Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Trenton Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 7

council seats up

2 contests

12 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 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

Austin EdwardsAttorney and former New Jersey deputy attorney general who served as Trenton NAACP president. He serves on the Trenton School Board and chairs the Trenton Downtown Association.4sourced
Jasi EdwardsTrenton at-large councilwoman, elected in 2022, who spent ten years in Bonnie Watson Coleman’s office. She later worked in Mercer County’s economic development office.7sourced
Edward ForchionCity businessman who goes by NJWeedman.1sourced
W. Reed GuscioraIncumbentMayor of Trenton and former state Assembly member who represented the city from 1996 to 2018. He served as Deputy Majority Leader in the Assembly.5sourced
Corey Isiah McNairTrenton police detective assigned to the department’s Community Affairs Unit.1sourced
Rolando RamosTwenty-six-year Trenton Police Department veteran who rose from patrol officer to Detective Lieutenant. He served eight years in the Marine Corps Reserves.3sourced

City Council At-Large · Vote for up to 3

Voters choose a mayor and up to three at-large council candidates; the four ward seats are not on this ballot.

5 notes on these statements

Austin Edwards and Jasi Edwards are two different mayoral candidates and are not related. New Jersey Globe

Jasi Edwards holds one of the three at-large council seats on this ballot and is not running for it, so that seat is open. New Jersey Globe

Robin Vaughn announced on Aug. 27, 2026 that she was dropping out of the mayoral race, the day after ballot order was chosen. She is not listed in this guide. The Trentonian · Aug 27, 2026

Joel Griffith withdrew from the at-large council race on Aug. 26, 2026, just before ballot positions were drawn. He is not listed in this guide. The Trentonian · Aug 26, 2026

All six remaining mayoral candidates took part in the Sept. 12 public safety forum at Mercer County Community College. The Trentonian · Sep 12, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Teska FrisbyCouncilmember, West Ward; term ends January 20292sourced Joseph HarrisonCouncilmember, East Ward; term ends January 20293sourced Jenna Figueroa KettenburgCouncilmember, South Ward; term ends January 20293sourced Jennifer WilliamsCouncilmember, North Ward; term ends January 20293sourced

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 decidesTrenton Water Works, Rent control, State aid and property taxes Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Trenton Water Works

Where it standsThe state environmental agency has asked Trenton to explore regional governance of its water utility; in October 2025 the council adopted a resolution urging an independent assessment.

What's on the tableThe council holds final approval over any change to how Trenton Water Works is structured.

In an Aug. 6, 2025 letter to the council, the state environmental commissioner wrote: “Please do not predetermine an outcome by rejecting regionalization at the outset.” NJ Department of Environmental Protection: letter to Trenton City Council on Trenton Water Works · Aug 6, 2025
The state’s assessment attached to that letter says Trenton Water Works does not have the financial capacity to meet a ten-year, $570 million capital improvement plan. NJ Department of Environmental Protection: letter to Trenton City Council on Trenton Water Works · Aug 6, 2025
Trenton Water Works supplies roughly 220,000 people in Trenton, Ewing, Lawrence, Hopewell and Hamilton, according to the state. NJ Department of Environmental Protection: letter to Trenton City Council on Trenton Water Works · Aug 6, 2025
Resolution 25-378 states that the City Council is the governing body with ultimate legislative approval of any changes to the existing structure of Trenton Water Works. City of Trenton · Oct 21, 2025

Rent control

Where it standsTrenton’s rent control law limits most yearly rent increases to 4%, and to 2% for senior citizen and disabled tenants, after a May 2024 amendment.

What's on the tableThe council writes and amends the rent control ordinance.

Under Chapter 222, as amended by Ordinance 24-28 on May 9, 2024, landlords may not raise rent by more than 4%, or 2% for a senior citizen or disabled tenant. City of Trenton Code, Chapter 222
Chapter 222 creates a seven-member Rent Stabilization Board: two landlords, two tenants and three members who are neither. City of Trenton Code, Chapter 222

State aid and property taxes

Where it standsTrenton was awarded $57.3 million in state Transitional Aid for 2026 on condition that it raise its tax levy by 2%, and the council amended the 2026 budget in September.

What's on the tableThe council adopts the city budget and the tax levy each year.

The city said it was awarded $57.3 million in Transitional Aid for 2026 after requesting $59 million. The Trentonian · Aug 17, 2026
The state is requiring a 2% municipal tax-levy increase for 2026 and a 3.5% increase for 2027, subject to the statutory levy cap, according to the city. The Trentonian · Aug 17, 2026
The September 2026 budget amendment resolution changes the Transitional Aid line from $59,000,000 to $57,318,832. City of Trenton · Sep 10, 2026

Public safety and policing

Where it standsIn November 2024 a federal investigation found reasonable cause to believe the city and its police department engage in a pattern or practice of rights violations.

What's on the tableThe council adopts the city budget that funds the police department and confirms the police director.

On Nov. 21, 2024 the U.S. Department of Justice reported reasonable cause to believe the City of Trenton and its Police Department engage in a pattern or practice of misconduct that deprives people of their Fourth Amendment rights. U.S. Department of Justice · Nov 21, 2024
The report lists as a contributing cause that the department’s accountability system allows officer misconduct to go unaddressed. U.S. Department of Justice · Nov 21, 2024

Vacant and city-owned property

Where it standsThe council approves each sale of city-owned property by ordinance, and the mayor says the state agreed to let the city use $7 million for demolition and rehabilitation.

What's on the tableThe council votes on sales of city-owned property and on housing and redevelopment policy.

Council adopted an ordinance on April 1, 2025 authorizing the sale of the city-owned property at 122 Burton Avenue for $17,500. City of Trenton · Apr 1, 2025
In April 2026 Mayor Gusciora said the state agreed to let the city use $7 million for demolition and rehabilitation. The Trentonian · Apr 9, 2026

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. The state environmental agency has asked Trenton to explore regional governance of Trenton Water Works. What should the city do?
2. Trenton limits most yearly rent increases to 4%. What should the next mayor and council do?
3. Where should Trenton put its public safety priority?
4. Trenton’s 2026 budget relies on $57.3 million in state Transitional Aid that comes with a required tax-levy increase. What approach should the city take?
5. What should be the city’s first priority for vacant and abandoned property?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Mail-in ballots begin to be mailedMercer County ClerkSep 19, 2026
Voter registration deadlineMercer County ClerkOct 13, 2026
Early voting begins (through Nov. 1)Mercer County ClerkOct 24, 2026
Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot by mailMercer County ClerkOct 27, 2026
Election Day (polls open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.)Mercer County ClerkNov 3, 2026
Runoff election, if neededBallotpediaDec 8, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Teska Frisby, Joseph Harrison, Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg, Jennifer Williams3 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 Trenton City Council has seven members: three elected at large and four elected by ward, serving four-year terms. Ballotpedia
Council roll calls list seven voting members, and the mayor is not among them. City of Trenton · Nov 7, 2024
The mayor is elected by voters to a four-year term, with no term limit. Ballotpedia
Trenton’s ward council seats are elected in presidential years; the mayor and three at-large council seats are elected in midterm years. New Jersey Globe · Nov 6, 2024
A runoff election is scheduled for December 8, 2026. Ballotpedia
At-large candidates win outright with 50% plus one of all ballots cast; otherwise a runoff decides the seats. New Jersey Globe · Jan 24, 2023

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

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.