Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

El Paso City Council Election 2026

4 of 8

council seats up

4 contests

16 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.

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City Representative District 1 · 1 seat

Sam ArmijoRetired engineer and former General Electric nuclear business executive; served eight years on the federal Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, including as chairman from 2012 to 2014. U.S. Army veteran.6sourced
Alejandra "Ale" ChávezIncumbentCity Representative, District 1; term expires Dec. 31, 202615sourced
Daniela GarciaWorks at a company focused on sustainability and land restoration. Previously an education specialist with the City of Austin, where she wrote curriculum for its parks and recreation summer programs, and a licensed loan officer.7sourced
"MJK" Matthew James KozikCriminal defense and immigration attorney who founded his own El Paso law firm in 2019. Former Army Judge Advocate General's Corps officer who deployed to Afghanistan.4sourced

City Representative District 5 · 1 seat

City Representative District 6 · 1 seat

City Representative District 8 · 1 seat

Each of the four seats is elected only by voters who live in that district. A candidate needs a majority of the votes; otherwise the top two meet in a Dec. 12 runoff.

1 note on these statements

Jacqueline Horn filed for District 5 but was removed from the ballot after city officials said she did not meet the candidate requirements. El Paso Herald-Post · Sep 9, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Josh AcevedoCity Representative, District 2; seat next on the ballot in November 20288sourced Renard U. JohnsonMayor; seat next on the ballot in November 20284sourced Lily LimónCity Representative, District 7; seat next on the ballot in November 20287sourced Deanna Maldonado-RochaCity Representative, District 3; seat next on the ballot in November 20287sourced Cynthia Boyar TrejoCity Representative, District 4; seat next on the ballot in November 20289sourced

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 decidesProperty taxes and the city budget, Meta data center and future data centers, Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Deadline to register to vote

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Property taxes and the city budget

Where it standsIn August 2026 a divided council adopted the FY2027 budget and a tax rate of 79.8 cents per $100, raising the average-value home's city tax bill by about $105.

What's on the tableThe next council will set the FY2028 budget and tax rate, including the cost of new police and fire union contracts.

The council voted 6-2 to adopt the FY2027 budget and 6-2 to set a tax rate of 79.8 cents per $100, increasing city tax bills by about $105 on the average-value home. El Paso Matters · Aug 18, 2026
The tax-rate ordinance minutes describe the 79.8-cent rate as effectively a 6.76 percent increase in the tax rate. City Council minutes, Aug. 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
The firefighters union proposed new benefits costing about $66 million over four years; the city proposed about $43 million. El Paso Matters · Aug 18, 2026
The police union's contract expires next year, and the new contract will affect the FY2028 budget. El Paso Matters · Aug 18, 2026

Meta data center and future data centers

Where it standsThe council kept Meta's 2023 incentive agreement in place and instead directed staff to draft a legally enforceable community agreement with Meta.

What's on the tableThe council will vote on the draft community agreement with Meta and on how the city handles future data center proposals.

The city's agreement gives Meta an 80% break on city taxes for 25 years, and commits Meta to 50 permanent jobs, though the company has said it will employ at least 300. El Paso Matters · Jun 9, 2026
A motion to begin negotiating an end to the Meta agreement failed 3-5 on June 9, 2026. City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026
On June 23, 2026, the council unanimously directed staff to draft a community agreement with Meta and return within 45 days with a draft. City Council minutes, June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026
In May 2026 the council voted 8-0 that future hyperscale data centers should not be recruited or offered tax abatements or other incentives. City Council minutes, May 26, 2026 · May 26, 2026

Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza

Where it standsThe city and county signed a non-binding agreement with the Deck Plaza Foundation in April 2026; the agreement does not create specific funding obligations.

What's on the tableThe council will decide whether to commit $6 million in city money to unlock federal funding for the project.

The council approved the non-binding memorandum of understanding with the county and the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation 7-1. City Council minutes, April 14, 2026 · Apr 14, 2026
The city would have to commit $6 million by October to match $22.5 million from the federal government. El Paso Matters · Apr 17, 2026
The Deck Plaza Foundation released a cost estimate of $207 million with inflation for the deck and park; opponents cite a $412 million figure from the same study. El Paso Matters · Apr 17, 2026

Tax incentives for businesses

Where it standsThe city uses Chapter 380 agreements to give tax rebates and other incentives to companies, including Meta.

What's on the tableThe council approves or rejects each incentive agreement and sets the city's incentive policies.

In February 2026 the council unanimously adopted an Advanced Manufacturing Incentive Policy under Chapter 380, requiring council approval before Advanced Manufacturing District lease incentives are executed. City Council minutes, Feb. 17, 2026 · Feb 17, 2026
City officials have argued the Meta data center would bring new commercial tax revenue, estimated at about $15 million a year in city taxes. El Paso Matters · Jun 9, 2026

License plate reader cameras

Where it standsPolice stopped using the city's 150 Flock Safety license plate reader cameras on Sept. 3, 2026, and the council ordered them removed or covered.

What's on the tableThe council will consider a resolution limiting future use of license plate reader cameras.

The council voted 8-0 to have the Flock cameras removed within 60 days, allowing fully opaque covers as an interim step for 30 more days. City Council minutes, Sept. 15, 2026 · Sep 15, 2026
The council directed the city attorney to return within 30 days with a resolution barring new license plate reader contracts unless the council later directs otherwise. City Council minutes, Sept. 15, 2026 · Sep 15, 2026
Grant funding used to operate the cameras was blocked by Gov. Greg Abbott. El Paso Matters · Sep 15, 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. How should the council set the city's property tax rate?
2. What should the city do about its incentive agreement for Meta's data center?
3. Should the city put money into the Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza?
4. Should the city keep offering tax abatements to attract companies?
5. Should police use license plate reader cameras like Flock?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Deadline to register to voteEl Paso Matters · Aug 17, 2026Oct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsEl Paso Matters · Aug 17, 2026Oct 19, 2026
Applications for ballot by mail must be receivedCity of El PasoOct 23, 2026
Early voting endsEl Paso Matters · Aug 17, 2026Oct 30, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)City of El PasoNov 3, 2026
Runoff election, if no candidate wins a majorityCity of El PasoDec 12, 2026

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Josh Acevedo, Renard U. Johnson, Lily Limón, Deanna Maldonado-Rocha, Cynthia Boyar Trejo4 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 Nov. 3, 2026 general election fills four district representative seats, Districts 1, 5, 6 and 8, from single-member districts. City of El Paso
The candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast for each position is declared elected. City of El Paso
Any runoff election will be held on Dec. 12, 2026. City of El Paso
Winners take office in January and serve a four-year term; city elected officials can serve two four-year terms. El Paso Matters · Aug 17, 2026
Districts 2, 3, 4 and 7 and the mayor's seat are next up for election in November 2028. El Paso Matters · Aug 17, 2026
Chávez and Niño were elected in December 2024 to fill unexpired terms left by Brian Kennedy and Isabel Salcido, who resigned to run for mayor. El Paso Matters · Aug 17, 2026
Mayor Renard Johnson can only vote to break ties among council members. El Paso Matters · Aug 18, 2026
When the eight representatives split 4-4, the minutes record the mayor breaking the tie. City Council minutes, Feb. 17, 2026 · Feb 17, 2026

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