Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Salinas Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

4 contests

11 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

Dennis DonohueIncumbentMayor; term ends November 202611sourced
Hezekiah GonzalezStudent and caregiver, per his ballot designation; he did not file a candidate statement.3sourced
Daniel MuñozConstruction worker with more than 20 years in the industry, artist and community activist.4sourced
Peter SzalaiRetired educator who spent nearly 40 years in public education as a teacher, teachers' union president and curriculum director; served on the city's Measure E and G oversight committees.5sourced

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

All Salinas voters pick one candidate for mayor. Voters in Districts 2, 3 and 5 also pick one councilmember for their district. The top vote-getter wins each race.

2 notes on these statements

Hezekiah Gonzalez and Jose Guerra did not file candidate statements. Monterey County Elections

Measure H and Measure G, a renewal of the 1-cent sales tax, are both on the Salinas ballot. Monterey County Weekly · Sep 14, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Jose Luis BarajasCouncilmember, District 1; term ends November 20286sourced Gloria De La RosaCouncilmember, District 4; term ends November 20288sourced Aurelio SalazarCouncilmember, District 6; term ends November 20288sourced

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 decidesRent stabilization and Measure H, Measure G and the budget, Homelessness and encampments Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Ballots mailed; ballot return locations open

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Rent stabilization and Measure H

Where it standsThe council repealed four rent and tenant ordinances in 2025, but a referendum suspended the repeal; voters decide on Measure H.

What's on the tableIf Measure H fails, whether to keep, amend or again try to repeal the rent ordinances; how to fund rental assistance.

In June 2025 the council voted 5-2 to repeal the rental registry, rent stabilization, just-cause eviction and tenant anti-harassment ordinances. Salinas City Council minutes, 2025-06-03 · Jun 3, 2025
After a referendum petition qualified, the council voted 4-3 in September 2025 to submit the repeal ordinance to voters on Nov. 3, 2026. Salinas City Council minutes, 2025-09-23 · Sep 23, 2025
A yes vote on Measure H repeals the four ordinances; a no vote keeps them. The ordinances remain in effect until the election. Monterey County Weekly · Sep 17, 2026
Rent stabilization caps annual increases at 2.75 percent, or 75 percent of the consumer price index if lower, on qualifying units built before 1995. Monterey County Weekly · Sep 17, 2026

Measure G and the budget

Where it standsMeasure G, a 1-cent sales tax approved in 2014, expires in 2029 unless renewed; the council put a renewal with no end date on the ballot.

What's on the tableHow to spend Measure G money if it is renewed, and what to cut if it is not.

The council voted 6-0 in June 2026 to ask voters to renew the 1-cent tax until ended by voters, with a citizens' oversight committee. Salinas City Council minutes, 2026-06-02 · Jun 2, 2026
Staff described an anticipated challenge to reduce the city budget by $47 million. Salinas City Council minutes, 2026-06-02 · Jun 2, 2026
Measure G generated $34.5 million last fiscal year. Monterey County Weekly · Sep 14, 2026

Homelessness and encampments

Where it standsIn February 2026 the council updated its prohibition on camping on public property and its procedures for removing campsites.

What's on the tableHow strictly to enforce the camping rules, and how much to fund shelter and rental assistance.

The council adopted the updated ordinances on camping and on storing belongings on public property 5-1 in February 2026. Salinas City Council minutes, 2026-02-24 · Feb 24, 2026
In December 2025 the council set up a pilot rental assistance program and put $750,000 of Family Homeless Challenge grant money toward it. Salinas City Council minutes, 2025-12-02 · Dec 2, 2025

Streets, sewers and utility rates

Where it standsResidents and candidates cite street and sidewalk repair as a top issue; sewer rates are rising under a 2025-2030 schedule.

What's on the tableHow to pay for road, sidewalk and sewer work, and whether to approve future rate increases.

The council adopted sewer rate increases for 2025-2030 by a 6-1 vote in September 2025. Salinas City Council minutes, 2025-09-23 · Sep 23, 2025
In June 2026 the council adopted a two-year capital budget and added $1.5 million from SB1 funds to complete Year 2 road rehabilitation. Salinas City Council minutes, 2026-06-16 · Jun 16, 2026
In August 2026 the council approved infrastructure maintenance reserve adjustments that include $400,000 for potholes and $500,000 for striping. Salinas City Council minutes, 2026-08-18 · Aug 18, 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. What should happen to Salinas' rent stabilization and renter protection ordinances?
2. Should voters renew Measure G, the city's 1-cent sales tax?
3. Should Salinas update and enforce its ban on camping on public property?
4. Should Salinas raise sewer rates to pay for the sewer system's costs and repairs?
5. How should Salinas pay for more street and sidewalk repair?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Ballots mailed; ballot return locations openMonterey County ElectionsOct 5, 2026
Regular voter registration endsMonterey County ElectionsOct 19, 2026
Same-day (conditional) registration beginsMonterey County ElectionsOct 20, 2026
Election Day; in-person ballots due by 8 p.m.Monterey County ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Jose Luis Barajas, Gloria De La Rosa, Aurelio Salazar4 on this ballot

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

Salinas voters elect six councilmembers by district and the mayor at large; councilmembers serve four-year terms and the mayor a two-year term. City of Salinas
The seven-member City Council includes the mayor; it appoints the city manager and city attorney. City of Salinas
The mayor votes on council items; Mayor Donohue is listed in the roll-call votes. Salinas City Council minutes, 2025-06-03 · Jun 3, 2025
District 2, 3 and 5 council seats and the mayor's seat are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. City of Salinas

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