Fresno, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Fresno City Council Election 2026

3 of 7

council seats up

3 contests

6 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 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 7 · 1 seat

Only voters in Districts 1, 3 and 7 vote in this runoff; each district picks one of its two top June primary finishers. All three seats are open.

3 notes on these statements

Rob Fuentes did not attend the Sept. 22 Tower District forum or a Sept. 28 District 1 forum west of Highway 99; all other council candidates attended the Sept. 22 forum. Fresno Bee · Sep 29, 2026

Mike Karbassi is on the Nov. 3 ballot for Fresno County Supervisor, District 1. Fresno County Elections

In the June 2 District 7 primary, Nav Gurm received 3,099 votes (38.96%) and Ariana Martinez Lott 3,079 (38.71%). Fresno County Elections

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Jerry DyerMayor1sourcedMike KarbassiCouncilmember, District 28sourcedTyler MaxwellCouncilmember, District 4 (Council Vice President)7sourcedNick RichardsonCouncilmember, District 66sourcedBrandon VangCouncilmember, District 56sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesSoutheast growth plan (SEDA), Measure D sales tax, Flock license-plate camerasKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Mail ballots start going out; early voting opens at the County Clerk's office

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Southeast growth plan (SEDA)

Where it standsThe council sent the Southeast Development Area plan back to staff in December 2025; the Planning Commission recommended a revised plan 6-1 in August 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt SEDA, or its smaller first phase, and how to pay for its infrastructure, if the current council has not settled it by January.

  • SEDA would bring about 9,000 acres of unincorporated farmland into the city for up to 45,000 homes. Fresno Bee
  • In December 2025 the council voted 5-2 to send the plan back to the Dyer administration for revisions and new financial studies. Fresno Bee
  • City leaders say Fresno taxpayers would cover $86 million for a sewer line for South SEDA, the pared-down first piece. Fresno Bee
  • A council vote on approving SEDA could come before the end of 2026, before the new council members take their seats. Fresno Bee · Sep 23, 2026

Measure D sales tax

Where it standsVoters decide Nov. 3 on Measure D, a half-cent city sales tax the council placed on the ballot 6-1 in July 2026.

What's on the tableHow to spend Measure D money if it passes, or what to cut if Measure C transportation money ends without a replacement.

Flock license-plate cameras

Where it standsFresno's three-year contract for about 70 Flock license-plate cameras expires in 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to renew the Flock contract, and with what limits.

Data center ban

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council voted 7-0 to start a code amendment banning data centers in Fresno for 10 years.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt the final ordinance, and its terms.

Homelessness and the camping ban

Where it standsA 2024 ordinance bans sleeping, sitting, lying or storing property in public spaces.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, change or move away from enforcing the camping ban.

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. Should Fresno approve the Southeast Development Area (SEDA) growth plan?

  2. 2. Should Fresno renew its contract for Flock license-plate cameras?

  3. 3. Should Fresno ban AI and cloud data centers?

  4. 4. What should Fresno do with its 2024 ban on camping in public places?

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

5 stay (not up this year): Jerry Dyer, Mike Karbassi, Tyler Maxwell, Nick Richardson, Brandon Vang3 on this ballot

7 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

  • Fresno has a strong-mayor form of government: the mayor is the chief executive and can veto council actions. City of Fresno
  • Seven councilmembers are elected by district for four-year staggered terms. City of Fresno
  • Under the 1993 charter change, the mayor is no longer part of the council and hires and fires the city manager. KVPR · Nov 5, 2025
  • Odd-numbered districts (1, 3, 5, 7) are elected together; the mayor and even-numbered districts are next on the ballot in 2028. City of Fresno City Clerk
  • The Nov. 3 general election is held as a runoff where needed after the June 2, 2026 primary. City of Fresno City Clerk

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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