GramblingNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Grambling Mayor & City Council Election 2026

5 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 10 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 4 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Deadline to request an absentee ballot (Oct 30): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Voters pick a mayor citywide and vote for up to five candidates for the five at-large council seats.

Deadline to request an absentee ballot · Oct 30

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

U.S. House: all candidates run on one ballot. If no one gets more than half the vote, the top two meet in a runoff on Dec 12.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

What the next council decides

01Water wells and meters4 sourced facts

Where it standsIn October 2026 the council awarded a $211,000 contract to rehab Well No. 6, a backup well, with leftover grant funds.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide on more grant applications and contracts for wells, water meters and water valves.

02Sewer repairs and borrowing3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn October 2026 the council approved issuing up to $1 million in taxable revenue bonds for sewer repairs.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the sewer repairs and decide whether to take on further revenue bonds.

03I-20 service road3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn March 2026 the council authorized Mayor Alvin Bradley to work with Ruston on funding a service road from the Buc-ee's site on Tarbutton Road to Sandbed Road in Grambling.

What's on the tableThe next council will face funding, route and right-of-way decisions for Grambling's part of the road.

04Overgrown and blighted property2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council approved a contract with IBTS for building inspections, permits and property maintenance services.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to adopt a new property maintenance ordinance with penalties.

05Fire protection rating3 sourced facts

Where it standsGrambling has a Class 8 PIAL fire rating, which can affect property owners' fire insurance premiums.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide on spending for fire radios, equipment and firefighter hiring.

4 notes on these statements

All five sitting council members, John F. Brown Jr., Cathy Holmes, Jerry Lewis, DeVaria Hudson Ponton and Delores Wilkerson Smith, are running for reelection; David Ferguson, Mary Goree Gipson and Garnet Wagner I are also on the ballot. Ruston Daily Leader · Aug 9, 2026

Cathy Holmes is on the ballot under that name; the city's website lists her as Councilwoman Cathy Holmes Giles. City of Grambling

Edward R. Jones was invited to the Ruston Daily Leader's mayoral candidate forum but did not register to participate. Ruston Daily Leader

Grambling's council minutes list which members were present and the yea/nay count for each motion. Grambling City Council minutes, Feb. 5, 2026 · Feb 5, 2026

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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 Grambling use leftover grant money to repair its backup well, Well No. 6?

  2. 2. Should the city issue revenue bonds through state loans to repair sewer lines?

  3. 3. Should Grambling pursue the I-20 service road linking it to the Buc-ee's area in Ruston?

  4. 4. Should the city spend more to improve its fire insurance rating?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted3 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 5 on this ballot

5 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

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