Simi Valley, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Simi Valley Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 5

council seats up

4 contests

15 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 District 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

Every Simi Valley voter picks the mayor; voters in Districts 1, 2 and 4 also pick one councilmember each, and the top vote-getter wins each contest.

4 notes on these statements

The League of Women Voters of Ventura County and the Delta Sigma Theta Ventura County Alumnae Chapter list all 15 mayor and council candidates for forums in the Simi Valley City Council Chambers on Oct. 6, 2026. League of Women Voters of Ventura County · Oct 6, 2026

Mike Judge holds the District 2 seat and is running for mayor instead of reelection, so District 2 will have a new councilmember. Simi Valley Acorn · Aug 22, 2026

District 4 Councilmember Rocky Rhodes is not seeking reelection, so District 4 will also have a new councilmember. Simi Valley Acorn · Aug 22, 2026

Joseph Ayala was appointed in February 2025 to fill the District 1 vacancy created when Dee Dee Cavanaugh became mayor after the death of Mayor Fred Thomas. Simi Valley Acorn · Aug 22, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Elaine LitsterCouncilmember, District 3, and Mayor Pro Tem; elected in November 2024 to a four-year term11sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesMeasure A hotel tax, City budget, Transitional housing for homeless residentsKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Mail ballots sent to active registered voters

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Measure A hotel tax

Where it standsMeasure A on the Nov. 3 ballot would raise the hotel and short-term lodging tax from 10% to 12%, bringing in an estimated $400,000 a year.

What's on the tableHow to budget for police, streets and senior services with or without the added hotel tax revenue.

City budget

Where it standsThe council adopted the 2026-27 budget and five-year capital improvement program 5-0 in June 2026.

What's on the tableFuture budgets, including spending on police, streets, water and sewer projects, and senior services.

Transitional housing for homeless residents

Where it standsThe Samaritan Center is studying whether it can build transitional housing, with city support and four city-owned sites under review.

What's on the tableWhether to approve, fund or place any transitional housing project once the study is done.

Housing growth and rezoning

Where it standsThe council has approved several large housing projects in 2026, including a rezoning for 60 condos on Oak Road and a reconfigured 364-lot Lost Canyons subdivision.

What's on the tableWhich rezonings and housing projects to approve, and on what conditions.

Simi Valley Town Center

Where it standsThe mall's owners want to replace part of it with housing, and the city is negotiating a ground lease for about 6.5 acres nearby.

What's on the tableWhether to approve housing and other land-use changes at the Town Center.

Short-term rentals

Where it standsA new ordinance allows and regulates short-term rentals in homes, with permits, inspections and annual fees.

What's on the tableHow strictly to enforce the rules and whether to change fees or limits.

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. Should voters raise Simi Valley's hotel tax from 10% to 12% (Measure A)?

  2. 2. Should the council have adopted the 2026-27 city budget as proposed?

  3. 3. Should the Samaritan Center be allowed to study city-owned land for transitional housing?

  4. 4. Should the city approve rezonings for denser housing, like the 60-condo Oak Road project?

  5. 5. Should Simi Valley allow short-term rentals in homes under a permit system?

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

1 stay (not up this year): Elaine Litster4 on this ballot

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

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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