Anaheim Releases Unofficial 2026 Election Candidate List
Anaheim has published its first unofficial candidate list for the Nov. 3, 2026, municipal election, giving voters an early look at the people who filed or pulled papers for mayor and three City Council districts.
The list covers the mayoral office and Council Districts 2, 3 and 6. It was posted after the regular nomination period closed at 5 p.m. Aug. 7. The City of Anaheim says the roster is updated daily after 5 p.m., so the names and statuses can change as the election process continues.
Who is listed
Ashleigh Aitken is listed as filed and qualified for mayor. Alfredo Rodriguez and Imran Sharief are listed as having pulled papers.
For Council District 2, Carlos A. Leon is listed as having filed. District 3 lists Elia Renteria-Garcia and incumbent Natalie Rubalcava. Rubalcava is marked filed and qualified on the city’s list.
Incumbent Natalie Meeks is listed as having pulled papers for Council District 6.
The distinctions matter. Pulling papers indicates that a person began the filing process, while the city’s “filed and qualified” designation identifies candidates whose filing has been marked that way on the unofficial roster. The list is not yet the certified ballot lineup.
Key dates before the ballot is final
Candidate statements and ballot designations entered a public-examination period Aug. 8 and will remain open for review through Aug. 17. The Orange County Registrar of Voters says challenges may be filed during that period.
Another deadline could affect the current roster. If an eligible incumbent did not file for an office, the filing deadline for that office may extend to 5 p.m. Aug. 12. That extension leaves open the possibility of additional filings in qualifying races. The city’s current list does not establish whether any additional candidate will be accepted under that provision.
The California Secretary of State’s randomized alphabet drawing is scheduled for Aug. 13. That drawing determines the order in which candidate names appear on the ballot.
The certified state candidate list is scheduled for Aug. 27. Until that certification, the city’s posted lineup should be treated as preliminary rather than final.
What the list means for Anaheim voters
The roster provides the first public snapshot of the people seeking Anaheim’s mayoral office and seats in Districts 2, 3 and 6. It also shows which filings have been marked qualified and which people have only pulled papers so far.
It is too early to describe any of the races as uncontested. The possible incumbent-related extension, the public-review period and the certification process all remain ahead. Candidate statements and ballot designations may also face challenges during the review window.
For residents following the election, the next practical dates are Aug. 12 for any applicable extended filing deadline, Aug. 17 for the end of the public-examination period, Aug. 13 for the randomized ballot-order drawing and Aug. 27 for the certified candidate list. The election itself is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
Sources
- 2026 Unofficial Candidate List, City of Anaheim
- 2026 November Candidates Handbook, Orange County Registrar of Voters
- Key Dates and Deadlines: November 3, 2026, General Election, California Secretary of State
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