Orange, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Orange Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

4 contests

8 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.

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 4 · Unopposed

City Council District 6 · Unopposed

All Orange voters pick one candidate for mayor. Voters in District 1, 4 or 6 also pick one councilmember for their district. The top vote-getter wins each race; Districts 4 and 6 each have one candidate.

8 notes on these statements

Denis Bilodeau is also on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot for State Board of Equalization, District 4. California Secretary of State · Aug 27, 2026

Denis Bilodeau did not file a candidate statement. City of Orange

The District 6 incumbent did not file for re-election, so the filing period for that seat was extended. City of Orange

Arianna Barrios represents District 1; her council term is 2022-2026. City of Orange

Mayor Slater, Councilmember Barrios and Councilmember Gutierrez are listed as endorsers on Brandy Romero's campaign site. Brandy Romero campaign site

Councilmembers Dumitru, Gyllenhammer and Bilodeau are listed as endorsers on AJ Ricci's campaign site. AJ Ricci campaign site

Mayor Slater and Councilmembers Bilodeau, Dumitru, Tavoularis and Gyllenhammer are listed as endorsers on Brendon Moeller's campaign site. Brendon Moeller campaign site

Qualified write-in candidates may file between Sept. 7 and Oct. 20, 2026. City of Orange

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Jon DumitruCouncilmember, District 2; term 2024-202812sourcedAna GutierrezCouncilmember, District 5; term 2024-202812sourcedKathy TavoularisCouncilmember, District 3; term 2024-202813sourced

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 decidesBudget deficit and Measure I sales tax, City charter (Measure K), Car-purchase rebate programKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots available

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget deficit and Measure I sales tax

Where it standsThe city projects a $27.6 million deficit and has put Measure I, a 1-cent sales tax for 13 years, and Measure J, a hotel tax increase, on the ballot.

What's on the tableHow to spend Measure I money if it passes, or what more to cut if it fails; staff were told to bring back a reduction plan.

City charter (Measure K)

Where it standsMeasure K asks voters to make Orange, a general-law city since 1886, a charter city; the council placed it on the ballot 4-3.

What's on the tableIf Measure K passes, the council would set election rules and other details by ordinance under the new charter.

Car-purchase rebate program

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council approved, 4-2, a rebate for car buyers at five Orange franchised dealerships, contingent on voters passing the sales tax.

What's on the tableWhether to carry out, change or drop the program after the election; it would run from April 2027 to April 2040.

License plate cameras

Where it standsIn May 2026 the council renewed, 6-1, a two-year $387,280 agreement for Flock license plate camera licenses and services.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, expand or limit the cameras as residents keep speaking against them at council meetings.

Annexing county islands

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council voted 5-2 to pursue annexing four unincorporated county islands into the city.

What's on the tableStaff report back by February 2027 with recommended terms; the next council decides whether to continue and complete the annexations.

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 Orange voters approve Measure I, a 1-cent sales tax for 13 years?

  2. 2. Should Orange adopt the proposed city charter in Measure K?

  3. 3. If Measure I passes, should Orange run its car-purchase rebate program for buyers at five local franchised dealerships?

  4. 4. Should Orange keep its contract for Flock license plate reader cameras?

  5. 5. Should Orange pursue annexing the El Modena, North El Modena, Olive Heights and Santiago Creek county islands?

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

3 stay (not up this year): Jon Dumitru, Ana Gutierrez, Kathy Tavoularis4 on this ballot

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

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

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