California CityNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

California City Mayor & Council Election 2026

3 of 4 council seats are on the ballot, with 8 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

See who is on your ballot
22days to Nov 3

The candidates

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

Voters elect the mayor citywide, two council members by district (Districts 1 and 3) and one council member at large in a special election; a City Treasurer is also on the ballot.

Election Day · Nov 3

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What the next council decides

01Hotel tax (Measure J)1 sourced fact

Where it standsMeasure J asks voters to raise the transient occupancy tax on hotel stays from 6% to 10%.

What's on the tableVoters decide the rate; the council would then budget the revenue, which is for general government operations.

  • The Measure J ballot question would raise the tax on hotel occupants from 6% to 10% of the rent charged, estimated to generate $75,000 annually. City of California City
02Council districts1 sourced fact

Where it standsThe City is moving from at-large to district-based council elections after receiving a California Voting Rights Act letter.

What's on the tableThe council that takes office will serve under the district system as it is phased in.

  • The City received a letter from a potential plaintiffs' attorney alleging a California Voting Rights Act violation, and the Council considered it at its January 28, 2025 meeting. City of California City
2 notes on these statements

The City's Measure J sheet names the City of Hemet in its text, apparently a template error; the ballot question printed there refers to California City. City of California City

Marquette Hawkins and Isaac Barcelona are the two candidates for mayor; Karina Perez, Jeanie O’Laughlin and Ron Smith are on the District 1 ballot; James Creighton is the only nominee for District 3. City of California City · Aug 13, 2026

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

    Key dates

    The seat math

    0 stay (not up this year): 3 on this ballot

    4 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

    • The City currently uses an at-large system in which voters of the entire City elect four City Council members and one Mayor. City of California City
    • The City is transitioning to district-based council elections; the page lists odd-numbered districts for 2026 and even-numbered districts for 2028. City of California City

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