A sign directs voters to the ballot box at the Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections office on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
Hector Amezcua
hamezcua@sacbee.com
The city of Sacramento’s deadline ended Friday for candidates to file for a seat on the City Council.
Here’s who is running in 2026.
Talamantes runs unopposed
Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes, 37, is running unopposed for the June 2 primary election. First elected in 2022, Talamantes said she was excited, honored and humbled to have likely secured her seat. She represents constituents in parts of North and South Natomas, Northgate and Gardenland.
“I feel like running unopposed is people acknowledging all the hard work that I do for the community,” she said.
In her term, Talamantes cited wins to secure $1.9 million for transportation safety measures on Northgate Boulevard between Interstate 80 and Del Paso Boulevard, improving parks, building homes and opening a Costco.
“I have a lot of just small wins, but those small wins go a long way in the community, and then they go a long way in my heart because it’s progress,” she said.
But the work isn’t over. Talamantes said she hopes her next four-year term further addresses homelessness, affordability and more quality-of-life issues. She eyed establishing a “Taco Plaza” on Northgate Boulevard as community hub for food trucks, music festivals and cultural events.
Sacramento then-mayoral candidate Kevin McCarty, and City Councilwoman Karina Talamantes look at the release of the early election returns, which showed him leading Flojaune Cofer, at his election night party on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, at Cafeteria 15L in downtown Sacramento. Paul Kitagaki Jr. pkitagaki@sacbee.com
She also hopes to improve communication between the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and the City Council to address permanent housing.
Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and the City Council serve together on a joint powers authority overseeing the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. The SHRA is a government agency that oversees housing projects and affordable housing for Sacramento’s low-income residents.
Talamantes said she hopes the Board of Supervisors and council members to meet together to discuss with SHRA’s new director, Kris Warren, and discuss priorities.
Other races
Council members Lisa Kaplan, Caity Maple and Rick Jennings are also seeking re-election.
All three incumbents are face multiple challengers.
Kaplan, in what could be the most closely watched race, is facing off against two candidates for a district that includes North Natomas, parts of Robla and Westlake. Jennifer “Jenn” Chawla is a federal investigative specialist and Venkat Mechineni, an information technology specialist, both are seeking her seat.
Caity Maple, who represents Oak Park and Curtis Park, is running against retired sheriff’s deputy Henry Harry and analyst Santiago Mario Morales Jr.
Rick Jennings, first elected in 2014 to the council, is squaring off against urban planner Scott Lau and Deputy City Attorney Mark R. Valesquez. Jennings’ district includes Land Park, Greenhaven and the Pocket.
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 7:34 PM.
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Ishani Desai is a government watchdog reporter for The Sacramento Bee. She previously covered crime and courts for The Bakersfield Californian.