Palmdale Voters to Decide on At-Large Elected Mayor Measure in November 2026

PALMDALE, Calif. — Palmdale voters will have the opportunity to decide whether the City should create an at-large elected mayor when they cast their ballots in the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election.

At its July 7 meeting, the Palmdale City Council adopted a resolution placing the measure on the November ballot. If approved by a majority of voters, the measure would establish a citywide elected mayor with the first election taking place in November 2028.

Currently, the mayor is selected each year by a majority vote of the City Council from among its members.

The proposed measure would affect only how the mayor is selected. City Council members would continue to be elected by district.

Palmdale transitioned from at-large City Council elections to a five-district election system in 2022 to comply with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The district-based system was adopted to help ensure fair representation for minority communities by allowing residents to elect a councilmember who lives in and represents their specific neighborhood.

Today, the City is divided into five geographic districts. Rather than voting for every council seat, voters cast ballots only for the councilmember representing the district in which they reside.

If the ballot measure is approved, Palmdale residents would continue voting for their district councilmember while also voting citywide for the office of mayor every four years.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.