Palmdale is gearing up for a big ballot question in November 2026: should the city bring back a mayor elected by all voters to a four-year term, instead of letting councilmembers trade off the title each year? The City Council voted earlier this month to put that choice on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot after Mayor Eric Ohlsen requested the item for the July 7 agenda. If voters say yes, the new at-large mayoral seat would debut in the November 2028 election.
What the ballot measure would change
According to a post from the City of Palmdale on Facebook, the "November 2026 At-Large Elected Mayor Ballot Measure" would "allow all city voters to elect a mayor to a four-year term regardless of district." The city notes that the council approved a resolution on July 7 to place this proposed charter amendment on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. If a majority of voters back the change, it would first apply to the Nov. 2028 election.
How Palmdale chooses its mayor now
For now, the mayor is chosen internally. Each year, the City Council selects one of its own members to serve a one-year term as mayor, with the decision made by majority vote. The city routinely announces those decisions, including Eric Ohlsen’s appointment at the start of 2026, in its official alerts, as reflected in the City of Palmdale News Flash.
Local coverage has also traced how Palmdale moved away from a directly elected mayor in 2022, tying that shift to a broader redistricting plan that added more council districts. That transition, and its fallout, have been a recurring flashpoint in subsequent council meetings and media reports, as noted by Yahoo News.
Timeline and how to vote
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 is the date of California’s statewide general election, and that is when Palmdale voters will see the mayoral question, assuming the current council resolution holds. The California Secretary of State election calendar confirms Nov. 3 as the 2026 general election and outlines the key deadlines counties must follow for voter guides and ballots.
Los Angeles County is responsible for administering the election and will release the official sample ballot and county voter information guide before voting begins. Those materials will include the final ballot language, any impartial analyses, and other official documentation for residents to review.
Why it matters
Switching to a directly elected, citywide mayor could significantly change how politics works in Palmdale. A mayor with a separate four-year mandate from all voters might shape campaign strategies, fundraising efforts, and policy priorities differently than a colleague temporarily elevated by the council.
The question comes at a time when election rules in the Antelope Valley are already under a microscope. Past lawsuits and county-level districting decisions have repeatedly pushed local governments to revisit how they structure elections, a history detailed by the Los Angeles Times. Supporters of an at-large mayor argue that it creates a single, clearly accountable leader for the entire city. Critics caution that a citywide race could favor better-funded campaigns and potentially tilt attention toward certain neighborhoods over others.
Next steps
The City Clerk’s office will work with the Los Angeles County Registrar to finalize the measure, secure certifications, and ensure it is printed on the Nov. 2026 ballot. Both the county and the city are expected to publish the official ballot wording, key dates, and related materials as those are set.
Residents can track updates, including calendar details, candidate filing rules, and other election information, through the City of Palmdale election page, which also lists contact details for the City Clerk. Voters should keep an eye on county sample-ballot tools and city announcements for the voter pamphlet, plus formal arguments for and against the measure and any submitted statements of support or opposition.
