Santa Ana, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Santa Ana Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

4 contests

9 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 Ward 2 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 4 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 6 · 1 seat

All Santa Ana voters pick one candidate for mayor. Voters in Ward 2, 4 or 6 also pick one council member for their ward. The top vote-getter wins each race.

4 notes on these statements

Ward 6 is an open seat: Councilmember David Penaloza is running for a state Assembly seat instead. OC Register · Sep 26, 2026

Councilmembers Jessie Lopez and David Penaloza are both running for state Assembly. Voice of OC · Jul 8, 2026

Measure N, the Santa Ana Streets, Public Safety, Essential City Services Measure, is also on the city ballot. City of Santa Ana · Aug 13, 2026

Giovanni Chavez was appointed as the Ward 6 representative to the Rental Housing Board in July 2026 on a 5-2 vote. Santa Ana City Council minutes, July 7, 2026 · Jul 7, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezWard 5 council member; re-elected in November 20249sourcedJessie LopezWard 3 council member; re-elected in November 202410sourcedThai Viet PhanWard 1 council member; re-elected in November 202410sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesBudget gap and Measure N, Homelessness, Police surveillance technologyKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Mail ballots available

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget gap and Measure N

Where it standsThe council balanced the 2026-27 budget with about $11 million in cuts and put Measure N, which keeps the 1.5% sales tax with no end date, on the Nov. 3 ballot.

What's on the tableHow to close projected deficits, and what to cut or which revenue to seek, depending on whether Measure N passes.

Homelessness

Where it standsThe city runs two Quality of Life Teams for homeless outreach and follows an approach of offering services or facing enforcement.

What's on the tableHow far to expand outreach teams, shelter and housing, and how strictly to enforce camping rules.

Police surveillance technology

Where it standsThe council approved Flock license plate cameras in 2025 and police drones in 2026, both 4-3, and was expected to discuss reviewing the Flock contract in October 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, limit or end the Flock contract and how to oversee the drone program.

Rent stabilization

Where it standsVoters put the city's rent stabilization ordinance into the charter in 2024; a Rental Housing Board and a rental registry enforce it.

What's on the tableHow strongly to enforce rent stabilization and staff the Rental Housing Board.

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. Measure N would keep Santa Ana's 1.5% sales tax with no end date instead of letting it drop in 2029 and end in 2039. Where do you stand?

  2. 2. To help balance the budget, should the city dissolve resident advisory commissions such as the Youth and Parks commissions?

  3. 3. How should Santa Ana handle homeless encampments?

  4. 4. Should Santa Ana keep using Flock automated license plate cameras?

  5. 5. Should Santa Ana police use drones that respond to calls for service?

  6. 6. What should the city do about its rent stabilization (rent control) ordinance?

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): Johnathan Ryan Hernandez, Jessie Lopez, Thai Viet Phan4 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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