OurGilroy · Elections

November 3, 2026 · Gilroy's first district election · 📰 election news · ← all dashboards

For the first time, Gilroy votes for City Council by district. On November 3, 2026, voters in Districts 4, 5 and 6 each elect their own councilmember (Districts 1, 2 and 3 vote in 2028), alongside local ballot measures. Follow every candidate — announcements, campaign-finance filings, news coverage and appearances — updated daily.

District 1→2028
Votes in November 2028
District 2→2028
Votes in November 2028
District 3→2028
Votes in November 2028
District 4→2026
Diana Sanchez Bentz
Fred Tovar
District 5→2026
Tom Cline on council
Christina Tovar
Joseph Garcia
District 6→2026
Brad Starks
Elizabeth Bracco
Rebeca Armendariz

Find your district

Click a district for its candidates and details. Not sure which is yours? Look up your address on the City's map.
District 1 — votes in 2028 District 2 — votes in 2028 District 3 — votes in 2028 District 4 — votes in 2026 · 2 candidate(s) so far District 5 — votes in 2026 · 3 candidate(s) so far District 6 — votes in 2026 · 3 candidate(s) so far 1 2 3 4 5 6
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026 Votes in 2028

Key dates

November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election
  • December 2025 District boundaries take effect
    The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters established Gilroy's six council-district boundaries in December 2025, completing the city's transition from at-large to district elections. More →
  • 2026-07-13 Candidate filing opens for Districts 4, 5 and 6
    Candidates for the three district council seats can pull and file nomination papers with the City Clerk's office (7351 Rosanna Street, 408.846.0204) from July 13 through August 7. More →
  • 2026-07-13 Candidate nomination period opens (Districts 4, 5, 6)
    Nomination papers are issued by appointment with the City Clerk's office (Kim Mancera, 408-846-0204 ext. 204). The period opened 8:30am Monday, July 13, 2026. Candidates must be a resident and registered voter of the district for at least 30 days before filing. More →
  • 2026-08-07 Candidate filing closes
    Last day for candidates to file nomination papers. If an eligible incumbent does not file for a seat, the filing period for that seat extends five calendar days for non-incumbents. More →
  • 2026-08-07 Nomination period closes — 5:00pm sharp
    Last day to file completed nomination papers with the City Clerk (by appointment). These are brand-new district seats with no incumbents, so no incumbent-based filing extension applies. More →
  • 2026-08-13 Secretary of State's randomized alphabet drawing
    The California Secretary of State conducts the randomized alphabet drawing (Elections Code § 13112) that determines the order of candidates' names on the ballot. More →
  • 2026-08-14 Ballot order set; candidate statements posted for public review
    Following the Secretary of State's August 13 randomized alphabet drawing, the City Clerk's page now lists candidates in ballot order — District 4: Diana Sanchez Bentz, Fred Tovar; District 5: Tom Cline, Joseph Garcia, Christina Tovar; District 6: Rebeca Armendariz, Brad Starks, Elizabeth Bracco — with each candidate's official statement posted (public examination period ran through August 17). More →
  • 2026-10-19 Regular voter-registration deadline
    Last day of regular registration for the November 3 election. Check your status at sccvote.org; register or re-register at registertovote.ca.gov. (Same-day conditional registration remains available at vote centers.) More →
  • 2026-11-03 Election Day — November 3, 2026
    Gilroy's first district-based council election: voters in Districts 4, 5 and 6 each elect a councilmember. Districts 1, 2, 3 and the Mayor (elected citywide) are on the November 7, 2028 ballot. More →

Candidates — on the ballot in 2026

Districts 4, 5 and 6 · filing window July 13 – August 7, 2026

District 4

Diana Sanchez Bentz
Paralegal
On the ballot
Sep 26, 2026 — Serves as a judge at the CARAS Tamal Festival & Car Show
Fred Tovar
Higher education professional and college admissions consultant
On the ballot
Oct 20, 2026 — Instagram post by @fredmtovar

District 5

Tom ClineCouncilmember
City Councilmember
On the ballot
Oct 23, 2026 — Instagram post by @tomclineforgilroy
Christina Tovar
CPA and small business owner
On the ballot
Oct 24, 2026 — Instagram post by @christina4council
Joseph Garcia
Locomotive engineer
On the ballot
Sep 24, 2026 — Attends Youth Alliance candidate forum

District 6

Brad Starks
Product marketing director
On the ballot
Oct 2, 2026 — Meet the candidates: Gilroy City Council District 6
Elizabeth Bracco
Chief Financial Officer, Bracco's Towing and Transportation
On the ballot
Oct 22, 2026 — Instagram post by @elizabethbraccoforcitycouncil
Rebeca Armendariz
Movement Building Director, Working Partnerships USA
On the ballot
Oct 2, 2026 — Meet the candidates: Gilroy City Council District 6

Ballot measures

local measures headed for the November 3, 2026 ballot
Gilroy Unified School District $295M facilities bond On the November ballot
Gilroy Unified School District
The Gilroy Unified School District board voted in June 2026 to ask voters for $295 million in bonds for school facilities on the November 3 ballot. School bonds of this type require 55% voter approval to pass.
 Measure B — Measure B — Gilroy hotel tax (TOT) increase On the November ballot
City of Gilroy
An increase of Gilroy's transient occupancy tax (TOT) — the tax visitors pay on hotel, motel and short-term-rental stays of 30 days or less — from the current 9% to a not-to-exceed rate of 13%. If voters approve, the council would set the actual rate anywhere up to 13% by resolution.

Latest campaign activity

announcements, filings and news — newest first · all election news →

Thinking of running?

from the City Clerk's candidate information
To run for a district council seat you must be a resident and registered voter of that district for at least 30 days before filing nomination papers. Declaring your intent to run (and any fundraising) starts with an FPPC Form 501 filed with the City Clerk; raising or spending over $2,000 requires a campaign committee (FPPC Form 410, within 10 days of hitting $2,000). The nomination period for Districts 4, 5 and 6 runs July 13 – August 7, 2026 (5:00pm), with papers issued and filed by appointment with the City Clerk — Kim Mancera, 408-846-0204 ext. 204. Full requirements on the City's elections page ↗

Official resources

📰 Election news 🧾 Campaign finance filings (NetFile) 🏛️ City elections & voter information 📍 District lookup by address 🗳️ Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters 📖 About district-based elections

Candidate and measure information is compiled from public sources — the City of Gilroy, the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, the City's NetFile campaign-finance portal, and local news coverage — and refreshed daily. District boundaries are the official ROV boundaries (December 2025). OurGilroy is an independent community project; it does not endorse candidates or measures. Spot an error or a missing candidate? Let us know.