Imperial, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Imperial City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 3

4 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 3

Voters can choose up to three council members from four candidates; the other two council members are not up this year.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Robert AmparanoCouncilmember; sworn in December 2024 for a four-year term3sourcedKatie BurnworthCouncilmember; sworn in December 2024 for a four-year term3sourced

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesData center proposals, City management pay and labor talks, Youth crime and public safetyKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

Get your Imperial ballot cheat-sheet

Candidates, positions and dates in one email, sent now.

One email now. We only email again if you ask. No ads, never sold.

Next date

County elections officials begin mailing ballots

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Data center proposals

Where it standsThe council adopted a 45-day moratorium on data centers on June 3, 2026, and the city is in litigation over the proposed Imperial Data Center.

What's on the tableWhether and how Imperial regulates data centers and similar high-energy projects, and how it handles the ongoing lawsuits.

  • The council approved a temporary 45-day moratorium on data centers and other high-energy industrial and technology developments on June 3, 2026, on a 5-0 vote. Calexico Chronicle · Jun 9, 2026
  • City staff are to research industry standards and prepare recommendations for permanent zoning regulations during the moratorium. Calexico Chronicle · Jun 9, 2026
  • The City of Imperial filed a CEQA lawsuit challenging the review of the Imperial Data Center project. CalMatters
  • The developer, Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing LLC, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Imperial and several officials. Calexico Chronicle · Jan 12, 2026

City management pay and labor talks

Where it standsA motion to approve compensation and benefit terms for city management failed 2-2-1 on September 2, 2026.

What's on the tableWhether city management receives raises and how the city handles negotiations with the Teamsters and police officers.

  • The motion to approve terms for compensation and benefits for city management failed at the September 2 council meeting. The Desert Review
  • Councilmember Robert Amparano abstained on the resolution. The Desert Review

Youth crime and public safety

Where it standsCandidate Sara Solorzano cites recent crime among teenagers in Imperial as a concern.

What's on the tableHow the council funds public safety and youth programs.

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 Imperial pause approvals of new data centers while it writes rules for them?

  2. 2. Should the council approve new pay and benefit terms for city management now?

  3. 3. How should Imperial respond to crime among teenagers?

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

2 stay (not up this year): Robert Amparano, Katie Burnworth3 on this ballot

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

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

Take your ballot with you

Who is on your ballot, where each candidate stands, and the dates that matter, in one email you can carry to the polls. Sent right now.

One email now. We only email again if you ask. No ads, never sold.

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.