Costa Mesa, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Costa Mesa Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

4 contests

8 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.

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Every Costa Mesa voter picks one candidate for mayor; voters in Districts 3, 4 and 5 also pick one council member for their own district. The top vote-getter in each contest wins.

4 notes on these statements

If Mike Buley or Loren Gameros is elected mayor, the council seat he leaves would likely be filled by council appointment or a special election, which could cost about $250,000. Daily Pilot · Jan 15, 2026

Mike Buley's current District 1 council term expires in November 2028. City of Costa Mesa

Daniel Morgan is backed by former mayors Jim Righeimer and Steve Mensinger. Daily Pilot · Aug 14, 2026

Each contest has exactly two candidates. Daily Pilot · Aug 14, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Jeff PettisCouncilmember, District 6; term expires November 202811sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesFairview Developmental Center housing, Budget gap and Measure C, Flock license plate camerasKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots available

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Fairview Developmental Center housing

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council approved a plan for up to 2,300 homes on 80 acres of the state-owned Fairview Developmental Center site, 920 of them for low- and very low-income households.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the plan as a developer seeks approvals, including any proposal above 2,300 homes that would need a second access road.

Budget gap and Measure C

Where it standsCosta Mesa projects a $1.9 million shortfall next fiscal year that could reach $4.9 million by 2030-31; Measure C would raise business license taxes on businesses with over $500,000 in revenue.

What's on the tableThe next council will balance budgets with or without Measure C's estimated $4.6 million a year.

Flock license plate cameras

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council voted 6-1 to keep Flock license plate reader cameras while renegotiating the contract, which expires in April 2027.

What's on the tableThe council will consider an amended Flock agreement and whether to keep the cameras when the contract ends.

Rental registry and renter support

Where it standsIn March 2026 the council declined to pursue a rental registry and asked staff for cost details on a Network for Renters' Solutions.

What's on the tableWhether to fund a renters' network, and whether to revisit a rental registry or eviction tracking.

Fairview Park Master Plan

Where it standsIn December 2025 the council voted 4-3 to move forward with the draft Fairview Park Master Plan update, and a revised environmental study closed for comment in August 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt the updated master plan, including moving the model aircraft flying field to the park's east side.

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. The state-owned Fairview Developmental Center site is planned for new housing. How many homes should Costa Mesa allow there?

  2. 2. Costa Mesa projects a growing budget shortfall. How should the city close it?

  3. 3. The police use 46 Flock automated license plate reader cameras. What should the city do with them?

  4. 4. A rental registry would require landlords of multifamily units to report rents and contact information to the city. Should Costa Mesa create one?

  5. 5. The city is updating the Fairview Park Master Plan, which guides restoration, trails and uses such as the model aircraft flying field. What should it 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

1 stay (not up this year): Jeff Pettis4 on this ballot

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

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