resolution 858 would establish a policy for the filing, retention and administration of city contracts, with centralized maintenance of executed contracts. Jacksonville City Council minutes, August 6, 2026 · Aug 6, 2026
Mayor Jeff Elmore said the threshold for council approval is over $42,000, and purchases through state contract do not need council approval. Jacksonville City Council minutes, August 6, 2026 · Aug 6, 2026
City Clerk Susan Davitt told the council that directors are not turning in contracts, leases and deeds they are supposed to. Jacksonville City Council minutes, August 6, 2026 · Aug 6, 2026
Resolution 858 failed on a roll call, with four members voting yes and five voting no. Jacksonville City Council minutes, August 6, 2026 · Aug 6, 2026

Property condemnation and owner extensions

Where it standsIn June the council granted an owner a 90-day extension on a condemnation, and in July it adopted an amending ordinance.

What's on the tableThe council will keep deciding whether to give owners more time before condemned properties are acted on.

Council Member Joy Kinman moved to grant Robert Bamburg a 90-day extension on the condemnation of 200 Overland Trail, and the motion carried 7-2. Jacksonville City Council minutes, June 4, 2026 · Jun 4, 2026
Council Member Tanner Ruple said it was the majority will of Council to deny the 90 days at the previous meeting. Jacksonville City Council minutes, June 4, 2026 · Jun 4, 2026
On July 2 the council adopted Ordinance 1821 amending the condemnation ordinance for 200 Overland Trail, 10-0. Jacksonville City Council minutes, July 2, 2026 · Jul 2, 2026

Neighborhood rezoning requests

Where it standsIn May the council took up a rezoning for 10022 AR Highway 161 over neighbors' objections; a motion to advance it failed 2-8.

What's on the tableThe council decides land-use map changes after the Planning Commission acts, including density near existing neighborhoods.

Ordinance 1816 would reclassify property at 10022 AR Highway 161 and amend the land use map. Jacksonville City Council minutes, May 21, 2026 · May 21, 2026
Mayor Jeff Elmore said the issue was whether to rezone the property from R-0 to R-4. Jacksonville City Council minutes, May 21, 2026 · May 21, 2026
Mayor Jeff Elmore said there were twenty names on the opposing petition. Jacksonville City Council minutes, May 21, 2026 · May 21, 2026
The motion to approve Ordinance 1816 on first reading and suspend the rules failed 2-8. Jacksonville City Council minutes, May 21, 2026 · May 21, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. How should Jacksonville elect its council members?
2. Should the council set a policy for filing and keeping city contracts?
3. Should purchases made through state contracts come to the council?
4. When an owner asks for more time on a condemned property, what should the council do?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Voter registration deadlinePulaski County Election CommissionOct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsPulaski County Election CommissionOct 19, 2026
Early voting endsPulaski County Election CommissionNov 2, 2026
Election DayPulaski County Election CommissionNov 3, 2026

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Michael LaBron, Trenika McCoy, Katrina Mimms, Tanner Ruple, Mary Twitty5 on this ballot

10 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 6-vote majority.

The Jacksonville City Council has 10 members, two from each of five wards, serving four-year terms, and the mayor is elected by voters. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · Sep 6, 2026
Council candidates run for a seat tied to the ward where they live, but the city's entire voting population elects all of the council members. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · Sep 6, 2026

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