Everything Riverside voters need to know to cast informed ballots in the June 2026 primary: candidate profiles, ballot measure explanations, and how to register and vote. Updated continuously through Election Day.
Everything Riverside voters need to know to cast informed ballots in the June 2026 primary: candidate profiles, ballot measure explanations, and how to register and vote. Updated continuously through Election Day.
The County of Riverside Registrar of Voters office at 2720 Gateway Drive will serve as a key resource for residents during the June 2026 election. (Amy López)
Riverside voters will begin choosing City Council representatives for Wards 2, 4, and 6 in the June 2026 primary election, with runoffs in November if no candidate wins at least 50% of the vote. This marks the first time residents in these even-numbered wards will vote under new ward boundaries adopted in 2023.
The Raincross Gazette is interviewing candidates as they announce their campaigns and will continue publishing comprehensive coverage through Election Day, including candidate profiles, ward-specific race analysis, and voting resources.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This voter guide will be updated continuously through the June 2026 primary. We're publishing candidate profiles as we complete interviews, with comprehensive race coverage launching in early 2026. Last updated Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 5 a.m.
Election Timeline
May 4, 2026: County begins mailing ballots to all registered voters
May 5, 2026: Ballot drop-off locations open countywide
May 18, 2026:Last day to register to vote for the June primary (in-person same-day voter registration available at vote centers)
May 23, 2026: Early in-person voting begins at vote centers in Riverside County
June 2, 2026: Primary Election Day
Vote centers open for in-person voting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by this date (or dropped off by 8 p.m.)
November 3, 2026: Runoff election (if no candidate receives majority in June primary)
Riverside voters will choose representatives for three City Council seats in 2026. All candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Note: The candidate filing period remains open through early 2026. Additional candidates may still enter these races before the deadline closes.
Ward 2
The Ward 2 seat is open after incumbent Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes opted to run for State Assembly District 58 instead of seeking re-election, drawing four candidates into the race. Under new district boundaries adopted in 2023, Ward 2 now includes the University neighborhood, Hunter Park, Canyon Crest, Sycamore Canyon, and Mission Grove.
Full Ward 2 coverage and candidate comparisons in early 2026. Have a question for the candidates? Let us know
Ward 4
Incumbent Councilmember Chuck Conder, who has represented Ward 4 since 2017, faces new challengers in his re-election bid. Conder defeated a single challenger in 2021 with 56% of the vote. Under new district boundaries adopted in 2023, Ward 4 now includes Alessandro Heights, Mission Grove, Orangecrest, and the Greenbelt.
Candidates:
Chuck Conder – Incumbent, no website, interview coming soon.
Jessica Qattawi – announced on social media, interview coming soon.
Full Ward 4 coverage and candidate comparisons in early 2026. Have a question for the candidates? Let us know
Ward 6
The Ward 6 seat is open after three-term Councilmember Jim Perry announced he will not seek re-election, ending a tenure that began in 2013. Perry ran unopposed in his last election in 2021. Under new district boundaries adopted in 2023, Ward 6 now includes Arlanza, La Sierra, La Sierra Hills, La Sierra South, and portions of Arlington.
Candidates:
Luis Hernandez – Filed with city, interview coming soon.
Ox Puerta – Filed with city, interview coming soon.
Full Ward 6 coverage and candidate comparisons in early 2026. Have a question for the candidates? Let us know
