How to Run for City Council in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
Thinking about running for city council, but not sure where to start? You’re not alone. Local issues like housing, zoning, public safety, walkability, and property taxes affect your daily life, and city councils make many of those decisions.
If you want to make a real impact in your community, running for city council is one of the most direct ways to do it. This guide breaks down exactly how to run for city council in 2026, from understanding eligibility and filing requirements to building a grassroots campaign that connects with voters.
What Is a City Council?
A city council is the city’s elected legislative body responsible for shaping local laws, budgets, and policies. Depending on your city’s structure, councilmembers may work alongside a mayor or a city manager, and they may represent districts/wards or serve at-large.
City councils typically oversee:
Local taxes and spending
Housing, zoning, and land use
Infrastructure, roads, and public transportation
Public safety services
Parks, recreation, and libraries
Business licensing and regulations
If something affects daily life in your city, chances are the council plays a role in it.
LEARN MORE: Some places have a town council instead of a city council. Learn how to run for town council in 2026.
What Does a City Council Member Do?
Councilmembers, sometimes called alderpersons, councilors, or selectmen, work to represent their community’s priorities and solve local problems.
Typical responsibilities of city council members include:
Passing ordinances and local laws
Approving and monitoring the city budget
Meeting with constituents and addressing concerns
Overseeing zoning and development
Collaborating with other local leaders
Advocating for neighborhood needs
Some council positions are full-time, while many are part-time or lightly paid. Regardless of the structure, the role centers on listening, problem-solving, and helping your city function and grow.
Free tools for your city council campaign
How to Run for City Council in 2026 in 4 Steps
You don’t need party backing or insider experience to run a competitive city council campaign. What you do need is a clear plan, a grounded message, and consistent community engagement.
Step #1: Know the Rules and Understand Your City’s Landscape
Before launching your campaign, get familiar with how city council elections work in your area. Every city sets its own rules, timelines, and district boundaries.
Check Your Eligibility
While the exact eligibility details vary by state or city, most candidates must:
Be a U.S. citizen
Be at least 18 years old
Be a registered voter
Live in the city or a specific district or ward, sometimes for a certain period of time, like six months or a year
If you’re unsure which city council district or ward you live in, your local government website should have maps or an address look-up tool to help you understand the lay of the land.
Remember that you may be ineligible to run for office if you’re currently employed by the city. Some cities prohibit current employees from seeking office to prevent conflicts of interest.
Learn Your City’s Term Lengths
City council term lengths vary depending on where you live, but they’re typically two to four years. Some cities allow members to serve endless consecutive terms, while others have strict term limits in place.
Some examples of city council term lengths include:
Austin, Texas: City council members serve four-year terms, and members can serve up to two consecutive terms.
Cleveland, Ohio: Council members serve four-year terms with no term limits.
Los Angeles, California: Council members serve four-year terms, with a three-term limit, totaling up to 12 years of service.
Chicago, Illinois: City council members (called alderpersons) serve four-year terms with no term limits.
Because these rules vary so much, even within states, it’s important to check with your city clerk or local election office to learn the specific term lengths and limits in your city.
Where Are City Council Elections Happening in 2026?
Every city sets its own local election calendar, and many have city council seats on the ballot in 2026. Filing windows often open months before election day, so knowing your city’s timing early can help you plan your campaign.
Here are a few examples of cities with confirmed 2026 city council elections:
San Diego, California: Voters will elect multiple council seats during the June 2026 primary and November 2026 general election.
Cookeville, Tennessee: City council elections are scheduled for November 2026.
Sierra Vista, Arizona: City council races will be on the ballot in 2026.
Grand Rapids, Michigan: The November 2026 ballot will include city council and mayoral offices.
Arlington, Texas: Multiple council seats are up for election in May 2026.
Many city councils have staggered elections, meaning only some or half of the seats are up for election each time. Double-check your district to ensure the seat you’d be running for is available.
Once you know your city’s timeline, you can work backward to plan filing, fundraising, and community outreach.
Know Your Filing Deadlines
Filing periods vary, but as a general pattern:
Spring elections in April or May: File between December and January
Fall elections in November: File between May and August
Give yourself plenty of time to gather any required signatures or paperwork. Missing a step or a deadline can disqualify you.
LEARN MORE: You can use GoodParty.org’s election look-up tool to see the open seats and filing deadlines for your district.
Step #2: Plan Your City Council Campaign
You don’t need a massive team or big donor network to run effectively, but you do need a clear message, a solid plan, and community engagement.
Define Your Message
Your message should reflect what matters most to the people you hope to represent. Start by listening:
What concerns come up at neighborhood meetings?
What do residents wish the city council would focus on?
What change do people want to see in your district?
Many local candidates begin their campaigns because they’ve lived the issues firsthand.
“I was just a concerned resident that grew up in the community,” said recently-elected city council member Jermaine Howard of Kansas City, Kansas. “I had an opportunity to serve at a higher capacity, and so I took the opportunity to do so.”
Authentic, honest motivations like this resonate deeply with local voters.
LEARN MORE: Explore how to craft a community-centered campaign message.
Build Your Team
A few committed helpers can make a huge difference, especially in a competitive council race.
Look for people who can assist with:
Social media
Event planning
Volunteer management
Compliance and reporting
Your volunteers and supporters can become one of your greatest assets, too. Consider recruiting volunteers to help with door-to-door outreach, event planning, or making social media posts.
Budget Wisely
City council campaigns are typically affordable, but you’ll still need funds.
Most campaigns need to spend money on:
Filing fees
A simple website
Yard signs and flyers
Canvassing materials
Events or meet-and-greets
Having limited funds can be a challenge, but it also gives you an opportunity to get creative and connect more with your community.
“What we did was very authentic,” said Howard. “We showed up to the neighborhood groups where it didn't cost us anything to show up. I believed if I had had more money to do the things, I wouldn't have been as connected to the community as I was because I had to go in there and talk to the small groups of 10. I had to go into the high rises. I had to go into the neighborhood groups, or I had to go into the town halls.”
Combining grassroots outreach with creative small-dollar fundraising can help you stay connected to your community while keeping costs low.
LEARN MORE: Raise money like a pro with our guide to political fundraising.
Step #3: File the Paperwork to Get on the Ballot
Filing paperwork when running for office can feel intimidating, but it’s easy with the proper preparation and time. Make sure you know your district’s rules and regulations fully, because if you miss anything, you risk being disqualified.
To run for city council, you’ll likely need to file:
Declaration of Candidacy: This form says you’re officially running. Some cities require it to be notarized.
Financial Disclosure: You may need to disclose sources of income or potential conflicts of interest.
Campaign Committee Registration: If required, this names your campaign treasurer and establishes your bank account.
Background Check: Some districts may only require a signed statement saying you haven’t been convicted of specific offenses, while others require official basic background checks.
Petition Signatures: Many cities require you to gather a specific number of valid signatures from registered voters in your district. This number varies but could range from 25 to several hundred.
Gathering signatures can be difficult, but remember: it’s a great way to start meeting voters and building early momentum.
Step #4: Run a Grassroots, Community-First Campaign
Once you’re officially on the ballot, it’s time to connect authentically, consistently, and everywhere your community already is.
Show Up and Be Visible
Some of the most effective outreach happens in small, personal interactions through:
Door-to-door canvassing
Attending neighborhood association meetings
Joining community events and festivals
Showing up at city council meetings
Hosting small campaign events and listening sessions
Strategic get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts
Tom Lambert, who won his city council race in Dunwoody, Georgia in 2025, made himself visible and accessible in simple ways:
“I did a lot of meet and greets, and I set up what I called ‘office hours,’” he said. “People came in and talked with me.”
Other candidates find creative ways to highlight community voices. In Acworth, Georgia, the recent city council winner Kimberly Haase took a community-based approach:
“I didn't use what you traditionally use, as far as politicians, to endorse you,” she said. “I used the local business owners to endorse me, or just the local people that are doing good in the neighborhood with 501(c)3 organizations.”
The moments you spend with your voters build trust and reinforce that you’re engaged in the community.
Use Digital Tools to Reach More Voters
Alongside face-to-face outreach, digital tools can help campaigns reach more voters faster.
Effective channels for digital outreach include:
Posts on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor
Email newsletters
Short videos and community updates
A simple campaign website
Low-cost ads on Meta or Google
A strong digital strategy and the right civic tech tools can also help close gaps.
Joseph Faulkner won his alderman race in Tennessee with a smart data strategy:
“Voter data is invaluable,” he said. “You need those data points to make sure that you're getting your message to the right people at the right time.”
When used well, these tools help you run smarter, not harder.
Be the Change Your Community Deserves
Running for city council is a commitment to your neighbors, to your community’s future, and to showing up even when the work gets difficult. The most effective candidates stay grounded in their purpose.
As city councilmember Debrah North of DeSoto, Texas, put it:
“Make sure you're running for the right reason. When you identify the reason why you’re running, that’s going to be your anchor.”
For Independent and nonpartisan candidates, that purpose-driven approach is especially important. Without party infrastructure or built-in resources, you may feel like you’re starting from behind.
Recent city councilor-elect Tom Lambert of Dunwoody, Georgia, shared that reality clearly:
“Running as an Independent, you already have a disadvantage because of the resources the major parties provide. GoodParty.org helps to level the playing field a little bit.”
You don’t have to navigate this alone. GoodParty.org empowers Independent and nonpartisan candidates with the tools, voter outreach support, and strategic guidance to run competitive, community-powered campaigns.
Photo by Meg von Haartman on Unsplash
Ready to take the next step? Book a demo and see how GoodParty.org can help power your run for city council.
Free tools for your city council campaign