Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Salem Mayor & City Council Election 2026

5 of 9

council seats up

5 contests

6 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.

Mayor · Unopposed

Vanessa NordykeExecutive director of CASA of Marion County and a Salem city councilor since 2019. Former senior assistant attorney general at the Oregon Department of Justice.9sourced

City Council Ward 2 · Unopposed

Linda NishiokaIncumbentWard 2 city councilor and council president, first elected in May 2022. Retired after 22 years as department director for Willamette Ear, Nose, and Throat.8sourced

City Council Ward 4 · Unopposed

Dave InbodyOperations director for Medicaid at the Oregon Health Authority. Former deputy director of Deschutes County Health Services.3sourced

City Council Ward 6 · Unopposed

Betsy VegaSmall business owner, balloon artist and bookkeeper, and a former child protective services worker. Serves on the Marion County Sheriff's Advisory Committee.4sourced

City Council Ward 8 · 1 seat

Five of the nine council seats are on this ballot: mayor and the Ward 2, 4, 6 and 8 councilors. Only Ward 8, in West Salem, has two candidates.

3 notes on these statements

Vanessa Nordyke (mayor), Linda Nishioka (Ward 2), Dave Inbody (Ward 4) and Betsy Vega (Ward 6) are the only candidates listed for their offices on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot. City of Salem

A June 25 recount of the Ward 8 race matched the earlier totals, so Micki Varney and Chris Cummings meet in a Nov 3 runoff. Statesman Journal · Jun 29, 2026

Salem Reporter reported that May 2026 council candidates campaigned as two slates: one supported by Progressive Salem, the other by the Marion + Polk First political action committee. Salem Reporter · Apr 14, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Irvin M. BrownCouncilor, Ward 5; term ends Dec 31, 20285sourced Shane MatthewsCouncilor, Ward 3; term ends Dec 31, 20285sourced Paul TiganCouncilor, Ward 1; term ends Dec 31, 20286sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesData centers, Homelessness, Budget and fees Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Last day to register to vote

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsA 120-day moratorium on new data centers took effect in September 2026, halting the first phase of a proposed $5.1 billion campus at Mill Creek Corporate Center.

What's on the tableWhat rules, if any, Salem sets for data centers after a city task force reports and the moratorium ends.

The council adopted Resolution 2026-40, a moratorium on data centers, 7-0 on Sept 21, 2026. Salem City Council minutes, Sept 21, 2026 · Sep 21, 2026
The moratorium lasts 120 days, and the council can extend it six months. Salem Reporter · Sep 22, 2026
A nine-member Data Center Task Force must present a draft policy to the council by Dec 31, 2026. City of Salem
Verrus proposes a $5.1 billion data center in the Mill Creek Corporate Center. Salem Reporter · Sep 16, 2026

Homelessness

Where it standsThe city expects to end camping at Wallace Marine Park this fall while its police Homeless Services Team connects people to shelter.

What's on the tableHow much the city spends on shelter, outreach and police teams, and how fast it clears camps.

The city anticipates ending camping at Wallace Marine Park by the end of October 2026, possibly extending into November. Salem Reporter · Sep 16, 2026
In October 2025 the council voted 6-3 to accept a donation funding two Homeless Services Team police officers for six months. Salem City Council minutes, Oct 27, 2025 · Oct 27, 2025
In February 2026 the council voted 7-2 to create a one-time social service pilot program funded with $200,000. Salem City Council minutes, Feb 9, 2026 · Feb 9, 2026
The council holds a work session on housing, sheltering and unsheltered homelessness on Oct 19, 2026. City of Salem calendar

Budget and fees

Where it standsThe council adopted the FY 2027 budget on June 22, 2026, and the voter-approved levy for parks, libraries and Center 50+ expires in 2030.

What's on the tableWhether to raise the city operations fee, cut services or seek other revenue before the levy ends.

The City Council adopted the FY 2027 City and URA budgets on June 22, 2026. City of Salem
The levy passed by voters in 2025 expires in 2030. Salem Reporter · Apr 14, 2026
In December 2025 the council voted 9-0 to have staff prepare information on adjusting the City Operations Fee. Salem City Council minutes, Dec 8, 2025 · Dec 8, 2025
The council held a work session on options for restructuring the City Operations Fee on Feb 17, 2026. Salem City Council work session minutes, Feb 17, 2026 · Feb 17, 2026

Immigration enforcement

Where it standsA December 2025 emergency declaration sets city actions on the local impacts of federal immigration enforcement, with quarterly reports to the council.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, change or end the emergency declaration and the city actions under it.

The council adopted Resolution 2025-33, declaring an emergency related to the impacts of federal immigration enforcement, 6-3 on Dec 1, 2025. Salem City Council minutes, Dec 1, 2025 · Dec 1, 2025
As amended, the resolution requires quarterly reports to the council on its implementation. Salem City Council minutes, Dec 1, 2025 · Dec 1, 2025
On Nov 24, 2025 the council voted 7-2 to adopt a statement reaffirming Salem as an Inclusive and Sanctuary City. Salem City Council minutes, Nov 24, 2025 · Nov 24, 2025

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. In December 2025 the council declared an emergency over the local impacts of federal immigration enforcement. Should Salem have this declaration?
2. In October 2025 the council voted on a private donation to pay for two Homeless Services Team police officers for six months. Should the city accept donations like this?
3. What should Salem's main approach to homelessness be?
4. Salem's levy for parks, libraries and Center 50+ ends in 2030, and the city faces a budget gap. How should it close the gap?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Last day to register to voteMarion County ElectionsOct 13, 2026
Ballots mailed to votersMarion County ElectionsOct 14, 2026
City Council work session on housing, sheltering and homelessnessCity of Salem calendarOct 19, 2026
Data Center Task Force town hall on draft recommendationsCity of SalemOct 20, 2026
Election Day: ballots due by 8 pmMarion County ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Irvin M. Brown, Shane Matthews, Paul Tigan5 on this ballot

9 council seats. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

Salem's elected officials are the mayor, eight city councilors and the municipal judge. City of Salem
Each councilor represents one city ward. City of Salem
The mayor serves a two-year term and councilors serve four-year terms. City of Salem

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