Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Merced City Council Election 2026

3 of 7

council seats up

3 contests

6 candidates

Updated Oct 3, 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

Felipe Rojas-FloresPublic interest attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance who represents low-income farmworkers. He graduated from Merced High School and UC Merced.5sourced
Yang Pao ThaoIncumbentAppointed Merced City Council member for District 2 and a former member of the city's Planning Commission. He is a marketing director for Vantage Financial Alliance.8sourced

City Council District 4 · Unopposed

Shane SmithIncumbentMerced City Council member for District 4, elected in 2022, and a former MCSD trustee.7sourced

City Council District 6 · 1 seat

Three of the seven seats are on the ballot: voters in Districts 2, 4 and 6 each elect their district's council member. The mayor's seat is not on this ballot.

2 notes on these statements

Shane Smith is running unopposed in District 4. The Merced FOCUS · Sep 27, 2026

The District 2 seat was left vacant by Ronnie De Anda's resignation in October 2025; the council appointed Yang Pao Thao on a 5-1 vote. GV Wire / The Merced FOCUS · Dec 13, 2025

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Sarah BoyleMayor Pro Tempore and Councilmember, District 5; term through November 20286sourced Darin DupontCouncilmember, District 1; term through November 20286sourced Mike HarrisCouncilmember, District 3; term through November 20286sourced Matthew SerrattoMayor; term through November 20287sourced

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 decidesMeasure B sales tax, Budget priorities, Tenant protections Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Mail ballots start going out; drop boxes open

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Measure B sales tax

Where it standsMeasure B, a one-cent general sales tax the city estimates would raise about $18 million a year, is on the Nov. 3 ballot.

What's on the tableIf it passes, how to spend the new general-fund money; if it fails, how to cover the city's projected shortfalls.

Measure B would raise Merced's total sales tax rate from 8.25% to 9.25% until ended by voters. Merced County Registrar of Voters
Measure B is a general tax, so its revenue can be spent for any general city purpose. Merced County Registrar of Voters
The City Council placed Measure B on the ballot by a 6-1 vote. Merced County Registrar of Voters
The federal SAFER grant for firefighters is set to expire in March 2027, putting 24 firefighter positions at risk. The Merced FOCUS · Aug 5, 2026

Budget priorities

Where it standsCity expenses are expected to outpace revenue in the next five years.

What's on the tableHow to divide general fund money among public safety, streets and community programs.

Police department staffing remains below where it was in 2009, city officials said. The Merced FOCUS · Aug 5, 2026
Merced's half-cent public safety tax, Measure C, was renewed in 2024 and expires in 2044. The Merced FOCUS · Aug 5, 2026
The council adopted the fiscal year 2025-26 budget on a 5-1 vote in June 2025. Merced City Council minutes, June 16, 2025 · Jun 16, 2025

Tenant protections

Where it standsThe council adopted a repeat housing code violators ordinance in June 2026 and in August declined to take up further tenant protections.

What's on the tableWhether to add new renter protections such as rent stabilization or a rental registry.

The repeat housing code violators program targets landlords with three housing violations within a year, with a $1,000 daily fine for uncorrected violations. The Merced FOCUS · Aug 20, 2026
In August 2026, a motion to put a rental registry, proactive inspections, rent stabilization and a tenants' right to legal representation on a future agenda got no second. The Merced FOCUS · Aug 20, 2026
In March 2025, the council voted 6-1 to stop putting resources into a rental registry and inspection program and focus on an anti-slumlord initiative. Merced City Council minutes, March 3, 2025 · Mar 3, 2025

Camping ban

Where it standsSince November 2024, a city ordinance has restricted camping and storing personal property in public spaces.

What's on the tableWhether to keep enforcing the camping ordinance, limit it, or drop it.

The council adopted the ordinance amending Chapter 9.51, Camping and Storage of Personal Property, on a 4-2 vote on Nov. 18, 2024. Merced City Council minutes, Nov. 18, 2024 · Nov 18, 2024
The Measure B ballot question lists addressing homelessness among the purposes for the new revenue. Merced County Registrar of Voters

High-speed rail station

Where it standsThe High-Speed Rail Authority's 2026 Business Plan identified a Southeast Merced station concept near Mission Avenue instead of downtown.

What's on the tableWhat the city demands from the High-Speed Rail Authority on the station's location and its local impacts.

On Jan. 12, 2026, the High-Speed Rail Authority presented a proposal to relocate the station from Downtown Merced to Southeast Merced. City of Merced (Engage Merced)
On Jan. 27, 2026, the council considered conceptual support for the relocation while requiring continued discussions on issues important to Merced. City of Merced (Engage Merced)
The city and county have asked the state for a comprehensive and enforceable regional mitigation plan for a Southeast Merced station. City of Merced (Engage Merced)

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. Measure B would add a one-cent general sales tax in Merced. What should happen?
2. Where should Merced put the most general fund money first?
3. Merced just adopted a repeat housing code violators program. What should the council do next for renters?
4. Merced restricts camping in public spaces. What should the council do with that ordinance?
5. The High-Speed Rail Authority proposes a Southeast Merced station instead of downtown. What should the city do?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Mail ballots start going out; drop boxes openMerced County Registrar of VotersOct 5, 2026
Last day to register (postmark accepted)Merced County Registrar of VotersOct 19, 2026
First vote centers openMerced County Registrar of VotersOct 24, 2026
All vote centers openMerced County Registrar of VotersOct 31, 2026
Election DayMerced County Registrar of VotersNov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Sarah Boyle, Darin Dupont, Mike Harris, Matthew Serratto3 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

Council Districts 2, 4 and 6 are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. Merced County Registrar of Voters · Aug 25, 2026
The mayor votes on council items: Mayor Matthew Serratto voted with the majority to adopt the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, 5-1. Merced City Council minutes, June 16, 2025 · Jun 16, 2025
Yang Pao Thao was appointed to the District 2 seat in December 2025, with a term through November 2026. City of Merced

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