PattersonNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Patterson Mayor & City Council Election 2026

5 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 13 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 6 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 fill all five at-large council seats; the five council candidates with the most votes win.

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

01City budget and finances3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted the FY 2026-2027 budget 5-0 in June 2026, and in October 2026 the city's accountant said the city is in the black.

What's on the tableThe next council will adopt yearly budgets and amendments, set property tax millages and decide fees such as the streetlight charge.

02Water plant and water quality3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city has had water quality violations for THM levels, and in October 2026 its engineers announced a $5 million state grant to expand the water treatment plant.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the plant expansion, water meter replacement and applications for more water system grants.

03Sewer rates and the joint sewer commission3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn October 2025 the council voted to pass a $1.50 increase per 1,000 gallons from the Wards 5 and 8 Joint Sewage Commission on to Patterson customers.

What's on the tableThe next council will respond to further rate requests from the joint sewer commission and oversee the city's yearly water and sewer rate increases.

04Patterson Community Center3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn January 2026 the council voted to continue with the Community Center after budget discussions in 2025.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how much to budget for the Community Center and how it is run.

05Zoning and variances3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council denied a variance for a pet boarding business on Bernard Street, and in September 2026 it rezoned two lots from residential to commercial.

What's on the tableThe council decides rezoning and variance requests after Planning and Zoning recommendations.

06Pay for the police chief and city legal officers3 sourced facts

Where it standsAn ordinance to raise the police chief's pay was not introduced after a September 2026 motion to bring it back got no second.

What's on the tableWhether to raise the pay of the elected police chief and other city officials.

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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 Patterson raise the monthly streetlight charge on utility customers?

  2. 2. What should Patterson do with the city's Community Center?

  3. 3. How should Patterson respond when the joint sewer commission raises its rates?

  4. 4. Should the council have granted a temporary variance for a pet boarding business on Bernard Street?

  5. 5. Should Patterson raise the pay of its city prosecutor and city magistrate?

  6. 6. Should the council raise the police chief's pay?

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 voted6 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.

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

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