Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

San Bernardino City Council Election 2026

3 of 7

council seats up

3 contests

6 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 Ward 1 · 1 seat

Ron AlvaradoSan Bernardino County fraud investigator and chair of the city's parks and recreation commission. He is president of the Hanes Park Neighborhood Association and a Teamsters Local 1932 member.7sourced
Virginia MarquezTwo-term former San Bernardino City Council member and a California State Parole Agent for over 30 years. After leaving the council she worked as a representative for a local county supervisor.6sourced

City Council Ward 2 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 4 · 1 seat

Only voters in Wards 1, 2 and 4 vote in this runoff; each ward picks one of its two top June primary finishers. The mayor and other wards are not on this ballot.

3 notes on these statements

June 2 primary, Ward 1: Virginia Marquez 34.12%, Ron Alvarado 31.22%. Ward 2: Christian Shaughnessy 39.65%, Benito Barrios 32.55%. Ward 4: Joe Salas 38.40%, Fred Shorett 34.33%. San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters: Final certified results, June 2, 2026 Statewide Direct Primary · Jun 26, 2026

Mayor Helen Tran and Council Member Mario Flores are listed as endorsers on Joe Salas's campaign site. Joe Salas for San Bernardino City Council: Endorsements

Benito Barrios did not respond to the San Bernardino Sun's requests for its Sept. 29, 2026 story on candidates' fiscal views. San Bernardino Sun · Sep 29, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Juan FigueroaCouncil Member, Ward 37sourced Mario FloresCouncil Member, Ward 67sourced Kim KnausMayor Pro Tem; Council Member, Ward 59sourced Treasure OrtizCouncil Member, Ward 79sourced Helen TranMayor; won the June 2, 2026 mayoral election with 54.65% of the vote4sourced

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 decidesHomelessness and camping rules, Budget gap, Audits and accountability Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Mail ballots sent; early voting begins

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Homelessness and camping rules

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council unanimously gave first approval to a stricter ban on camping in parks, streets and sidewalks; a final vote was expected Oct. 7.

What's on the tableThe new council will carry out the 2026-2031 homeless action plan, set shelter policy and oversee enforcement of the camping rules.

The updated ordinance gives people in an encampment 72 hours' notice before enforcement and requires the city to store cleared property for 90 days. San Bernardino Sun · Sep 21, 2026
The city's 2026 Point-in-Time Count found 737 unsheltered people, down from 981 in 2025. San Bernardino Sun · Sep 21, 2026
A 140-bed homeless shelter funded by a $34.9 million state Homekey grant opened in July 2026. San Bernardino Sun · Sep 21, 2026
The Sept. 16, 2026 agenda asked the council for direction on the Homeless Strategic Action Plan 2026-2031 and on shelter operation policy options. San Bernardino Mayor and City Council agenda, Sept. 16, 2026 · Sep 16, 2026

Budget gap

Where it standsThe council unanimously adopted a $329.5 million budget for 2026-27 in June; the city says it contains a projected gap between recurring revenue and spending.

What's on the tableThe new council will write the 2027-28 budget and decide how to close the gap between recurring revenue and spending.

The General Fund has a projected reserve of about $104.9 million. City of San Bernardino · Jun 23, 2026
The city says its revenue depends heavily on retail activity and consumer spending. City of San Bernardino · Jun 23, 2026
At the budget hearing, Mayor Pro Tem Kim Knaus said recurring expenditures continued to outpace revenues. San Bernardino Mayor and City Council minutes, June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026

Audits and accountability

Where it standsCouncil agendas in 2026 included added audit services for fiscal 2024-25 and an audit status update on the Shandin Hills Golf Club management agreement.

What's on the tableThe new council will decide whether to order further audits or new public reporting on how city money is spent.

The Aug. 19, 2026 agenda included ratifying $9,125 in additional fiscal 2024-25 audit services. San Bernardino Mayor and City Council agenda, Aug. 19, 2026 · Aug 19, 2026
The same agenda included an audit status update on the Shandin Hills Golf Club management agreement. San Bernardino Mayor and City Council agenda, Aug. 19, 2026 · Aug 19, 2026
In February 2026 the council voted 5-2 to require its approval before and after negotiating leases of city-owned property. San Bernardino Mayor and City Council minutes, Feb. 18, 2026 · Feb 18, 2026

Short-term rentals

Where it standsThe council introduced a citywide ban in April 2026, then voted 4-3 in June not to adopt it and asked staff for regulations instead.

What's on the tableThe new council will decide whether to regulate short-term rentals with permits and rules or return to a ban.

On April 15, 2026 the council voted 4-3 to introduce Ordinance MC-1661 banning short-term and vacation rentals. San Bernardino Mayor and City Council minutes, April 15, 2026 · Apr 15, 2026
On June 17, 2026 the council voted 4-3 to deny adopting the ban. San Bernardino Mayor and City Council minutes, June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026
The council then voted 6-1 to have staff return in September with rules regulating short-term rentals. San Bernardino Mayor and City Council minutes, June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026

Warehouses, General Plan and development

Where it standsThe city's General Plan update is under way, and in August 2026 the council picked a developer for the 17.61-acre Arden Guthrie site.

What's on the tableThe new council will decide on the General Plan update, warehouse and truck-route rules, and development deals for city-owned land.

In December 2025 council members said the General Plan was outdated; staff aimed to return by March 31. San Bernardino Mayor and City Council minutes, Dec. 3, 2025 · Dec 3, 2025
In December 2025 the council introduced an ordinance adopting citywide truck routes and directed staff to comply with state AB 98 warehouse design standards. San Bernardino Mayor and City Council minutes, Dec. 3, 2025 · Dec 3, 2025
The city and Panorama Development expect to negotiate an exclusive agreement on the Arden Guthrie site before a final development agreement. City of San Bernardino

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. San Bernardino is tightening its ban on camping in parks and on sidewalks. What should the city's approach be?
2. The 2026-27 budget projects a gap between recurring revenue and spending. What should the council do first?
3. Should the city do more to show residents how it spends money?
4. Should San Bernardino ban short-term rentals such as Airbnb?
5. Should San Bernardino approve new warehouse projects?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Mail ballots sent; early voting beginsSan Bernardino County Registrar of Voters: November 3, 2026, General ElectionOct 5, 2026
Voter registration deadlineSan Bernardino County Registrar of Voters: November 3, 2026, General ElectionOct 19, 2026
Election DaySan Bernardino County Registrar of Voters: November 3, 2026, General ElectionNov 3, 2026

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Juan Figueroa, Mario Flores, Kim Knaus, Treasure Ortiz, Helen Tran3 on this ballot

7 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

The council has seven members, each elected by ward to a four-year term. City of San Bernardino Charter (adopted by voters Nov. 8, 2016) · Nov 8, 2016
The mayor is elected citywide to a four-year term, presides at council meetings and votes only to break a tie, on a veto, or where the charter provides. City of San Bernardino Charter (adopted by voters Nov. 8, 2016) · Nov 8, 2016
Five or more council members can override a mayoral veto. City of San Bernardino Charter (adopted by voters Nov. 8, 2016) · Nov 8, 2016
The city uses the council-manager form of government. City of San Bernardino
Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 4 and mayor were up for election in 2026; Wards 3, 5, 6 and 7 were not. City of San Bernardino City Clerk
A candidate who wins 50% in the primary is elected; otherwise the top two go to a November runoff. San Bernardino Sun · Jun 2, 2026

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