Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Modesto 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 2 · 1 seat

Eric E. AlvarezIncumbentModesto City Council member for District 2, first elected in 2022, who was vice mayor in 2024. He previously worked as a congressional staffer for California's 10th Congressional District.9sourced
Jon RodriguezMerchant mariner, according to his ballot designation.1sourced
Juan TellesNonprofit project coordinator who grew up in Modesto. He was previously a community leader with Congregations Building Community.5sourced

City Council District 4 · Unopposed

Nick BavaroIncumbentModesto City Council member for District 4, first elected in November 2022. He served as a trustee on the Empire Unified School District for twenty years and on the Modesto Planning Commission for almost four years.5sourced

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Three of the seven seats are on the ballot: voters in Districts 2, 4 and 5 each pick their district's council member. The mayor's seat is not on this ballot.

2 notes on these statements

Nick Bavaro is unopposed in District 4 because no one else filed before the deadline. The Modesto Bee · Aug 7, 2026

Jon Rodriguez did not respond to The Modesto Bee elections questionnaire. The Modesto Bee

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Rosa Escutia-BraatonCouncilmember, District 1; term ends 20283sourced Chris RicciCouncilmember, District 3; term ends 20285sourced David WrightCouncilmember, District 6; term ends 20284sourced Sue ZwahlenMayor; term ends 20285sourced

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 decidesData centers, Protest mask ordinance, License plate cameras Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Mail ballots start going out

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsCity officials say data centers are not an allowed use under Modesto's Municipal Code and no application has been submitted, but residents have asked for a moratorium or ban.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt a data center moratorium, write an explicit ban into the code, or keep the current rules.

The city says data centers are not an allowed land use under its Municipal Code and no applications have been submitted. City of Modesto
The outcry followed NorthPoint Development's idea of a data center at 1200 Graphics Drive. The Modesto Bee · Aug 12, 2026
At the Aug. 11, 2026 meeting, the city manager said the city was still evaluating whether a moratorium was necessary. Modesto City Council minutes, Aug. 11, 2026 · Aug 11, 2026

Protest mask ordinance

Where it standsThe council revised and kept the city's ban on face coverings and specified items at public assemblies in December 2025, and the ACLU of Northern California has sued.

What's on the tableWhether to keep defending the ordinance, change it further, or repeal it.

The council adopted an urgency ordinance revising the public assembly restrictions 7-0 on Dec. 2, 2025. Modesto City Council minutes, Dec. 2, 2025 · Dec 2, 2025
In September 2025 the Modesto Community Police Review Board recommended repeal of the ordinance. The Modesto Bee · Dec 4, 2025
On April 7, 2026 the council voted 6-1 to raise the Meyers Nave legal agreement to $349,500 to include litigation and trial counsel. Modesto City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026
The added Meyers Nave money is to defend against the ACLU of Northern California's lawsuit over the mask ban. The Modesto Bee · Apr 8, 2026

License plate cameras

Where it standsModesto police use automated license plate readers, and in March 2026 the department disclosed that several federal agencies had access to the data.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, restrict or end the city's use of license plate reader cameras, including Flock.

Modesto police found still-active connections giving several federal agencies, including Border Patrol, access to its license plate reader system. The Modesto Bee · Mar 13, 2026
The department said it disabled the connections and set up mandatory monthly compliance audits. The Modesto Bee · Mar 13, 2026
At the Aug. 11, 2026 meeting, public speakers asked the council to end the Flock contract. Modesto City Council minutes, Aug. 11, 2026 · Aug 11, 2026

Growth and housing

Where it standsThe city is updating its General Plan; in April 2026 the council picked a preferred land use alternative for environmental review.

What's on the tableWhere and how Modesto grows, including housing on sites such as the former Muni Golf Course.

On April 28, 2026 the council voted 5-1 to select staff's preferred land use alternative for the Comprehensive General Plan Update, with Chris Ricci voting no. Modesto City Council minutes, April 28, 2026 · Apr 28, 2026
Candidates Eric E. Alvarez and Juan Telles both list redeveloping the Muni Golf Course with housing among their priorities. The Modesto Bee

Budget, Measure H and fees

Where it standsThe council adopted the FY 2026-27 budget 7-0 in June 2026, and the one-cent Measure H sales tax helps fund city services.

What's on the tableHow to spend Measure H money and set city rates in future budgets.

Measure H is a one-cent sales tax approved by Modesto voters in November 2022 to fund general city services. City of Modesto
The council adopted the FY 2026-27 operating budgets and Capital Improvement Program 7-0 on June 2, 2026. Modesto City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
On June 9, 2026 the council approved a $4.58 monthly increase in maximum residential garbage rates, 7-0. Modesto City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 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. Modesto's code does not allow data centers, and residents have asked the council to go further. What should the council do?
2. Modesto bans face coverings and some items at public assemblies, and the ordinance is being challenged in court. What should happen to it?
3. Modesto police use license plate reader cameras, including Flock. What should the city do?
4. As Modesto updates its General Plan, where should most new housing go?
5. What should be Modesto's main approach to homelessness?

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 outStanislaus County Registrar of VotersOct 5, 2026
Last day to registerStanislaus County Registrar of VotersOct 19, 2026
First vote centers openStanislaus County Registrar of VotersOct 24, 2026
Election Day (7 a.m. – 8 p.m.)Stanislaus County Registrar of VotersNov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Rosa Escutia-Braaton, Chris Ricci, David Wright, Sue Zwahlen3 on this ballot

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

The Modesto City Council has seven members, including the mayor, who serve four-year terms. City of Modesto
Since Measure M in 2008, the six council members are elected by district and the mayor is elected citywide. City of Modesto
Council District 2, District 4 and District 5 are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. City of Modesto
The mayor votes on council items: the FY 2026-27 budget passed 7-0 with all six council members and Mayor Sue Zwahlen present. Modesto City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
The council appoints a city manager to administer its policies. City of Modesto

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