Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Nogales Mayor Election 2026
1 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 2 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
General Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
Mayor
1 seatJorge MaldonadoIncumbentNogales native and longtime produce businessman who has served in city politics for about a decade. He is a youth baseball coach and Boys & Girls Club volunteer.5sourced
David RuizRetired member of the Arizona Air National Guard and the Department of Homeland Security. This is his first run for Nogales city office.4sourced
Voters choose one mayor on Nov. 3. The three City Council seats on the 2026 ballot were decided outright in the July 21 primary.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- Governor
- Andy Biggs · Republican
- Katie Hobbs · Democratic
- Teri Ann Hourihan · No Labels
- Risa Lombardo · Green
- Also statewideLieutenant Governor · Secretary of State · Attorney General · State Treasurer · Superintendent of Public Instruction · State Mine Inspector · Corporation Commissioner
- U.S. HouseDistrict 7
- State SenateDistrict 21
- State House of RepresentativesDistrict 21
- Statewide measures8 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
What the next council decides
01Water rates and the water fund4 sourced facts
Where it standsCity staff proposed a first water rate increase of about 25% in May 2026 to close a water fund shortfall of roughly $1.2 to $1.3 million.
What's on the tableThe next council will set water rates and decide how to repay any loan to the water fund.
- Staff said the water fund's revenues were about $3.1 million and expenditures about $4.3 million. Nogales Mayor and City Council budget meeting notes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
- A 25% increase would raise the base monthly water charge from about $10.56 to about $13.20. Nogales Mayor and City Council budget meeting notes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
- The city's last water and sewer rate increase was approved by the council nearly 10 years ago. Nogales International
- In August 2025 a financial consultant recommended raising the overall utility rate by 113%. Nogales International
02City budget and public safety pay3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council adopted the tentative 2026-27 budget unanimously on May 20, 2026, after discussing police and fire pay.
What's on the tableThe next council will adopt future budgets and decide how to pay and retain city employees.
- The council discussed a $2.00 per hour increase for police and fire personnel versus a proposed $5,000 annual retention incentive. Nogales Mayor and City Council meeting notes, May 20, 2026 · May 20, 2026
- The City Manager said adopting the tentative budget sets the maximum expenditure limit, and the final budget may reduce but not increase it. Nogales Mayor and City Council meeting notes, May 20, 2026 · May 20, 2026
- Staff estimated a $2-per-hour raise for all city employees would cost about $1.6 million a year. Nogales International
03City manager and City Hall staffing2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council fired City Manager Joel Kramer 4-3 on March 4, 2026, and has had interim managers since.
What's on the tableThe next council will take part in choosing and overseeing the city's top administrator.
- The no-cause termination requires the city to pay out the remainder of Kramer's contract, about $140,000 plus accrued benefits. Nogales International
- The Community Development Director and the City Engineer resigned earlier in 2026, and their roles had not been filled at the time of the vote. Nogales International
1 note on these statements
John Doyle did not respond to multiple interview requests from the Nogales International for the 2026 election. Nogales International
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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 the city close the water fund shortfall?
2. Was the council right to fire the city manager without cause in March 2026?
Key dates
- Voter registration deadlineArizona Secretary of StateOct 5, 2026
- Early voting begins and early ballots are mailedArizona Secretary of StateOct 7, 2026
- General Election DayArizona Secretary of StateNov 3, 2026
The seat math
3 stay (not up this year): Joe Diaz, John Doyle, Louie Parra1 on this ballot
7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.
- Seven members, the mayor and six council members, took part in the council's votes at its May 20, 2026 meeting, and the mayor's vote is recorded with the council's. Nogales Mayor and City Council meeting notes, May 20, 2026 · May 20, 2026
- State law allows the council to terminate the city manager by majority vote. Nogales International
- Three council seats were filled outright in the July 21, 2026 primary; the mayor's race went on to the Nov. 3 general election. Nogales International
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