Palmdale Voters to Decide How Mayor Is Chosen

PALMDALE, Calif. — Palmdale voters will have an opportunity to decide how their city’s mayor is selected when they head to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Measure DE asks residents whether Palmdale should establish a directly elected, at-large mayor, beginning with the November 2028 general municipal election.

Currently, Palmdale operates under a five-district City Council system, with the mayor selected from among councilmembers rather than elected separately by voters citywide.

What Does Measure DE Mean?

A YES vote would support establishing the mayor’s office as a citywide elected position beginning in November 2028.

A NO vote would maintain the current system, in which the mayor is selected from among elected City Council members.

The measure requires a simple majority of votes cast to pass.

On July 7, 2026, the Palmdale City Council voted 4–1 to place the measure on the November ballot.

The proposed ballot measure was also associated with an estimated cost of approximately $436,000, raising questions about election expenses and other potential financial impacts.

Why Palmdale Changed to District Elections

In 2022, Palmdale transitioned from at-large City Council elections to a five-district system to address California Voting Rights Act requirements and improve opportunities for geographic and minority representation.

Under the current district-based system, residents vote for the councilmember representing their neighborhood rather than voting for all City Council seats.

Measure DE would introduce a citywide mayoral election while leaving the district-based council election structure in place.

Supporters and Opponents Raise Different Concerns

Supporters argue that directly electing the mayor would give residents greater influence over city leadership and create clearer accountability to voters throughout Palmdale.

Opponents have raised concerns about possible voting-rights litigation, additional election expenses, and whether citywide mayoral campaigns could increase political divisions.

Voters Have the Final Say

The November 3 election will determine whether Palmdale moves toward a directly elected mayor beginning in 2028 or continues with its current mayoral selection process.

For Palmdale residents, Measure DE presents a question about local government representation: Should the city’s mayor be chosen directly by all voters or continue to be selected by the elected City Council?

Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

AV Daily News | Antelope Valley Local Election Coverage

Photo : Vladimir Gomez