Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Downey City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

5 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.

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

Hector SosaIncumbentFinancial services professional with New York Life and District 2 council member since December 2022.14sourced
Maria ZaragozaFiscal analyst and Downey resident for over 20 years who raised two children in the city.2sourced

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

Voters in Districts 2 and 4 each elect one council member to a four-year term. Districts 1, 3 and 5 are not on this ballot.

3 notes on these statements

District 4 has no incumbent on the ballot: Mayor Claudia M. Frometa, who holds the seat, has reached her term limit. The Downey Patriot · Apr 16, 2026

The Downey Patriot reported that Carrie Uva's endorsements include Mayor Claudia M. Frometa, Mayor Pro Tem Horacio Ortiz, Councilwoman Dorothy Pemberton and Councilman Hector Sosa. The Downey Patriot · Apr 16, 2026

In April 2026 the council tabled the proposed charter amendments and voted not to place a council pay measure on the November 2026 ballot. Downey City Council draft minutes, April 28, 2026 (Regular Meeting), in the May 12, 2026 council agenda packet · Apr 28, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Horacio OrtizMayor Pro Tem, District 1; term ends December 20288sourced Dorothy PembertonCouncil Member, District 3; term ends December 202810sourced Mario TrujilloCouncil Member, District 5; term ends December 202812sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesCostco project and city reserves, Permits for small businesses, Townhomes at the former Honda World site 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

Costco project and city reserves

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council approved a $10.5 million agreement, paid from city reserves, to move Downey Nissan and clear a Firestone Boulevard site for a Costco warehouse and gas station.

What's on the tableEnvironmental review and permits for the project, and separate sales tax-sharing agreements with Costco and Downey Nissan.

The council approved the Master Development Funding Agreement 5-0 and appropriated $10.5 million from the General Fund Reserve. The Downey Patriot, June 25, 2026 print edition: Downey authorizes $10.5 million deal to help land Costco; Downey adopts $335 million spending plan · Jun 25, 2026
The city's share includes a $10 million lease cancellation payment to Downey Nissan and about $500,000 for environmental and entitlement review. The Downey Patriot · Jun 19, 2026
The city estimates the Costco project would raise sales tax revenue by more than $3 million a year. The Downey Patriot · Jun 19, 2026
A future $3 million sales tax-sharing agreement with Costco and a $2 million agreement with Downey Nissan would return to the City Council. The Downey Patriot · Jun 19, 2026

Permits for small businesses

Where it standsIn April 2026 the council voted to expand the categories of lower-cost minor conditional use permits and start a zoning text amendment.

What's on the tableThe final zoning code changes that set which businesses can skip a Planning Commission hearing.

The council voted 5-0 to expand the Minor Conditional Use Permit categories and initiate a zoning text amendment. Downey City Council draft minutes, April 28, 2026 (Regular Meeting), in the May 12, 2026 council agenda packet · Apr 28, 2026
The concept was first introduced by Councilman Hector Sosa in October 2025. The Downey Patriot · Apr 29, 2026
Late-night establishments, bars and projects with greater neighborhood impacts would still need full conditional use permits and Planning Commission review. The Downey Patriot · Apr 29, 2026

Townhomes at the former Honda World site

Where it standsThe Planning Commission rejected 145 townhomes at 11136 Dollison Drive in July 2026, then voted to reconsider; a hearing on a 144-unit version is set for Oct. 7, 2026.

What's on the tableHow the city handles dense housing proposals near single-family neighborhoods under state density bonus law.

The Planning Commission rejected the Meritage Homes proposal 5-0 on July 15, 2026, then voted 3-0 in August to reconsider it. The Downey Patriot · Aug 20, 2026
The original plan called for 145 three-story townhomes on 6.15 acres, including 15 units for moderate-income households. The Downey Patriot · Aug 20, 2026
A public notice set an Oct. 7, 2026 Planning Commission hearing on a 144-unit version with 129 market-rate and 15 moderate-income units. The Downey Patriot, Sept. 24, 2026 print edition (public notice: Planning Commission hearing on PLN-25-00133) · Sep 24, 2026
A city economic development update projected demand for at least 3,000 additional residential units. Downey City Council draft minutes, December 9, 2025 (Regular Meeting), in the Jan. 27, 2026 council agenda packet · Dec 9, 2025

Term limits, council pay and the city charter

Where it standsCouncil members remain limited to two four-year terms and receive expense reimbursements, not a salary. In April 2026 the council set aside charter changes and a pay measure for this ballot.

What's on the tableWhether to bring term limits, council pay or other charter changes to voters in a future election, and reimbursement amounts set by ordinance.

In December 2025 the council voted 5-0 to send proposed charter amendments to the November 2026 ballot, leaving out term limits. Downey City Council draft minutes, December 9, 2025 (Regular Meeting), in the Jan. 27, 2026 council agenda packet · Dec 9, 2025
In April 2026 the council voted 5-0 to table the resolutions placing those charter amendments on the ballot, after concern over a roughly $314,500 election cost. Downey City Council draft minutes, April 28, 2026 (Regular Meeting), in the May 12, 2026 council agenda packet · Apr 28, 2026
In April 2026 the council also voted 5-0 not to place a council pay measure on the November 2026 ballot. Downey City Council draft minutes, April 28, 2026 (Regular Meeting), in the May 12, 2026 council agenda packet · Apr 28, 2026
Council members receive a monthly reimbursement of about $1,078.22, and the mayor about $1,270.44. The Downey Patriot · Mar 25, 2026

Flags on city property

Where it standsSince May 2024, city flagpoles fly only the U.S., California, city and POW/MIA flags; the Pride flag had flown each June since 2021.

What's on the tableWhether to keep the neutral flag policy or allow commemorative flags again.

The council adopted the neutral flag policy 3-2, with Mario Trujillo and Horacio Ortiz in opposition. The Downey Patriot · May 16, 2024
In June 2021 the city council voted to raise the Pride flag each Pride month. The Downey Patriot · May 16, 2024

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 Downey use city reserve money to help bring in major retailers like Costco?
2. Should more small businesses be able to get permits without a Planning Commission hearing?
3. How should Downey handle the townhome project proposed for the former Honda World site?
4. Should Downey change its two-term limit for council members?
5. Which flags should fly on city flagpoles?

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): Horacio Ortiz, Dorothy Pemberton, Mario Trujillo2 on this ballot

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

The November 3, 2026 election fills two council seats, one from District 2 and one from District 4, for four-year terms. City of Downey City Clerk
Council members are limited to two four-year terms, and the mayor's position rotates annually in December. City of Downey
In April 2025 the council adopted Map 105 and a new council district map effective in 2026, 3-2, with Hector Sosa and Horacio Ortiz voting no. Downey City Council draft minutes, April 22, 2025 (Regular Meeting), in the Feb. 24, 2026 council agenda packet · Apr 22, 2025
The city attorney said the change from a four-plus-one system to a five-district system takes effect at the upcoming election whether or not the charter is amended. Downey City Council draft minutes, April 28, 2026 (Regular Meeting), in the May 12, 2026 council agenda packet · Apr 28, 2026
In December 2025 the council appointed Claudia M. Frometa as mayor for 2026, 4-1, with Mario Trujillo voting no. Downey City Council draft minutes, December 9, 2025 (Regular Meeting), in the Jan. 27, 2026 council agenda packet · Dec 9, 2025

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