Novato City Council nomination period opens July 13 for Nov. 3 election: Dist. 2, 4, 5

Residents who may be considering running for Novato City Council—and voters trying to line up district seats for the Nov. 3, 2026 election—have a near-term deadline to watch.

Which Novato City Council seats are up

The City says the November 2026 election will include three district-based seats:

• Councilmember District 2 — full term of four years
• Councilmember District 4 — full term of four years
• Councilmember District 5 — partial term of two years

Nomination (filing) period: July 13 to Aug. 7

Novato’s City notice says the nomination period opens July 13, 2026 and closes Aug. 7, 2026 for these district seats.

The limited Aug. 12 extension (not automatic for everyone)

The City also describes a limited automatic extension: the nomination period is extended to Aug. 12, 2026 only within the specific district if an incumbent does not file by the Aug. 7 deadline—for non-incumbents only.

In other words, the “backup” date is conditional and district-specific. Don’t plan on Aug. 12 unless the City’s incumbent-not-filing condition applies to your district.

Candidate eligibility: requirements tied to your district

Novato’s notice emphasizes that City Council is elected by district, so would-be candidates must meet district-based expectations at the time they file. The City states candidates must:

• Reside and be a registered voter in the district they seek to represent at the time nomination papers are issued
• Gather signatures from individuals who are registered voters in the district for which they’re running
• File all other required paperwork and complete all other required steps before the nomination period closes

How voters can confirm their district

Because the seats are district-based, voters should confirm which Novato City Council district they live in before assuming which race(s) their ballot will include. The City Clerk’s page points residents to an interactive district map (the “What’s My District?” tool) to match an address to a district and councilmember.

What to watch next

For potential candidates, mark July 13 as the opening date and Aug. 7 as the deadline. For voters, confirming your district now helps you know which seat(s) matter for your household—especially if an Aug. 12 extension is triggered in a particular district.

Sources

• City of Novato — “Nomination Period Opens July 13” (City Council filing notice)
• Marin County Elections — Candidate guide: important dates (11/03/26)