Elections › District 5 › Christina Tovar
Christina TovarDistrict 5
City Council, District 5 · CPA and small business owner
Qualified — on the ballot
Nov 3, 2026 ballot Qualified for the ballot July 28, 2026 (per the City Clerk's candidate table). She filed Form 501 and was issued nomination papers July 13, and submitted her completed papers July 27.
Latest2026-11-04 — Updated Nov. 3 results keep Bentz, Tovar, Armendariz in lead for three Gilroy City Council seats full chronology ↓
Latest from the campaign
the most recent posts we've captured, shown live from the platform — filings and milestones are in the chronology belowAbout
Christina Tovar is a CPA who runs two small businesses in downtown Gilroy, where she also owns the building that houses them. On her campaign site she describes herself as a wife, mother of four and grandmother whose priorities include fiscal responsibility and constituent service.
She filed to run for the new District 5 seat in July 2026, in Gilroy's first district-based council election. (She is related by marriage to former councilmember Fred Tovar, who is running in District 4 — San José Spotlight identifies her as the wife of his cousin Raul Tovar. The Spotlight also identifies her as owner of the property-maintenance company R.A.C. Services.)
Upcoming appearances
forums, meet-and-greets and campaign eventsNo upcoming appearances tracked yet. Know of a forum or campaign event? Tell us.
Campaign finance filings
FPPC forms filed with the City Clerk, from the City's NetFile portal| Filed | Form | What it is | Filer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24, 2026 | 460 | Campaign finance report (contributions & spending) | Friends of Christina Tovar for Gilroy City Council 2026 District 5 | View ↗ |
| Sep 24, 2026 | 497 | Late contribution report ($1,000+ in the final stretch) | Friends of Christina Tovar for Gilroy City Council 2026 District 5 | View ↗ |
| Jul 27, 2026 | 700 | Statement of economic interests | Friends of Christina Tovar for Gilroy City Council 2026 District 5 | View ↗ |
| Jul 19, 2026 | 410 | Committee registration | Friends of Christina Tovar for Gilroy City Council 2026 District 5 | View ↗ |
| Jul 17, 2026 | 410 | Committee registration | Friends of Christina Tovar for Gilroy City Council 2026 District 5 | View ↗ |
| Jul 12, 2026 | 501 | Candidate intention statement | Christina Tovar | View ↗ |
Campaign chronology
announcements, news coverage, filings and milestones — newest first- 📰 2026-11-04 Updated Nov. 3 results keep Bentz, Tovar, Armendariz in lead for three Gilroy City Council seats ↗ Initial, unofficial election results show Diana Sanchez Bentz, Christina Tovar and Rebeca Armendariz leading the Nov. 3 vote for Gilroy City Council Districts 4, 5 and 6, respectively.  Results posted early in the morning Nov. 4 on the Santa Clara County Registrar’s website account for 28.4% of the county’s registered voters.  The early, partial results […] Gilroy Dispatch · auto-detected
- 📰 2026-11-03 Early election results show Bentz, Tovar, Armendariz in lead for Gilroy City Council ↗ Initial election results show Diana Sanchez Bentz, Christina Tovar and Rebeca Armendariz leading the Nov. 3 vote for Gilroy City Council Districts 4, 5 and 6, respectively.  Results posted at 8:08pm on the Santa Clara County Registrar’s website account for about 23% of the county’s registered voters. The next local results will be updated at […] Gilroy Dispatch · auto-detected
- 💬 2026-10-24 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-23 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-21 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-20 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-16 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-15 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-14 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-12 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-10 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-08 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-07 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-06 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-04 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-03 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-02 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-10-01 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-30 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-29 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-28 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 📰 2026-09-24 Attends Youth Alliance candidate forum ↗ Photographed with a table placard at Youth Alliance's “Engage, Lead & Transform” candidate forum at South Valley Middle School, alongside fellow candidate Joseph Garcia and others. Facebook (Brad Starks campaign photo)
- 💬 2026-09-24 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 📰 2026-09-24 Dispatch publishes her candidate bio and statement ↗ The Dispatch's District 5 candidate-profile installment ran Tovar's statement as written by the candidate. A longtime Gilroy resident, accountant and business owner (with her husband, of R.A.C. Services and SynerG Coworking downtown), she emphasizes collaboration, careful resource management, and the insight from her business and nonprofit volunteer experience. Gilroy Dispatch
- 📰 2026-09-24 Meet the candidates: Gilroy City Council District 5, GUSD Trustee Area 4 ↗ In this week’s edition, as part of our ongoing election coverage the Dispatch will feature candidates for Gilroy City Council District 5 and Gilroy Unified School District Trustee Area 4.  Running for Council District 5 are Joseph Garcia, Christina Tovar and Tom Cline. Candidates for GUSD TA4 are Trevor Scott Van Laar and Jane Stevens.  […] Gilroy Dispatch · auto-detected
- 🧾 2026-09-24 Files FPPC 460 — Campaign finance report (contributions & spending) ↗ Filed by Friends of Christina Tovar for Gilroy City Council 2026 District 5. NetFile · auto-detected
- 🧾 2026-09-24 Files FPPC 497 — Late contribution report ($1,000+ in the final stretch) ↗ Filed by Friends of Christina Tovar for Gilroy City Council 2026 District 5. NetFile · auto-detected
- 💬 2026-09-23 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-21 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-19 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-17 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-16 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-15 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-13 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-11 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-09 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-07 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-06 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-04 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 📰 2026-09-03 Endorsed by the Santa Clara County Democratic Party ↗ At its September 3, 2026 meeting, the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee voted to endorse Christina Tovar in the District 5 race, according to the party's published meeting recap. (The party endorsed one candidate in each of Gilroy's three council districts.) Santa Clara County Democratic Party
- 💬 2026-09-02 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-09-01 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 📰 2026-08-27 Profiled in San José Spotlight's candidate roundup ↗ The Spotlight's profile: Tovar, 47, is a 30-year Gilroy resident with finance and accounting degrees from San Jose State and the University of Maryland Global Campus, and owner of property-maintenance company R.A.C. Services. (The article identifies her as the wife of Fred Tovar's cousin Raul Tovar.) Her priorities are fiscal responsibility, transparency, easier zoning for businesses and a livelier downtown: “My biggest concern is that we’re standing still while other cities are moving forward.” San José Spotlight
- 💬 2026-08-27 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-08-25 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-08-22 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-08-20 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-08-19 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-08-18 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-08-17 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 📅 2026-08-15 Meet & Greet at Miller Park ↗ A bilingual meet-and-greet with Christina Tovar: Saturday, August 15 from 10:00am to noon at Miller Park, 7851 Carmel St. Everyone is welcome — “come meet Christina, share your ideas, ask questions” — with light snacks and beverages provided. Announced on her campaign Facebook page August 10. Facebook
- 📰 2026-08-15 Meet & Greet at Miller Park — Saturday, August 15 ↗ A bilingual meet-and-greet with Christina Tovar: Saturday, August 15 from 10:00am to noon at Miller Park, 7851 Carmel St. Everyone is welcome — “come meet Christina, share your ideas, ask questions” — with light snacks and beverages provided. Announced on her campaign Facebook page August 10. Facebook
- 🚩 2026-08-14 Candidate statement published for public review ↗ Her official candidate statement for the November 3 ballot is posted on the City's elections page. Statements were open to public examination through August 17 under Elections Code §§13313–13314. City of Gilroy
- 💬 2026-08-12 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-08-10 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-08-04 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-07-31 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-07-30 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-07-28 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 🚩 2026-07-28 Qualifies for the ballot ↗ The City Clerk's candidate table shows her qualified for the ballot on July 28, 2026, after her nomination signatures were verified — the third candidate to complete the process, and the second in District 5, joining Joseph Garcia on the ballot. City of Gilroy
- 🚩 2026-07-28 Qualifies for the November ballot ↗ The City Clerk verified the nomination — officially on the ballot. City Clerk · auto-detected
- 🚩 2026-07-27 Submits nomination papers to the City Clerk ↗ The City Clerk's candidate table shows her nomination papers submitted July 27, 2026. Qualification for the ballot (signature verification) followed the next day. City of Gilroy
- 🧾 2026-07-27 Files FPPC 700 — Statement of economic interests ↗ Filed by Friends of Christina Tovar for Gilroy City Council 2026 District 5. NetFile · auto-detected
- 🚩 2026-07-27 Filed completed nomination papers ↗ Nomination papers submitted to the City Clerk for verification. City Clerk · auto-detected
- 💬 2026-07-24 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 📰 2026-07-22 Campaign kickoff at the Old City Hall Restaurant ↗ Her campaign launch was held Wednesday, July 22 at 6:00pm on the patio at the Old City Hall Restaurant, 7400 Monterey St. (invitation-only, per the campaign's flyer). Attendees posting on Facebook described a well-attended evening, with photos of her speaking from the podium in front of campaign banners. Facebook
- 🧾 2026-07-19 Files FPPC 410 — Committee registration ↗ Filed by Friends of Christina Tovar for Gilroy City Council 2026 District 5. NetFile · auto-detected
- 💬 2026-07-19 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-07-18 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 🧾 2026-07-17 Files FPPC 410 — Committee registration ↗ Filed by Friends of Christina Tovar for Gilroy City Council 2026 District 5. NetFile · auto-detected
- 💬 2026-07-17 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 💬 2026-07-16 Instagram post by @christina4council ↗ Instagram
- 🚩 2026-07-13 Issued nomination papers ↗ The City Clerk issued nomination papers for the District 5 seat. City Clerk · auto-detected
- 🚩 2026-07-13 Appears on the City's candidate list (nomination papers pulled) ↗ Listed under City Council for the November 3, 2026 election on the City's NetFile campaign-disclosure portal. NetFile
- 🧾 2026-07-12 Files FPPC 501 — Candidate intention statement ↗ Filed by Christina Tovar. NetFile · auto-detected
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