Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Carson City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

4 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

Jim DearIncumbentJim Dear is a Carson City Council member and retired Los Angeles Unified School District teacher. He was first elected to the council in March 2001 and elected mayor in 2004.11sourced
Derek Haskell Jr.Derek Haskell Jr. is executive director of the C3 Foundation (Community Creates Change) and a youth advocate. He previously served as special assistant to Darren W. Parker.3sourced

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

Voters in District 2 and District 4 each elect one council member. Districts 1 and 3 and the mayor are not on this ballot.

2 notes on these statements

Jim Dear was the only council member recorded as opposed when the council voted 4-1 on Aug. 4, 2026 to place both the Oil Refinery Tax measure and the City Charter amendment measure on the ballot. Carson City Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Aug 4, 2026

The Oil Refinery Tax measure was later withdrawn from the November ballot, so it will not appear. Daily Breeze · Aug 11, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Lula Davis-HolmesMayor; term ends November 20285sourced Cedric L. Hicks, Sr.Councilmember, District 3, and Mayor Pro Tempore5sourced Jawane HiltonCouncilmember, District 1; term ends November 20285sourced

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesOil industry revenue, Charter amendment and term limits, Battery storage project at 18800 Broadway Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Oil industry revenue

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council approved a Tesoro/Marathon settlement and pulled its refinery tax measure from the November ballot.

What's on the tableHow the next council manages settlement payments, oil-industry taxes and pipeline franchise terms.

On Aug. 4, 2026 the council voted 4-1, with Jim Dear opposed, to place an up-to-$1-per-barrel tax on refined feedstock on the November ballot. Daily Breeze · Aug 8, 2026
The Aug. 11 settlement includes a one-time $120 million payment and $250 million paid in yearly installments over 15 years, in exchange for removing the ballot measure. Daily Breeze · Aug 11, 2026
On Aug. 11, 2026 the council approved the Tax Payment and Settlement Agreement 5-0. Carson City Council minutes, Aug. 11, 2026 (Special Meeting) · Aug 11, 2026
In February 2026 the council introduced an updated pipeline franchise ordinance 3-2, with Jim Dear and Jawane Hilton opposed. Carson City Council minutes, Feb. 3, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Feb 3, 2026

Charter amendment and term limits

Where it standsVoters will decide a charter amendment that includes removing term limits on elected officials.

What's on the tableWhether elected officials keep the current three-term cap; the council elected in November serves under whichever rule voters choose.

Carson elected officials can currently serve a maximum of three terms; if the amendment passes, no one could be termed out. Daily Breeze · Aug 7, 2026
The amendment would also add a campaign-donation reporting section and let the city manager approve contracts so long as approval complies with law. Daily Breeze · Aug 7, 2026
The council voted 4-1, with Jim Dear opposed, to place the measure on the ballot on Aug. 4, 2026. Carson City Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Aug 4, 2026
On Aug. 12, 2026 the council adopted a resolution revising the measure and ballot question, 4-0 with Dear absent. Carson City Council minutes, Aug. 12, 2026 (Special Meeting) · Aug 12, 2026

Battery storage project at 18800 Broadway

Where it standsThe council reversed the Planning Commission and approved a roughly 100-megawatt battery energy storage project in May and June 2026.

What's on the tableWhether Carson approves future battery storage proposals, and under what conditions or environmental review.

The council took up an appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of the approximately 100-megawatt battery storage project on May 5, 2026. Carson City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · May 5, 2026
The motion approving the project passed 3-2, with Mayor Davis-Holmes and Mayor Pro Tempore Hicks opposed. Carson City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · May 5, 2026
The May 20 substitute motion added a $100,000 one-time fee to the Carson Experience and 150 union construction jobs, and passed 3-2. Carson City Council minutes, May 20, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · May 20, 2026
The council adopted the development agreement ordinance on second reading on June 3, 2026, 3-2. Carson City Council minutes, June 3, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Jun 3, 2026

The District at South Bay industrial project

Where it standsOn Sept. 1, 2026 the council approved changes to the project at 20400 Main Street, 4-0.

What's on the tableRemaining readings, permits and enforcement of development agreement terms for the 157-acre site.

The approvals covered five industrial buildings on a 96-acre portion of a 157-acre site at 20400 Main Street. Carson City Council minutes, Sept. 1, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Sep 1, 2026
Mayor Davis-Holmes was absent; the other four members voted yes. Carson City Council minutes, Sept. 1, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Sep 1, 2026

Reflections Mini Park surplus land

Where it standsOn July 21, 2026 the council declared the city-owned Reflections Mini Park exempt surplus land, 3-2.

What's on the tableWhat, if anything, happens to the park after the surplus-land process; a future agenda item would be needed.

The city attorney said the item only declares the property surplus land and is not to take the park away. Carson City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Jul 21, 2026
Jim Dear and Jawane Hilton opposed the main motion; Dear's substitute to continue the item two weeks failed 2-3. Carson City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 (Regular Meeting) · Jul 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. Should Carson approve large battery storage projects like the one at 18800 Broadway?
2. Should the council approve the changes to The District at South Bay industrial project?
3. Should Carson move ahead now with an updated pipeline franchise ordinance?
4. Should the city declare Reflections Mini Park surplus land now?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailingLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: Calendar of events, Nov. 3, 2026 General ElectionOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to voteLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: Calendar of events, Nov. 3, 2026 General ElectionOct 19, 2026
Election DayLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: Calendar of events, Nov. 3, 2026 General ElectionNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Lula Davis-Holmes, Cedric L. Hicks, Sr., Jawane Hilton2 on this ballot

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

The Nov. 3, 2026 ballot has City Council contests in District 2 (Jim Dear, Derek Haskell Jr.) and District 4 (Arleen Bocatija Rojas, John Hollaway). Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: Final list of qualified candidates, Nov. 3, 2026 General Election · Sep 2, 2026
The city clerk (Khaleah K. Bradshaw) and city treasurer (Monica Cooper) are also elected, and each is the only candidate on the Nov. 3 ballot. Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: Final list of qualified candidates, Nov. 3, 2026 General Election · Sep 2, 2026
Carson's elected officials include a mayor, four district council members, a city clerk and a city treasurer. City of Carson
Carson elected officials can currently serve a maximum of three terms; a charter amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot would remove term limits. Daily Breeze · Aug 7, 2026

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