Elections
General Municipal Election - November 5, 2024
Notice of Nominees and Measures (中文 / 한국인 / Español / Tiếng Việt )
Notice of Election (中文 / 한국인 / Español / Tiếng Việt )
Public Notice of Offices to be Filled and Incumbency Information (Pursuant to Elections Code Section 10224.5)
The next General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The election will be for the Mayor, for a term of two (2) years; and three (3) Councilmember Ward Seats (Ward Nos. 1, 3, and 5), each for a term of four (4) years. The election will also be for four (4) Measures placed on the ballot by the Santa Ana City Council.
The City Clerk serves as the Elections Official and is responsible for all candidate filings, the issuance and acceptance of nomination papers, City measures including arguments and rebuttals, and publication of all legal notices as well as campaign and conflict of interest filings required by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).
Information on this site will be updated periodically. Should you have any specific election questions, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 714-647-6520 or via email to the City Clerk at jhall@santa-ana.org.
For information pertaining to any County, School Board, or Special District election, please visit the Orange County Registrar of Voters. Statewide election information can be found through the California Secretary of State.
What's on the ballot for 2024 for Santa Ana?
(中文 / 한국인 / Español / Tiếng Việt )
At the municipal level, there are several items on the ballot for 2024:
- Candidates for City Council: Mayor, Ward 1, Ward 3, and Ward 5 seats
- City Ballot Measures (4)
Measure Documents
- Notice To Voters Of Date After Which No Arguments May Be Submitted
(中文 / 한국인 / Español / Tiếng Việt ) - Form of Statement to be Filed by Authors of Arguments (Required)
- Supporters/Opponents to be Listed on Ballot Label (Required)
- Authorization to Sign Rebuttal (Optional)
2024 Candidate List
The Nomination Period has closed.
NOTE: Following the randomized drawing conducted by the Secretary of State on August 15, 2024, the Official Candidate List of qualified candidates will be posted in the order they shall appear on the ballot.
MAYOR (At-large) (**listed in alphabetical order)
Name | Nomination Paper (Status) | Ballot Designation | Candidate Statement |
Valerie Amezcua | Qualified | Santa Ana Mayor | Yes |
Benjamin Vazquez | Qualified | Teacher/Councilmember | Yes |
CITY COUNCILMEMBER (Ward 1) (**listed in alphabetical order)
Name | Nomination Paper (Status) | Ballot Designation | Candidate Statement |
Julie Tran | Qualified | Small Business Owner | Yes |
Thai Viet Phan | Qualified | Santa Ana Councilmember | Yes |
CITY COUNCILMEMBER (Ward 3) (**listed in alphabetical order)
Name | Nomination Paper (Status) | Ballot Designation | Candidate Statement |
Jessie Lopez | Qualified | Santa Ana Councilwoman | Yes |
Jeffrey Katz | Qualified | Lawyer/Business Owner | Yes |
CITY COUNCILMEMBER (Ward 5) (**listed in alphabetical order)
Name | Nomination Paper (Status) | Ballot Designation | Candidate Statement |
Johnathan Ryan Hernandez | Qualified | Santa Ana City Councilmember | Yes |
Mario Alvarado | Qualified | City Commissioner/Businessowner | Yes |
About the elections process
The City Council is made up of a Mayor and six Councilmembers, for a total of seven members. City Councilmembers are nominated by their respective wards and the Mayor seat is nominated at-large. The offices of Mayor and City Council are non-partisan. The Mayor serves a term of two years, with a maximum of four terms. Councilmembers each serve a four-year term, with a maximum of three four-year terms.
Elections are held every two-years in the even-numbered years. The Mayoral Seat is on the ballot at each election. Councilmember Ward Seats alternate three seats per election (ex. 2024 - Ward Nos. 1, 3, 5; 2026 - Ward Nos. 2, 4, 6; and so forth).
Pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-041, to be eligible to be elected to the office of Councilmember, a person must be a registered voter and provide proof of residency no less than 30 days in the ward from which the candidate is nominated prior to issuing the nomination papers. To be eligible to be elected to the office of Mayor, a person must be a registered voter and provide proof of residency no less than 30 days in Santa Ana.
How to run for office
Candidates may be nominated for the elective office of the respective ward they reside in, or the City overall, only during the Nomination Period between the 113th day and the 88th day before a municipal election. In 2024, the nomination period is Monday, July 15 through Friday, August 9. Regular business hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Thursday, and alternating Fridays (see calendar).
Eligible candidates must be:
- a United States citizen;
- 18 years old on or before Election Day;
- a registered voter;
- a current Santa Ana resident
- proof verifying thirty (30) days of residency for that office is required by the time Nomination Papers are issued by the elections official.
1. Before nomination period
There are certain things that potential candidates can do to prepare for election before candidate filing commences. You can file a Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) with the City Clerk’s office. You may establish a Campaign Committee if you plan to raise $2,000+ or spend $1,000+ during your campaign. To establish a Committee, you will need to: 1) file a Statement of Organization (Form 410) with the Secretary of State and provide a copy to the City Clerk's Office, and 2) set up an electronic filing account by contacting the City Clerk's Office by email at cityclerk@santa-ana.org. Please read the limitations on contributions from Santa Ana City Charter Section 1206.
2. During nomination period
Interested candidates must pick up one Nomination Packet from the City Clerk's Office by making an appointment within the Nomination Period. The packet consists of one Nomination Petition to circulate and forms to complete and file before the end of the nomination period. The nomination of candidates requires no less than 20 valid signatures from registered voters in the jurisdiction of the office they are running for to qualify for the ballot.
3. After nomination period
If you won the election and established a Campaign Committee, you must continue filing semi-annual statements until you terminate the Committee. All elected officials are also required to file annual Statements of Economic Interest or Conflict of Interest Statements (Form 700) and complete mandatory trainings such as Ethics AB1234 every two years.
If you were not successful in the election and established a Committee, pursuant to FPPC Manual 2 it is recommended that you terminate your Committee as soon as possible to avoid further annual filing fees to the Secretary of State. Please refer to the manual for additional information. The City also recommends participating in local government in other ways by serving on a board or commission or participating in public meetings.
Additional information
- Candidate Handbook and Resource Guide 2024
- Current Council Ward Map for the 2024 Election
- Campaign signs dos and don'ts
Election history
- Election results – Mayor and City Council (1886-2023)
- Election results – measures and Charter amendments (1886-2018)
Campaign finance
- Search campaign contribution filings (2012 to present)
- City of Santa Ana - Campaign Contribution Limits
- Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)
The FPPC is the State agency that enforces State laws regarding, among other things, campaign financing and spending, financial conflicts of interest, and gifts and honoraria given to public officials and candidates under the Political Reform Act. The FPPC provides written and oral advice to public agencies, candidates, and officials on the requirements of the Political Reform Act. The FPPC’s Advice Line can be reached at 1-866-ASK-FPPC (1-866-275-3772) or email at advice@fppc.ca.gov
Proof of residency for current councilmembers
- Mayor Amezcua
- Mayor Pro Tem Phan
- Councilmember Vazquez
- Councilmember Lopez
- Councilmember Bacerra
- Councilmember Hernandez
- Councilmember Penaloza
Voter information
- Visit the County of Orange Registrar of Voters website
The Registrar of Voters (ROV) is the County Elections Official and the office conducts all Federal, State, County, Municipal, School District, and Special District scheduled and special elections. The ROV Office is also responsible for voter registration, education and outreach, maintenance of registration files, verification of initiatives, referenda, and recall petitions, and filing of campaign reports.