City Clerk’s Office
www.santa-ana.org/cityclerk
Item # 20
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
June 2, 2026
TOPIC: 2026 General Municipal Election
AGENDA TITLE
November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve resolution calling and giving notice of the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Santa Ana for the election of certain officers;
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA CALLING FOR AND GIVING NOTICE OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS PROVIDED BY THE
PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE XII OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA
2. Approve resolution requesting the Orange County Board of Supervisors to consolidate the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election; and
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF ORANGE TO CONSOLIDATE A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026, WITH THE STATEWIDE
GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THAT DATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 10403 AND 10418 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE
3. Approve a resolution adopting regulations for candidate statements.
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES
FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026
2026 General Municipal Election
June 2, 2026
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GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
Section 1201 of the City Charter provides that municipal officers shall be elected at a general municipal election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year, along with the statewide general election. The November 3, 2026 election shall be for the election of a Mayor, for a full two-year term, and for three (3) Councilmember seats, in Ward Nos. 2, 4, and 6, each for a full four-year term.
Pursuant to the Elections Code and City Charter, the three proposed resolutions are required to be adopted by the City Council prior to the election: i) call and give notice of the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election for the election of certain officers; ii) request the Board of Supervisors consolidate the election with the statewide general election, and iii) adopt regulations for candidate statements.
The nomination/candidate filing period will open at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 13, 2026 and close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026. If an eligible incumbent does not file, the filing period is extended for other candidates for that seat only to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
Candidates for Mayor and Councilmember may choose to submit a Candidate Statement to be submitted to the voters as part of the Voter Information Guide and/or posted online.
Submittal of a Candidate Statement is optional; those candidates who choose to submit a statement will be charged the cost of translating, printing, handling, and mailing such statement to voters. The Orange County Registrar of Voters has provided the following estimated costs for the 200-word Candidate Statement:
Position Printed in Voter
Information Guide and
Posted Online
Posted Online Only
Mayor $1,564.85 $461.46
Ward 2 Councilmember $616.35 $461.46
Ward 4 Councilmember $661.32 $461.46
Ward 6 Councilmember $624.09 $461.46
Ballot measures may be placed on the ballot by separate resolution(s), provided the resolution(s) calling the ballot measure(s) election is filed with the Orange County Board of Supervisors and Orange County Registrar of Voters no later than August 7, 2026, but preferably prior to July 17, 2026.
2026 General Municipal Election
June 2, 2026
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FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated cost provided by the Orange County Registrar of Voters for conducting the November 3, 2026 election is $451,000. Funding will be carried forward through Continuing Appropriations. Additional associated costs for public noticing, translations, materials, outreach, etc. are included in the City Clerk’s proposed FY2026/27 General Fund budget, which is being brought forward separately for City Council’s consideration.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Resolution – Calling Election
2. Resolution – Requesting Consolidation
3. Resolution – Candidate Statement Regulation
Submitted By: Jennifer L. Hall, City Clerk
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager