Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Jefferson Mayor & City Council Election 2026
3 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's noticeThese 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.
Mayor
1 seatAll voters choose one of two mayoral candidates and up to three councilors; only two candidates filed for the three council seats.
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.
- Governor
- Brett Smith · Pacific Green
- Tina Kotek · Democrat, Working Families
- Christine Drazan · Republican, Libertarian
- U.S. Senate
- David Brock Smith · Republican
- Jeff Merkley · Democrat, Working Families
- Gary Lyndon Dye · Libertarian
- Chris Henry · Progressive, Pacific Green
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
- David KelloggJefferson city councilor whose term runs through 2028.8sourced
- Kate SteeleCity Councilor; term ends December 31, 20287sourced
Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.
What the next council decides
01New housing and the development code4 sourced facts
Where it standsIn January 2026 the council rewrote parts of the development code, including a rule allowing subdivisions to be built in up to three phases.
What's on the tableThe next council will act on further development code amendments that planning staff are preparing.
- On January 8, 2026, the council voted 3-2 to approve code amendments LA 2025-02 with a section allowing phased development with a maximum of three phases. Jefferson City Council worksession minutes, January 8, 2026 · Jan 8, 2026
- Ordinance 737, amending Title 12 (Development Code) of the Jefferson Municipal Code, was adopted on January 22, 2026. Jefferson City Council minutes, January 22, 2026 · Jan 22, 2026
- In July 2026 the public works director said Udell Engineering was working on plans for a first phase of 34 homes off 9th, 10th and 11th. Jefferson City Council minutes, July 23, 2026 · Jul 23, 2026
- The July 2026 planning update said staff were working on code amendments that would come before the council. Jefferson City Council minutes, July 23, 2026 · Jul 23, 2026
02City staff pay and benefits2 sourced facts
Where it standsSince July 1, 2026, the city pays 100% of health insurance premiums for full-time employees.
What's on the tableThe council adopts the city budget each year, including employee pay and benefits.
- On April 23, 2026, the council voted 6-0 to pay 100% of health insurance premiums for full-time employees and 85% for part-time employees working 25 or more hours a week. Jefferson City Council minutes, April 23, 2026 · Apr 23, 2026
- The council adopted the FY 2026-27 budget 4-0 on June 25, 2026. Jefferson City Council minutes, June 25, 2026 · Jun 25, 2026
03The Howell Building on Main Street3 sourced facts
Where it standsIn April 2026 the council declared the Howell Building at 125 N. Main St. a dangerous building and ordered abatement.
What's on the tableThe council decides how the city enforces its dangerous-building orders.
- Resolution 1120, declaring the Howell Building a dangerous building constituting a public nuisance and ordering abatement, passed 6-0 on April 23, 2026. Jefferson City Council minutes, April 23, 2026 · Apr 23, 2026
- A representative of the owner said he was seeking a construction loan to develop the property. Jefferson City Council minutes, April 23, 2026 · Apr 23, 2026
- At an April 9, 2026 worksession, a resident urged the council to save the Howell building. Jefferson City Council worksession minutes, April 9, 2026 · Apr 9, 2026
04Police services and fireworks3 sourced facts
Where it standsJefferson contracts with the Marion County Sheriff's Office for police services; the FY 2026-27 contract was settled at $801,120.
What's on the tableThe council approves the sheriff's contract each year and could take up local rules on illegal fireworks.
- On June 11, 2026, the council approved the FY 2026-27 police services contract with the sheriff's office, 5-0. Jefferson City Council worksession minutes, June 11, 2026 · Jun 11, 2026
- The city manager said the county's administrative fees on the contract had risen significantly over two years. Jefferson City Council worksession minutes, June 11, 2026 · Jun 11, 2026
- At a March 12, 2026 worksession, a councilor raised creating local rules to ban illegal fireworks; the fire chief said enforcement would be the issue. Jefferson City Council worksession minutes, March 12, 2026 · Mar 12, 2026
3 notes on these statements
Two candidates, Justin Guinan and Les Davis, filed for three City Councilor positions. City of Jefferson certification of candidates to Marion County Elections · Aug 18, 2026
Two applicants, including the incumbent, filed for the Mayor position. City of Jefferson
Walt Perry is a sitting city councilor whose council term ends December 31, 2028. City of Jefferson
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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. When a developer builds a subdivision in Jefferson, how many phases should the city allow?
2. Should the city pay the full cost of health insurance premiums for full-time staff?
3. What should the city do about the Howell Building at 125 N. Main St.?
Key dates
- Last day to register to voteMarion CountyOct 13, 2026
- Ballots mailedMarion CountyOct 14, 2026
- Election DayMarion CountyNov 3, 2026
The seat math
2 stay (not up this year): David Kellogg, Kate Steele3 on this ballot
6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.
- The Council is composed of a Mayor and 6 Councilors. City of Jefferson
- City Councilors serve four-year terms and the Mayor serves two-year terms. City of Jefferson
- Jefferson has a City Manager/City Council form of government; the City Manager is appointed by the Mayor and Council. City of Jefferson
- The November 2026 ballot has the Mayor and three City Councilor positions. City of Jefferson certification of candidates to Marion County Elections · Aug 18, 2026
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