Lodi, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Lodi City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

8 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 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 2 · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

Council members are elected by district: voters in Districts 1, 2 and 3 each choose one candidate for their own district's seat, and voters in Districts 4 and 5 have no city council race on this ballot.

1 note on these statements

Lisa Craig-Hensley, Cameron Bregman and Alan Nakanishi are the council members whose terms expire in 2026. City of Lodi

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Mikey HothiMayor Pro Tempore and Councilmember, District 5; term ends December 20287sourcedRamon YepezMayor and Councilmember, District 4; term ends December 20286sourced

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 decidesCity budget and deficit, Lodi Access Center, Downtown plan, permits and the ArmoryKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots go out and early voting begins at the Registrar of Voters office

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

City budget and deficit

Where it standsThe council adopted a $302 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27 in June 2026 using $3.9 million of one-time General Fund reserves.

What's on the tableThe next council will set future budgets and decide how to close projected gaps, through spending cuts, reserves or new revenue.

Lodi Access Center

Where it standsThe council awarded operation of the Lodi Access Center and Emergency Shelter to Outreach Ministries International in February 2026 and approved the operating agreement in June 2026, both on 4-1 votes.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the center's operation and funding.

Downtown plan, permits and the Armory

Where it standsThe council adopted the Downtown Specific Plan in June 2026 and in May 2026 voted to open discussions with the State about buying the Lodi Armory.

What's on the tableThe next council will carry out the Downtown Specific Plan and decide whether to pursue buying the Armory.

Data centers

Where it standsThe council discussed data centers at its May 6 and June 17, 2026 meetings and took no action.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to set a policy or moratorium on data centers or explore one as a revenue source.

City leadership

Where it standsThe council appointed Kara Reddig as City Manager in May 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will work with the new City Manager and oversee the city's existing litigation.

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 Lodi use new local taxes or fees to close its budget gap?

  2. 2. What should Lodi do with its Access Center homeless shelter?

  3. 3. How much should Lodi change its permit process for builders and businesses?

  4. 4. Should Lodi buy the State's Lodi Armory building?

  5. 5. What should Lodi do about data centers?

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): Mikey Hothi, Ramon Yepez3 on this ballot

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

  • Lodi's City Council has five members, elected by voters in five single-member districts, and members hold four-year terms. City of Lodi
  • Council elections are held in November of even-numbered years; in 2026 the seats for Districts 1, 2 and 3 are up. City of Lodi
  • Each year the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore are chosen by the members of the City Council. City of Lodi
  • The City Manager is appointed by the City Council. City of Lodi

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

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