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Elections

The City of Hollister is a General Law City with a Council-City Manager form of government. City voters elect four (4) council members by district and the Mayor at-large. Regular elections are held on the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November of even-numbered years. Special elections may be called by the City Council and are held on dates as set forth in the California Elections Code. Two (2) council member seats are to be voted on every two (2) years. The City Treasurer is elected every four (4) years. 

The City Clerk conducts regular and special elections, including processing and certifying citizen-generated petitions. The City Clerk, as the Elections Official, is also the point of contact for keeping candidates, the public, and staff informed during the election process.

Office: Hollister City Hall, 375 Fifth Street, Hollister, CA 95023
Phone:  831.636.4300, Option 5
Email: coh.cityclerk@hollister.ca.gov

On this page you will find information on the following subjects:
• November 3, 2026 Election (including resources and timeline, candidates on the ballot, and the City of Hollister’s local ballot measures)
• Campaign Finance
• Voter Registration

Upcoming Election

Election Day is almost upon us! Please see helpful resources and timeline below:

Resources

July 13

  • Nomination period opens for the following City Council seats: Mayor, District 2, and District 3. The nomination period also opens for the City Treasurer position.

August 7

  • Nomination period closes for City Council seats and Treasurer unless an incumbent for a seat does not pull papers to run for reelection.

August 12

  • Nomination period closes only for seats where an incumbent has not pulled papers to run for reelection.

October 19

November 3 - ELECTION DAY

  • Polls and ballot drop boxes open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Early December

  • Swearing-in of elected Councilmembers and Mayor (after San Benito County Elections has completed the canvass and certified election results). 

OFFICIALS ON THE BALLOT

On November 3, 2026, the voters of the City of Hollister will elect:

  • one Mayor on an at-large basis for a term of 2 years
  • one Councilmember representing District 2 for a term of 4 years
  • one Councilmember representing District 3, for a term of 4 years
  • one Treasurer on an at-large basis for a term of 4 years

CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT

The period for filing nomination papers for the following seat will open on July 13, 2026:

  • Mayor
  • Council Member, District 2
  • Council Member, District 3
  • City Treasurer

The following individuals have filed a Form 501 Candidate Statement of Intent for the November 3, 2026 Election (information will be added once the nomination period opens):

MAYOR


COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT 2


COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT 3


TREASURER


The following individuals have qualified for the ballot for the November 3, 2026 Election:

MAYOR


COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT 2


COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT 3


TREASURER



 Run for Office
Who can for Elective Office?

  • To run for office, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident and registered voter within the City limits, and at least 18 years old.
  • For a Citywide office (Mayor or Treasurer), you must be a registered voter within the City limits at the time nomination papers are issued and throughout the term of office.
  • For a City Council District Office, you must be a registered voter within the district you want to serve at the time nomination papers are issued and throughout the term of office.

You may look up your district on our District Map.

Potential candidates are required to gather twenty valid signatures of registered City of Hollister voters on a mandatory nomination form supplied by the City Clerk.  

Based on an established schedule, candidates must file statements reporting all campaign contributions and expenditures for the designated time period. These reports are available online and in the City Clerk’s Office for public review. 

Terms

In the City of Hollister, the Mayor is elected at-large to serve a 2-year term. City Council members are elected by district to serve 4-year terms. The City Treasurer is elected at- large to serve a 4-year term.

Resources


LINK TO NETFILE CURRENT FILINGS:

 LINK TO FPPC CANDIDATE INFORMATION:  http://www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/campaign-rules.html

 CAMPAIGN SIGNS

 The City’s Municipal Code, through its zoning regulations, regulates the placement of signs in the City, including political signs.  These regulations prohibit the placement of signs on public property as well as within the City's public right-of-way.  City rights-of-way are generally defined as being the actual street itself, as well as the area between the curb and gutter and the back of the sidewalk.  As a rule of thumb, the street right-of-way line is ten feet back behind the curb.  The City’s regulations also prohibit the placement of any type of sign on utility poles, traffic signs, and posts in City rights-of-way.