Local races to watch as Sacramento-area residents vote in 2026 California primary
What’s at stake as Sacramento-area voters head to the polls Tuesday for the 2026 California primary election?
Here are the key local races to keep an eye on:
Davis Measure V
A ballot measure asks Davis voters to rule on the Village Farms project, which asks voters to weigh new housing against traffic, environmental concerns and the city’s slow-growth identity.
The proposed 390-acre project north of East Covell Boulevard, between Pole Line Road and the Cannery neighborhood, would include market-rate homes, 360 affordable units and 70 units offering down payment assistance
Placer County Superior Court
Contested elections for judges are rare, but one such race is taking place in Placer County.
Rocklin Mayor Dave Bass, a prosecutor in the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office, is challenging incumbent Judge Leon Dixson, who was appointed to the bench two years ago by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Sacramento City Council
Seats representing three council districts are on the June primary ballot.
In District 1, representing North Natomas and Robla, incumbent Lisa Kaplan faces challenger former FBI specialist Jenn Chawla, who has been endorsed by Mayor Kevin McCarty and the other council member representing Natomas, Karina Talamantes.
In District 5, representing Oak Park, Hollywood Park, the Executive Airport area and Parkway, incumbent Caity Maple faces challengers analyst Santiago Morales and retired sheriff’s deputy Henry Harry.
In District 7, representing Land Park, Greenhaven and the Pocket, longtime incumbent Rick Jennings faces challengers urban planner Scott Lau and attorney Mark Velasquez.
Sacramento County Board of Education
Six candidates are vying for two open seats on the board, which oversees the Sacramento County Office of Education, which provides services and oversight to 13 public school districts, including the Los Rios Community College District, affecting 255,000 students
The board also authorizes charter schools and chooses the Sacramento County superintendent of schools.
Newcomer Annie Fischer faces incumbent Paul Keefer for the District 3 seat, while hopefuls Dominique Donette, Ralph Merletti, Anna Molander Hermann and Davon Thomas compete to represent District 1, where longtime trustee Bina Lefkovitz is not running for reelection.
Incumbent Mariana Corona Sabeniano will be reelected to the District 2 seat without appearing on the ballot as no one opted to challenge her.
Sacramento County Board of Supervisors
Two seats on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors are up for election.
In District 1, representing North Natomas, North Sacramento, East Sacramento and Oak Park, four candidates are vying to replace retiring four-term Supervisor Phil Serna.
They are longtime Sacramento City Councilmember Eric Guerra, 2024 Sacramento mayor hopeful Flojaune Cofer and former Sacramento council member, former legislator Deborah Ortiz and software programmer Tim Riley, a political newcomer with a focus on relocating to the Aftershock music festival from Discovery Park to Cal Expo
In District 2, representing Land Park, Lemon Hill, Meadowview, Greenhaven, the Pocket, Valley Hi and Vineyard, incumbent Patrick Kennedy seeks a fourth term against challengers Ronnie Bell, a retired pastor and former state worker, and Brian Lajda, who works in the Elk Grove Unified School District’s food and nutrition services department.
Sutter County
Three Sutter County races will be decided in the June primary, with head-to-head challenges for schools chief, treasurer-tax collector and assessor.
Yolo County Supervisors
Two seats on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors are up for election, but incumbent Supervisor Lucas Frerichs is running unopposed to represent District 2, which covers Winters, most of Davis and southwest Yolo County.
In District 3, which covers Woodland and part of West Sacramento, three candidates seek to replace outgoing Supervisor Mary Vixie Sandy.
Teacher and deputy supervisor Dotty Pritchard, former Woodland council member Xochitl Rodriguez and Woodland council member Mayra Vega are on the ballot.
Yuba County Supervisors
Two seats on the Yuba County Board of Supervisors are up for election, although incumbent Supervisor Jon Messick is running unopposed for the District 5 seat.
In District 1, former community fire chief Rich Webb and lifelong county resident Marie Vue are contending to replace incumbent Supervisor Andy Vasques Jr., who did not seek re-election.
The Bee’s Sharon Bernstein, Camryn Dadey, Jake Goodrick, Daniel Lempres. Jennah Pendleton and Graham Womack contributed to this story.