Phoenix, AZVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Phoenix City Council Election 2026

4 of 9

council seats up

4 contests

16 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Council member District 2 · 1 seat

Council member District 4 · 1 seat

Council member District 6 · 1 seat

Council member District 8 · 1 seat

Voters in Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 each pick one council member. A candidate needs a majority to win; otherwise the top two meet in a March 9, 2027 runoff.

2 notes on these statements

Districts 2 and 4 are open seats: Jim Waring and Laura Pastor are term-limited. Arizona Republic (via Sacramento Bee) · Oct 1, 2026

Kevin Robinson (District 6) and Kesha Hodge Washington (District 8) are running for re-election. Arizona Republic (via Sacramento Bee) · Oct 1, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Kate GallegoMayor (elected citywide); next mayoral election 20286sourcedBetty GuardadoCouncil member, District 5; next election 20286sourcedAnna HernandezCouncil member, District 7; next election 20287sourcedAnn O'BrienCouncil member, District 1; next election 20286sourcedDebra StarkCouncil member, District 3; next election 20285sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz8 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesData centers, Housing and middle housing, Homelessness and city parksKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsSince July 2025, new data centers need a special permit and must meet location, design and noise standards; owners with earlier approvals have sought waivers.

What's on the tableWhether to tighten the data center rules and how to answer waiver requests from owners who say the rules cut their land's value.

  • In July 2025 the council added data centers to the Zoning Ordinance as a use that needs a special permit addressing health and safety concerns. City of Phoenix
  • The council adopted the data center ordinance 9-0 on July 2, 2025. City of Phoenix Legistar · Jul 2, 2025
  • Under Proposition 207, a city must pay owners whose land loses value from a new land-use rule, or waive the rule for that property. Ahwatukee Foothills News
  • Mayor Gallego said the data center industry threatened $700 million in litigation over the 2025 rules. Ahwatukee Foothills News
  • Bisnow, citing Data Center Map, reports that Phoenix is home to 149 of Arizona's 160 data centers. Bisnow

Housing and middle housing

Where it standsPhoenix allows duplexes to fourplexes on single-family lots within about a mile of downtown, as state law required, and asked ASU to study expanding the area.

What's on the tableWhether to expand the middle housing overlay beyond the area state law requires once the ASU study returns.

Homelessness and city parks

Where it standsSince June 2026, groups need a city permit to hand out food or give medical treatment in parks, with at most two permits per park per month.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, change or repeal the parks permit rules after the city's six-month review.

Budget and taxes

Where it standsThe council raised the city sales tax rate in March 2025 and adopted a 2026-27 budget that sets aside $75 million to keep the 2027-28 budget balanced.

What's on the tableThe 2027-28 city budget, including police, fire and homelessness spending.

Light rail and the reverse lanes

Where it standsIn January 2026 the council dropped the Capitol light rail extension to focus on a west Phoenix line; a study of the 7th Avenue and 7th Street reverse lanes is due by December 2026.

What's on the tableNext steps on light rail extensions, and whether to keep or remove the reverse lanes after the study.

  • The council voted 7-2 to end the Capitol extension and focus on a west Phoenix corridor along Indian School Road. ABC15
  • Councilwomen Anna Hernandez and Laura Pastor cast the two votes against the decision. Arizona Capitol Times · Jan 28, 2026
  • In May 2025 the council voted 8-0 to have the Street Transportation Department study traffic from 19th Avenue to 16th Street, including the reverse lanes, and report by December 2026. City of Phoenix Legistar · May 21, 2025
  • Reverse lanes have been in place on 7th Avenue and 7th Street since 1979 and 1982. City of Phoenix

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. 1. Phoenix requires a special permit for new data centers. What should the next council do?

  2. 2. How should Phoenix change its zoning to address housing costs?

  3. 3. Phoenix now limits food distribution and medical treatment in parks to permitted events, two per park per month. What should happen next?

  4. 4. What should come first in Phoenix's response to homelessness?

  5. 5. In March 2025 the council raised the city sales tax rate to fund city services. Where do you stand?

  6. 6. Phoenix voters approved light rail expansion in 2015 and 2019. What should the next council do?

  7. 7. What should Phoenix's main public safety focus be?

  8. 8. A city study of the 7th Avenue and 7th Street reverse lanes is due by December 2026. 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

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Kate Gallego, Betty Guardado, Anna Hernandez, Ann O'Brien, Debra Stark4 on this ballot

9 council seats. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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