Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Rancho Cordova City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

4 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 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 · Unopposed

Elliott StevensonVice Chair of the Rancho Cordova Planning Commission and First Lieutenant in the California State Guard.5sourced

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Linda BudgeIncumbentCouncilmember and Vice Mayor; term ends December 20268sourced
Lilia DarbinyanSchool principal, small-business owner and President of SOAR Sacramento.4sourced
Tegan MauldinChair of the Rancho Cordova Planning Commission and a regional workforce development leader at SMUD.5sourced

Only voters in each district vote on that district's seat. District 2 has one candidate; District 5 has three.

1 note on these statements

Elliott Stevenson is the only candidate on the District 2 ballot. On Aug. 17, 2026 the council voted 3-2 to hold the election rather than appoint him. Rancho Cordova City Council minutes, regular meeting of Aug. 17, 2026 · Aug 17, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Joe LittleCouncilmember, District 3; term ends December 20288sourced Siri PulipatiCouncilmember, District 4; term ends December 20287sourced David SanderCouncilmember, District 1; term ends December 20287sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesDowntown arena and city financial help, Growth and the General Plan, Public safety and fire services Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Ballots mailed to all voters; drop-off locations open

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Downtown arena and city financial help

Where it standsA developer plans an indoor soccer arena district in District 5, and the city is negotiating its financial participation.

What's on the tableWhether the city waives fees, pays impact fees and shares tax revenue to support the arena project.

City staff estimate about $185 million in total city financial participation, including fee waivers, city-paid impact fees and potential tax-sharing agreements. Sacramento Bee · Sep 28, 2026
The Sacramento Bee reported the City Council would likely discuss the project's finances in more depth about a month after the Planning Commission hearing. Sacramento Bee · Sep 28, 2026
On Aug. 3, 2026 the council approved a consent bundle that raised the arena project traffic-analysis contract from $88,000 to $128,000. Rancho Cordova City Council minutes, regular meeting of Aug. 3, 2026 · Aug 3, 2026

Growth and the General Plan

Where it standsThe city is updating its General Plan, and the council has given direction on a preferred land use alternative.

What's on the tableHow new housing, office parks and the Folsom Boulevard corridor are zoned and built in the coming years.

On July 6, 2026 the council voted 4-0 on the General Plan Update preferred land use alternative, with one member absent. Rancho Cordova City Council minutes, regular meeting of July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026
On April 22, 2026 the Planning Commission recommended Alternative B for Removing Barriers to Redeveloping Folsom Boulevard on a 4-3 vote. Rancho Cordova Planning Commission minutes, regular meeting of April 22, 2026 · Apr 22, 2026
This is the first election in which the 5th District is on the ballot since the city moved to district-based elections in 2023. Sacramento Bee

Public safety and fire services

Where it standsThe council voted in July 2025 on a contract to help fund a fire-medical squad through Sacramento Metro Fire District.

What's on the tableHow much the city spends on police, fire and medical response as the city grows.

In July 2025 the council voted 3-2 on a contract of up to $825,000 with Sacramento Metro Fire District to contribute to Squad 61 through June 30, 2026. Rancho Cordova City Council minutes, regular meeting of July 7, 2025 · Jul 7, 2025
On Aug. 17, 2026 the council received a Rancho Cordova Police Department update. Rancho Cordova City Council minutes, regular meeting of Aug. 17, 2026 · Aug 17, 2026

Homelessness and supportive housing

Where it standsThe city has supported veterans' supportive housing and has heard a county homelessness partnership proposal.

What's on the tableHow the city pairs housing, services and county programs to address homelessness.

Mather Veterans Village is the Sacramento region's first permanent supportive housing development for homeless and disabled veterans. Sacramento Bee
On Oct. 6, 2025 the council received a presentation on the proposed Sacramento County Homeless and Housing Partnership Model. Rancho Cordova City Council minutes, special and regular meeting of Oct. 6, 2025 · Oct 6, 2025

College Promise and community programs

Where it standsThe council voted in February 2026 to increase College Promise outreach funding.

What's on the tableHow much the next Community Enhancement and Investment Fund cycle gives to College Promise and other community programs.

On Feb. 17, 2026 the council voted 4-0 for the option with $200,000 a year for outreach rather than $150,000, with one member absent. Rancho Cordova City Council minutes, regular meeting of Feb. 17, 2026 · Feb 17, 2026
In October 2025 the council voted 4-1 to move forward with next steps on public school educational opportunities. Rancho Cordova City Council minutes, special and regular meeting of Oct. 6, 2025 · Oct 6, 2025

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 the city waive fees and share tax revenue to help get the downtown arena built?
2. How should the city handle new housing growth?
3. How should the city respond to homelessness?
4. Should the city increase funding for the College Promise program?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Ballots mailed to all voters; drop-off locations openCity of Rancho Cordova City ClerkOct 5, 2026
Last day to file as a write-in candidateCity of Rancho Cordova City ClerkOct 20, 2026
Election DayCity of Rancho Cordova City ClerkNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Joe Little, Siri Pulipati, David Sander2 on this ballot

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

Rancho Cordova has a City Council and City Manager form of government. The term of office is four years. City of Rancho Cordova
The positions of Mayor and Vice Mayor rotate annually in December. City of Rancho Cordova
Council members are elected by district, with only the voters of the district voting on that seat. District 2 and District 5 are up in November 2026, and Districts 1, 3 and 4 in November 2028. City of Rancho Cordova
The council has five members: Mayor Garrett Gatewood, Vice Mayor Linda Budge, David Sander, Joe Little and Siri Pulipati. City of Rancho Cordova

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