Loading…
November 3, 2026·Seats on ballot: Wards 2, 4, 6·City dashboard →
Riverside is the largest city in the Inland Empire (~330,000 residents) and a regional hub for logistics, healthcare, and higher education. Its seven-ward city council controls significant land-use authority over warehouse and distribution development — one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in Southern California — as well as decisions affecting housing, public works contracts, and environmental quality.
The November 2026 ballot will decide three of the seven council wards (2, 4, and 6). Ward 2, which covers a majority-Latino district in central Riverside, is the most contested: the incumbent, Clarissa Cervantes, is simultaneously running for the California State Assembly (AD-58), creating the potential for an open seat.
Wards 1, 3, 5, 7, and Mayor were elected in November 2024 and are not on the 2026 ballot.
Central Riverside, covering neighborhoods around downtown including Eastside, La Sierra Hills area and portions of the central core.
Incumbent
Elected 2021. Ward 2 represents a majority-Latino district in central Riverside. Cervantes is also a declared candidate for the California State Assembly (AD-58) in 2026.
Incumbent — running for AD-58 (potential open seat if she advances)
Declared Challengers
Data coverage: SoCal Public Ledger tracks Ward 2 campaign finance through the City of Riverside NetFile portal (CTRIV).
Northwest Riverside, covering Wood Streets, Magnolia Center, and Canyon Crest areas.
Incumbent
Longtime council member representing Ward 4. Running for re-election in 2026.
Incumbent — declared re-election candidate
Declared Challengers
Data coverage: SoCal Public Ledger tracks Ward 4 campaign finance through the City of Riverside NetFile portal (CTRIV).
South Riverside, covering Hunter Industrial Park, Orangecrest, and Mission Grove neighborhoods.
Incumbent
Council member representing Ward 6. Seat is up for election in November 2026.
Incumbent — re-election status to be confirmed
Declared Challengers
Data coverage: SoCal Public Ledger tracks Ward 6 campaign finance through the City of Riverside NetFile portal (CTRIV).
These council members were elected in November 2024 and serve until December 2028.
All officials and candidates with campaign finance data tracked in this system.
Listed alphabetically
These groups are active in Riverside and may play a role in the 2026 election cycle.
AFL-CIO central labor council for the Inland Empire. Coordinates union endorsements and electoral activity across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Labor-endorsed candidates in Riverside council races typically align with building trades, public employees, and service worker priorities.
Advocacy and legal services organization serving immigrant communities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Active in civic participation and policy advocacy, particularly on issues affecting Latino and immigrant residents in wards 2 and 6.
Primary newspaper of record for Riverside County. Covers city council, land-use decisions, and campaign finance. Useful for candidate coverage and election results.
Dates are estimates based on California Elections Code. Confirm at voteinfo.net (Riverside County Registrar of Voters).
Get alerts when candidates file
We’ll notify you when new Riverside candidates appear in campaign finance filings or when notable donation patterns are detected.