Every election news item OurGilroy tracks for the November 3, 2026 ballot — local press coverage, candidate announcements, measure updates and radio appearances — newest first. Sourced from the Gilroy Dispatch, Patch and other local outlets, campaign channels, and a daily automated news scan.
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Christina Tovar (2)
Elizabeth Bracco (1)
Fred Tovar (2)
Rebeca Armendariz (9)
Tom Cline (2)
Gilroy hotel tax (TOT) increase (1)
September 2026
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2026-09-04Tom Cline needs to be brought back for District 5. Not only has he volunteered for years, but he has also been readily available to Gilroy residents since his election in 2022; if you text him, he will return your call. In District 6, two grieving families in Gilroy still have not gotten closure. The […]
August 2026
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2026-08-15A 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.
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2026-08-12With the nomination period closed, the Dispatch rounds up the full November 3 field — two candidates in District 4, three each in Districts 5 and 6, with headshots for all eight. Also noted: Councilmember Dion Bracco is retiring after 21 years (and hopes the city remodels Wheeler Auditorium into a community center rather than demolishing it), Councilmember Carol Marques is not seeking reelection, GUSD Trustee Areas 1, 3, 4 and 7 are on the ballot, and Valley Water District 1 pits incumbent John Varela against former Gilroy City Administrator Jimmy Forbis.
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2026-08-12The Dispatch's wrap-up of the closed nomination period notes she is the daughter of Councilmember Dion Bracco, who is retiring after 21 years on the council. Her candidate headshot ran with the story.
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2026-08-05In a widely shared Facebook video (600+ reactions) she films herself taking the candidate’s oath at the City Clerk’s office: “I am officially a ‘qualified’ candidate today! … I guess it’s because I am taking an oath to represent my community.” The City Clerk’s table records her qualification on August 6.
July 2026
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2026-07-29Her campaign Facebook page posted photos from a Workers Rights / Know Your Rights training on July 29: “Ended the day at a Workers Rights/Know your rights training with these powerful dedicated women!”
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2026-07-22She sat for an interview on KKUP 91.5 FM’s Queer Time program, aired July 22. Neighbors shared the listen-back instructions on Nextdoor (kkup.org → schedule → July 22 broadcast).
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2026-07-22Her 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.
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2026-07-22The Dispatch's roundup of the qualifying period: seven council candidates so far across Districts 4, 5 and 6, plus the GUSD trustee races (Areas 1, 3, 4, 7), the Valley Water District 1 seat, and the city's hotel-tax measure on the same ballot.
June 2026
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2026-06-12In a letter to the Gilroy Dispatch, Councilmember Tom Cline announced he will run for the new District 5 council seat in November, citing district elections, the Economic Development Department, a fourth fire station and street maintenance among the council's accomplishments during his term.
February 2026
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2026-02-19Coverage of the proposal: current 9% rate unchanged since 1983, county average about 12%, and revenue potential rising from $1.8M to as much as $2.6M a year.
November 2024
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2024-11-05Running for a third term in the November 2024 at-large election, Tovar finished fourth for three seats, about 400 votes behind Kelly Ramirez. Zach Hilton, Terence Fugazzi and Ramirez won the seats.
November 2022
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2022-11-28Organizers submitted 6,375 signatures in October 2022, but the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters determined the petition was insufficient after a random sample of 500 signatures found only 383 valid. The recall never went to a vote, and Armendariz served out her term through 2024.
October 2022
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2022-10-03At a contentious October 3, 2022 meeting, a council majority (Mayor Blankley and Councilmembers Dion Bracco, Leroe-Muñoz, Marques and Fred Tovar) directed the mayor to draft a formal resignation request if the recall petition gathered enough signatures. Armendariz said she would not resign: "I didn't ask for this recall, just like I didn't ask for that party."
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October 2022The Santa Clara County Democratic Party, on a resolution written by then-Councilmember Zach Hilton and others, withdrew its endorsement of Tovar, stating his record was in conflict with the party's platform. Tovar said attacks on his record were unfair: "I'm trying to represent the entire community."
August 2022
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2022-08-22The family of Jesse Sanchez, one of the men shot at the party who later died, filed a wrongful-death suit in Santa Clara County Superior Court naming Rebeca, Augustina and Domingo Armendariz along with the City of Gilroy as defendants.
May 2022
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2022-05-16Recall organizers served Armendariz with a notice of intent to recall. Proponents needed signatures from 20% of Gilroy's registered voters (at least 6,217) to force a recall election.
April 2022
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April 2022An administrative investigation by the Hanson Bridgett law firm, released in mid-April 2022, concluded Armendariz violated several city ordinances in helping organize the party, including failing to obtain a permit and hosting an event where underage drinking occurred. The city issued her 10 citations; her attorney appealed them.
October 2021
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2021-10-30Two people were shot and killed and two others injured at a Halloween party at Armendariz's Gilroy residence. She was later cited by the city in connection with the event.
News items are collected from public coverage and campaign channels and refreshed daily; items badged “auto-detected” were found by an automated feed scan and may not have been editorially reviewed yet. OurGilroy does not endorse candidates or measures. Spot a story we missed? Let us know.