Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

El Segundo City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 2

3 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 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 · Vote for up to 2

Ryan W. BaldinoIncumbentRyan W. Baldino is El Segundo's Mayor Pro Tem and a construction and real estate litigation attorney. He served on the Planning Commission for fourteen years.7sourced
John PickhaverJohn Pickhaver is a community organizer and nonprofit leader who chairs El Segundo's Arts & Culture Committee.4sourced
Chris PimentelIncumbentChris Pimentel is El Segundo's Mayor, a technology executive and former U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer. He moved to El Segundo in 2012.5sourced

Two of five City Council seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot, and three candidates are running.

2 notes on these statements

Ryan W. Baldino and Chris Pimentel are the two incumbents on the ballot; John Pickhaver is the only candidate who does not currently serve on the council. El Segundo Herald, Sept. 17, 2026 · Sep 17, 2026

Council members Drew Boyles, Lance Giroux and Michelle Keldorf are not on the ballot and remain on the council through fall 2028. El Segundo Herald, Sept. 17, 2026 · Sep 17, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Drew BoylesCouncilmember; term runs through fall 20281sourced Lance GirouxCouncilmember; term runs through fall 20283sourced Michelle KeldorfCouncilmember; term runs through fall 20285sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesHousing, SB 79 and the moratorium, Charter city proposal, Development decisions and data centers Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing (no later than 29 days before Election Day)

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Housing, SB 79 and the moratorium

Where it standsThe council froze approvals of larger multifamily projects without an affordable component in June 2026 and extended the freeze through September 15, 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how El Segundo responds to state housing law, including any permanent affordable-housing requirement and planning for housing east of PCH.

Senate Bill 79, which took effect July 1, 2026, overrides El Segundo's zoning laws to permit taller multifamily housing developments near train and bus rapid transit stations. El Segundo Herald, June 25, 2026 · Jun 25, 2026
The council adopted Interim Urgency Ordinance 1683 on June 16, 2026, imposing a 45-day moratorium on multifamily projects with more than ten units unless they include affordable units. El Segundo Herald, June 25, 2026 · Jun 25, 2026
Ordinance 1685 extended those terms through September 15, 2026, and passed 4-0 on July 7, 2026. El Segundo Herald, July 16, 2026 (legal notices) · Jul 16, 2026

Charter city proposal

Where it standsThe council dropped the charter city proposal in July 2026 without a vote, so it is not on the November ballot.

What's on the tableThe next council could revisit whether to ask voters to make El Segundo a charter city.

On March 17, 2026 the council voted to have staff work on a charter that it could consider placing on the November ballot. Daily Breeze · Mar 20, 2026
On July 7, 2026 two of the four council members present opposed the move, and the discussion closed without a vote because three affirmative votes were needed. Daily Breeze · Jul 8, 2026

Development decisions and data centers

Where it standsThe council overturned a Planning Commission denial for a Tesla facility in August 2026, and a data center proposal was withdrawn in July 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will rule on appeals of Planning Commission decisions and on any new proposals for large facilities.

The council overturned the Planning Commission's denial of a Tesla customer service facility use determination 3-2 at a special meeting on August 12, 2026. El Segundo Herald, Aug. 20, 2026 · Aug 20, 2026
A developer withdrew an application to replace the Hyatt Place hotel at 750 N. Nash St. with a data center after residents opposed it at a Planning Commission hearing. Daily Breeze · Jul 15, 2026

Measure CT business license tax

Where it standsThe council placed a business license tax measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

What's on the tableVoters decide the measure; the next council would administer the change to nonprofit business license taxes.

The ballot question asks whether to restore a business license tax on nonprofits that do not serve a charitable purpose and exempt charitable organizations. El Segundo Herald, July 16, 2026 (legal notices) · Jul 16, 2026
The ballot question says the change would restore approximately $700,000 in general fund revenue annually. El Segundo Herald, July 16, 2026 (legal notices) · Jul 16, 2026

Hyperion plant oversight

Where it standsThe Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, which borders El Segundo, is run by the City of Los Angeles; the city posts plant updates.

What's on the tableThe council will keep pressing the plant's operator on odors and air monitoring.

State law AB 1216 requires Hyperion to monitor its fence line for pollutants and share the data with the public in real time, effective January 1, 2027. City of El Segundo · Oct 5, 2026
Hyperion had a plant-wide power outage on September 15, 2026, during which digester gas was flared. City of El Segundo · Oct 5, 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 land east of Pacific Coast Highway be opened to housing?
2. Should El Segundo require affordable units in larger new housing projects?
3. Should El Segundo become a charter city?
4. How should the city handle proposals for large data centers?

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 mailing (no later than 29 days before Election Day)City of El SegundoOct 5, 2026
Candidate forum hosted by the El Segundo Woman's ClubCity of El Segundo · Sep 1, 2026Oct 5, 2026
Candidate forum hosted by the El Segundo Kiwanis ClubCity of El Segundo · Sep 1, 2026Oct 14, 2026
General Municipal ElectionCity of El SegundoNov 3, 2026
Winners sworn in at the council meetingEl Segundo Herald, Sept. 17, 2026 · Sep 17, 2026Dec 15, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Drew Boyles, Lance Giroux, Michelle Keldorf2 on this ballot

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

The City Council has five members; the whole number of the City Council is five. El Segundo Herald, June 25, 2026 · Jun 25, 2026
The five members select the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem from among themselves to serve two-year terms. El Segundo Herald, Sept. 17, 2026 · Sep 17, 2026
The two winners will have four-year terms and will be sworn in at the December 15 council meeting. El Segundo Herald, Sept. 17, 2026 · Sep 17, 2026

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