Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Murrieta City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

5 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

Joshua BartonSmall business owner, according to his ballot designation.1sourced
Ron HollidayIncumbentMurrieta's District 2 councilmember and an investment advisor and business owner. He describes himself as a veteran with 30 years of financial experience.15sourced
Keelan McCulloughSan Diego Police Department sergeant with 18 years on the force, and a Murrieta resident for 15 years. He is vice president of football for Murrieta Valley Pop Warner and has served on the city's Library and Traffic commissions.3sourced

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Voters in Districts 2 and 5 each pick one councilmember. Districts 1, 3 and 4 are not on this ballot.

3 notes on these statements

District 1 is not on the ballot: Jon Levell was the only qualified candidate, and the council appointed him to a new four-year term on Aug. 18, 2026. City of Murrieta · Sep 16, 2026

Mayor Jon Levell and Councilmembers Lori Stone and Lisa DeForest are among those Cindy Warren lists as endorsing her. Riverside County Registrar of Voters

Mayor Jon Levell and Councilmembers Lori Stone and Cindy Warren are among those Ron Holliday lists as endorsing him. Riverside County Registrar of Voters

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Lisa DeForestCouncilmember, District 311sourced Jon LevellCouncilmember, District 1; appointed Aug. 18, 2026 to a new four-year term after he was the only qualified candidate11sourced Lori StoneCouncilmember, District 412sourced

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 decidesState housing laws and local control, Annexing Spencer's Crossing, Golden Triangle and hillside development Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

State housing laws and local control

Where it standsThe council opposes state limits on its land use authority and in July 2026 formed a subcommittee to explore sponsoring a statewide ballot initiative.

What's on the tableWhether Murrieta sponsors or backs a statewide measure or other effort to give cities more control over housing and land use.

In December 2024 the council adopted a resolution opposing the State of California interfering with the city's land use authority, 5-0. Murrieta City Council minutes, December 17, 2024 · Dec 17, 2024
In July 2026 the council formed a Ballot Measure Ad-Hoc Subcommittee to explore a statewide ballot initiative on local control, with Lori Stone and Ron Holliday as members. Murrieta City Council minutes, July 7, 2026 · Jul 7, 2026
The city says it has exceeded its Regional Housing Needs Allocation and has nearly 5,000 more housing units permitted or pending approval. City of Murrieta · Sep 22, 2026
Murrieta submitted a resolution to the League of California Cities (Cal Cities) calling for a statewide, city-led effort on local authority over housing and land use. City of Murrieta · Sep 22, 2026

Annexing Spencer's Crossing

Where it standsThe city is studying whether to annex up to 3,884 acres along its northeast edge, including Spencer's Crossing; results are expected in February 2027.

What's on the tableWhether to pursue annexing all, part or none of the study area.

In August 2026 the council approved a $91,010 contract with RSG, Inc. for an annexation feasibility study, 5-0. Murrieta City Council minutes, August 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
The city says the effort is partly to fund operation of a planned Fire Station No. 6 and would give it more control over development in its sphere of influence. City of Murrieta
The Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) approves or denies annexation proposals. City of Murrieta
Spencer's Crossing has roughly 4,000 single-family homes and about 14,000 residents. Patch

Golden Triangle and hillside development

Where it standsA development agreement for the Shops at the Triangle was approved in 2025, and new hillside development rules were introduced Sept. 15, 2026.

What's on the tableFinal adoption of the hillside rules, and approvals as Triangle phases and other large projects come forward.

In September 2025 the council introduced a development agreement for the Shops at the Triangle on about 64.3 acres between Interstate 15 and Interstate 215, 4-0. Murrieta City Council minutes, September 2, 2025 · Sep 2, 2025
The first phase covers about 36 acres, with 25 buildings and 279,500 square feet of retail space. Press-Enterprise · Sep 17, 2025
Ordinance No. 638-26, updating the city's hillside development rules, was introduced Sept. 15, 2026 and set for final adoption Oct. 6, 2026. City of Murrieta · Sep 17, 2026
The council held six hillside workshops from 2023 through early 2026 and supported a formal Hillside Area Map and a 25% slope threshold. City of Murrieta

Budget, fees and city spending

Where it standsThe city runs on a two-year operating budget for fiscal years 2025/26 and 2026/27, amended in August 2026.

What's on the tableThe next two-year budget, fees charged to new development, and requests for city contributions.

The council adopted the operating budget for fiscal years 2025/26 and 2026/27 in June 2025, 5-0. Murrieta City Council minutes, June 3, 2025 · Jun 3, 2025
In August 2026 the council approved amendments to the FY 2026/27 operating budget and an updated schedule of authorized positions, 5-0. Murrieta City Council minutes, August 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
In February 2025 the council updated the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee on new development, 4-1, with Lori Stone voting no. Murrieta City Council minutes, February 18, 2025 · Feb 18, 2025
In April 2026 the council approved an update of the public facilities development impact fee schedule for FY 2026/27, 4-0, with Lori Stone absent. Murrieta City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026

Public safety and e-bikes

Where it standsPolice added a drone first-responder program in 2025, and a new e-bike ordinance was introduced in September 2026.

What's on the tablePolice staffing and technology spending, and enforcement of the new e-bike rules.

In October 2025 the council added Flock's Drone as First Responder program for $750,000 over three years, using $150,000 from Measure T fund balance, 5-0. Murrieta City Council minutes, October 7, 2025 · Oct 7, 2025
In September 2026 the council introduced Ordinance No. 637-26 updating rules for bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters, 5-0. Murrieta City Council minutes, September 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026
The new rules penalize parents of underage, reckless e-bike riders, with fees of $100, $200 and $500 for first, second and third offenses. NBC Los Angeles · Sep 2, 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. Should Murrieta sponsor a statewide ballot measure to give cities more say over housing and land use?
2. Should Murrieta keep updating the fees new development pays for roads and public facilities?
3. Should Murrieta approve large commercial projects like the Golden Triangle outdoor mall?
4. Should Murrieta police use drones as first responders?
5. Should the city give money to outside nonprofit causes, such as a college foundation?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Vote-by-mail ballots begin mailingRiverside County Registrar of VotersOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to voteCity of Murrieta City ClerkOct 19, 2026
Election DayCity of Murrieta City ClerkNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Lisa DeForest, Jon Levell, Lori Stone2 on this ballot

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

Murrieta has a council-manager form of government; the city manager is employed by and responds directly to the City Council. City of Murrieta
Council members are elected by district and must live in and be registered voters in the district they represent. City of Murrieta City Clerk
The council has five members, one from each of Districts 1 through 5. City of Murrieta
The council chose Jon Levell as mayor and Ron Holliday as mayor pro tem for 2026. PublicCEO · Dec 17, 2025
Lisa DeForest and Lori Stone received certificates of election on Dec. 17, 2024, after the Nov. 5, 2024 election. Murrieta City Council minutes, December 17, 2024 · Dec 17, 2024
Only one person qualified for District 1, so the council canceled that contest and appointed Jon Levell to a four-year term on Aug. 18, 2026. City of Murrieta · Sep 16, 2026

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