Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Palm Springs City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

5 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 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

Grace GarnerIncumbentDistrict 1 councilmember first elected in 2019 and a former mayor of Palm Springs. She is a former member of the city Planning Commission.3sourced
Don SojaRetired resident and former vice chair of the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission. He is a founding member of the neighborhood group ONE-PS.3sourced

City Council District 2 · Unopposed

Jeffrey BernsteinIncumbentDistrict 2 councilmember elected in 2022 and founder of the downtown retail business Destination PSP. He was appointed mayor for one year in December 2023.3sourced

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

Voters elect one councilmember in each of Districts 1, 2 and 3, each for a four-year term.

1 note on these statements

Jeffrey Bernstein is the only candidate on the District 2 ballot. Tad Iwan took out write-in papers but had not filed them as of the City Clerk's roster. City of Palm Springs

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

David ReadyMayor Pro Tem and Councilmember, District 5; term 12/2024 to 12/20281sourced Naomi SotoMayor and Councilmember, District 4; term 12/2024 to 12/20281sourced

Start here

Match quiz2 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesCity budget, Convention Center renovation, Vacation rentals Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots first mailed

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

City budget

Where it standsThe council took up a fiscal year 2026-27 continuation budget in June 2026.

What's on the tableThe council that takes office in December 2026 will set future budgets for the General Fund and Airport Fund.

The June 2026 agenda included a fiscal year 2026-27 continuation budget for the General Fund and Airport Fund. The Palm Springs Post · Jun 21, 2026
The council also was to vote on a Teamsters Local 1932 labor agreement covering July 2026 through June 2027. The Palm Springs Post · Jun 21, 2026

Convention Center renovation

Where it standsThe council has been approving contracts tied to the Convention Center renovation and its operations.

What's on the tableThe council will oversee the renovation contracts and how the Convention Center operates.

The June 2026 consent calendar included a $4.15 million agreement with Accenture for owner's representative services on the Convention Center renovation. The Palm Springs Post · Jun 21, 2026
It also included a five-year food and beverage contract with OVG Hospitality at the Convention Center. The Palm Springs Post · Jun 21, 2026

Vacation rentals

Where it standsThe council took up a first reading of an ordinance amending the city's vacation rental regulations in June 2026.

What's on the tableThe council will decide further changes to vacation rental rules and how they are enforced.

The ordinance would amend the city's vacation rental regulations and incorporate California's Short Term Rental Facilitator Act of 2025. The Palm Springs Post · Jun 21, 2026
Jeffrey Bernstein's candidate statement says a housing fund he initiated uses part of the vacation rental tax. Riverside County Registrar of Voters

How the mayor is chosen

Where it standsThe council discussed the structure of the mayoral position at its June 2026 meeting.

What's on the tableThe council will decide whether to change how the mayoral position is structured.

The June 2026 council agenda included a discussion of the structure of the city's mayoral position. The Palm Springs Post · Jun 21, 2026

Housing and homelessness

Where it standsSeveral candidates list affordable housing or homelessness among their priorities.

What's on the tableThe council will decide how city funds and land are used for affordable housing and homeless services.

Don Soja lists more realistic approaches to homelessness and more low-income housing among his priorities. The Palm Springs Post · Aug 13, 2026
Grace Garner's candidate statement says she secured city funding for five affordable housing projects. Riverside County Registrar of Voters

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. How much should affordable housing be a city priority?
2. When only one candidate files for a council seat, what should the council do?

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 first mailedCity of Palm SpringsOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to voteRiverside County Registrar of VotersOct 19, 2026
Write-in candidate filing deadlineCity of Palm SpringsOct 20, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)City of Palm SpringsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): David Ready, Naomi Soto3 on this ballot

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

Districts 1, 2 and 3 are on the November 3, 2026 ballot, each for a four-year term. City of Palm Springs
The mayor and Mayor Pro Tem also represent districts: Naomi Soto (District 4) and David Ready (District 5), with terms running 12/2024 to 12/2028. City of Palm Springs
Jeffrey Bernstein was appointed mayor for a one-year term in December 2023. City of Palm Springs
In August 2026 the council voted 3-1 to hold the District 2 election even though Jeffrey Bernstein was the only candidate nominated. The Palm Springs Post · Aug 20, 2026

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