Phoenix voters are in for a crowded City Council ballot this November, with 16 candidates officially cleared to run for four district seats. The certified field covers Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8, and District 4 is already shaping up as the biggest, most chaotic contest of the bunch. With incumbents defending some seats and others left wide open, the outcome this fall could shift the council’s overall balance.
Certified Field: Who Made The Ballot
The City Clerk has certified 16 candidates for the November 3 ballot across the four districts up this cycle, according to the City of Phoenix. District 4 is the heavyweight race, with eight candidates in the running: Ashley Harder, Ed Hermes, Cassandra Hernandez, Patricia Jimenez, Zachary Lauer, Michael Mazzocco, Robb Olivieri and Megan Schmitz.
District 2 features three contenders, with Matt Evans, Danny Mazza and Julie Read certified for the ballot. District 6 will see Michael Del Prete and Kevin Robinson go head to head, while District 8 lists Frank Abasciano Jr., Kesha Hodge Washington and Jarrett Barton Maupin Jr.
Matchups, Incumbents And The Hot Races
District 6 will pit incumbent Kevin Robinson against challenger Michael Del Prete, and District 8 brings back incumbent Kesha Hodge Washington facing a new round of challengers. Those lineups reflect results and swearing-in changes from 2023 reported by local outlets, and they give voters a mix of familiar names and new faces.
District 4’s eight-person scramble is already drawing interest from neighborhood groups and potential endorsers, since an open seat tends to invite a crowd. District 2, with three candidates, is set up as a more traditional multi-way race where ground game, community outreach and basic name recognition could prove decisive.
Key Dates And How To Cast A Ballot
Early ballots for the November 3, 2026 general election are set to begin mailing on October 7, 2026, and the last day to register to vote for that election is October 5, 2026, according to the City of Phoenix. If no candidate in a race wins a majority in November, the top two finishers will move on to a city runoff scheduled for March 9, 2027.
The same calendar notes that 5 p.m. on July 17 is the final deadline for a candidate to withdraw, effectively locking in the ballot lineup just before the legal challenge window closes.
Challenges, Deadlines And What Comes Next
Nomination petitions and candidate paperwork can be challenged during the formal county challenge period. Maricopa County rules set that window from July 7 through July 20 at 5 p.m., and spell out how to bring those challenges in Superior Court, according to Maricopa County Elections.
On the broader election calendar, Arizona lists the statewide primary date as July 21, 2026, along with key registration and voting deadlines for the summer and fall, per the Arizona Secretary of State. Once the challenge period closes and the withdrawal deadline passes, campaigns are expected to shift fully into voter outreach, endorsements and fundraising as the fall ballot-mailing date approaches.
Voters who want to see the full certified roster, candidate packets or campaign finance filings can turn to election resources maintained by city, county and state officials as the season moves into late summer. District 4 is likely to grab the biggest headlines, but turnout, late money and last-minute endorsements could keep any of these district races competitive all the way to November.
