Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Eugene City Council Election 2026

4 of 8

council seats up

4 contests

5 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.

City Council Ward 3 · Unopposed

Jennifer SmithProject coordinator and president of the union local SEIU 503 Local 085. Previously a UO Labor Center coordinator and an LA County transportation planner; served on the Eugene Permanent Shelter Task Force.6sourced

City Council Ward 4 · Unopposed

Jennifer YehIncumbentCouncilor, Ward 4; term ends January 202711sourced

City Council Ward 5 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 6 · Unopposed

Greg EvansIncumbentCouncilor, Ward 6; term ends January 202711sourced

Four of the eight council seats are on this ballot: Wards 3, 4, 5 and 6. Councilors are elected by ward, so you vote only in the race for the ward where you live.

4 notes on these statements

Under city code, a candidate who wins a majority in the May primary is the only name on the November ballot; Jennifer Smith (Ward 3), Jennifer Yeh (Ward 4) and Greg Evans (Ward 6) are the only candidates listed for their wards. City of Eugene

In Ward 5, no candidate won more than 50% in the May primary, sending Mike Clark and Athena Aguiar to a November runoff. Daily Emerald · May 20, 2026

Ward 3 Councilor Alan Zelenka is not seeking another term; Jennifer Smith is running for that seat. Lookout Eugene-Springfield · Apr 22, 2026

Statements in the City of Eugene Voters' Pamphlet are optional; Greg Evans is listed as a candidate but did not submit a statement. City of Eugene Voters' Pamphlet, November 3, 2026 General Election

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Randy GrovesCouncilor, Ward 8; term ends January 20295sourced Eliza KashinskyCouncilor, Ward 1; term ends January 20294sourced Matt KeatingCouncilor, Ward 2; term ends January 20294sourced Kaarin KnudsonMayor; term ends January 20292sourced Lyndsie LeechCouncilor, Ward 7; term ends January 20294sourced

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesCity budget and the payroll tax, Home energy score requirement, Clean Energy Fund (Measure 20-388)Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voters' pamphlet mailed (week of)

Mon, Oct 12, 2026

In 7 daysAll key dates

What the next council decides

City budget and the payroll tax

Where it standsEugene is building its next two-year budget under a long-range financial plan, and its Community Safety Payroll Tax expires mid-biennium unless the council acts.

What's on the tableWhich services to fund, cut or pay for with new revenue, and whether to extend the Community Safety Payroll Tax.

In June 2026, city staff described a $5.1 million budget gap in the upcoming biennium. KLCC · Jun 9, 2026
The Community Safety Payroll Tax generates $25 million a year and is slated to end Dec. 31, 2028, unless extended. KLCC · Jun 9, 2026
City staff say the Community Safety Payroll Tax expires mid-biennium unless the council acts, and the Parks and Recreation Levy expires in June 2028. City of Eugene news · Sep 11, 2026
A citizen advisory board must deliver a comprehensive review of the payroll tax to the city manager by March 31, 2027. Eugene City Council agenda packet, work session, 2026-09-28 (Community Safety Payroll Tax update) · Sep 28, 2026

Home energy score requirement

Where it standsA draft ordinance would require a Home Energy Score to be disclosed when a home is listed for sale; the council held a public hearing on Sept. 21, 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt the disclosure requirement, change it, or make it voluntary.

A Home Energy Score is a U.S. Department of Energy tool that rates a home's energy efficiency on a scale of 1 to 10. Eugene City Council agenda packet, public hearing, 2026-09-21 (Residential Energy Performance Disclosure) · Sep 21, 2026
Under the draft ordinance, the requirement would be enforced through an administrative civil penalty. Eugene City Council agenda packet, public hearing, 2026-09-21 (Residential Energy Performance Disclosure) · Sep 21, 2026
In March 2026 the council voted 5-3 to have the city manager draft the ordinance, after rejecting 3-5 an amendment to make the program voluntary. Eugene City Council work session minutes, 2026-03-09 · Mar 9, 2026

Clean Energy Fund (Measure 20-388)

Where it standsMeasure 20-388, an initiative on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, would license large retailers and charge them a fee to finance a clean energy fund.

What's on the tableIf voters approve it, the council will oversee how the fund is set up and spent.

Starting Jan. 1, 2029, large retailers would pay an annual 2% license fee on gross profits from retail sales in the city. City of Eugene Voters' Pamphlet, November 3, 2026 General Election
A large retailer is defined as one with gross profits over $1 billion nationally and $500,000 in Eugene. City of Eugene Voters' Pamphlet, November 3, 2026 General Election
Proceeds would go to a Eugene Clean Energy Fund for renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean energy job training and green infrastructure. City of Eugene Voters' Pamphlet, November 3, 2026 General Election

Crisis response after CAHOOTS

Where it standsCAHOOTS stopped operating in Eugene in April 2025, and the city has been rebuilding its alternative response system with smaller pilot programs.

What's on the tableHow much to spend on mobile crisis response and what model it should follow.

The city budgeted $500,000 for the first year of a new peer navigation alternative response pilot. Lookout Eugene-Springfield · Mar 15, 2026
After CAHOOTS stopped, the council directed staff to study CAHOOTS-like services, at an estimated cost of about $2.2 million. Lookout Eugene-Springfield · Mar 15, 2026
Police saw welfare check calls rise 28% in 2025, to 5,748. Lookout Eugene-Springfield · Mar 15, 2026

Economic development staffing

Where it standsThe council has added a business development manager and deferred two analyst positions to the 2027-2029 budget.

What's on the tableWhether to fund the deferred economic development positions in the next budget.

In April 2026 the council split 3-3 and Mayor Kaarin Knudson broke the tie to add economic development jobs costing about $800,000 a year. Lookout Eugene-Springfield · Apr 9, 2026
In June 2026 the council voted 7-1 to add the business development manager now and include the two analyst positions in the 2027-2029 proposed budget. Eugene City Council work session minutes, 2026-06-08 · Jun 8, 2026

Federal immigration enforcement

Where it standsThe council declared a humanitarian crisis over federal immigration actions in February 2026 and set aside money for grants to groups serving immigrants.

What's on the tableWhether to keep funding services for immigrant communities as budgets tighten.

In February 2026 the council voted 8-0 for a resolution declaring a humanitarian crisis resulting from federal immigration actions. Eugene City Council meeting minutes, 2026-02-09 · Feb 9, 2026
The same night it voted 7-1 to create a Human Rights Commission grant program for nonprofits serving immigrant communities, funded with $50,000 of council contingency. Eugene City Council meeting minutes, 2026-02-09 · Feb 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. Eugene faces recurring budget gaps. What should the city lean on first?
2. Should Eugene require a Home Energy Score when a home is listed for sale?
3. Measure 20-388 would charge large retailers a 2% license fee to finance a clean energy fund. Where do you stand?
4. What should Eugene do about mobile crisis response after CAHOOTS?
5. Should Eugene add economic development staff while it is closing budget gaps?
6. Should the city fund grants for nonprofits serving immigrant communities?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Voters' pamphlet mailed (week of)City of EugeneOct 12, 2026
Last day to register to voteCity of Eugene Voters' Pamphlet, November 3, 2026 General ElectionOct 13, 2026
Ballot drop sites openCity of Eugene Voters' Pamphlet, November 3, 2026 General ElectionOct 15, 2026
Election Day (ballots due by 8 p.m.)City of Eugene Voters' Pamphlet, November 3, 2026 General ElectionNov 3, 2026

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Randy Groves, Eliza Kashinsky, Matt Keating, Kaarin Knudson, Lyndsie Leech4 on this ballot

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

The City Council has eight members, elected on a nonpartisan ballot for four-year terms from each of eight wards. City of Eugene
The mayor is elected citywide on a nonpartisan ballot for a four-year term, presides over council meetings, and has no vote except in the case of a tie. City of Eugene
If a candidate wins a majority in the May primary, that candidate is the only name on the November ballot for that office. City of Eugene
Half the council seats are on the ballot every two years, and there are no term limits. Lookout Eugene-Springfield · Apr 24, 2026
The council hires the city manager, who runs day-to-day operations at the council's direction. Lookout Eugene-Springfield · Apr 24, 2026

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