Elections

General Municipal Elections

The City of Lathrop's next General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The City of Lathrop is a general law city with a five-member legislative body consisting of a Mayor and four Council Members. Each of the five City Council Members are directly elected by the registered voters of the City of Lathrop.

The City of Lathrop consolidates its General Municipal Elections with San Joaquin County. The General Municipal Elections are in conjunction with statewide elections, scheduled on the first Tuesday of November of even-numbered years. As the City’s Election Official, and in compliance with the California Elections Code, the City Clerk oversees administration of municipal elections and election services.

The Mayor is elected at-large for a two-year term. City Council Members are elected at-large for four-year terms. Council Members serve staggered terms, meaning that two (2) seats are open for election every two (2) years.

Mayor and City Council Member Compensation

Each member of the City Council shall receive a salary, the amount of which shall be based on the maximum amount allowable on the schedule set forth in Government Code Section 36516. The current maximum amount is $1,275 per month. Lathrop Municipal Code Section 2.04.020.

November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election Information

The 2026 General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the following terms:

• One (1) Mayor’s Seat - Elected at-large for a two-year-term
  • Current Term Ending: Mayor Paul Akinjo
• Two (2) City Council Seats – Elected at-large for four-year-terms
  • Current Terms Ending: Council Member Stephen Dresser and Council Member Diane Lazard

Nomination Period and Candidate Filing Information (California Election Code Section 10220)

This is the period when individuals officially receive, circulate and file nomination papers for candidacy.

Nomination Papers will be available beginning Monday, July 13, 2026, at 8:00 a.m., at the City Clerk's Office. Please call (209) 941-7230 to schedule an appointment to obtain the necessary nomination papers. No filing fee is required. A fee may apply if the candidate elects to publish a Candidate Statement in the voter information guide. Fees for Candidate Statements are set by the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters, fees will be discussed with candidates during the issuance appointment.

Friday, August 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., is the final date and time for filing Nomination Papers. Candidates are encouraged to file as early as possible so that any deficiencies in the filing may be identified and corrected before the deadline.

If an incumbent eligible for re-election does not file nomination papers by the close of the nomination period on August 7, 2026, the nomination period for that office shall be extended to Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. for non-incumbent candidates only.

Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and registered voters in the City of Lathrop at the time nomination papers are issued.

Please call (209) 941-7230 to schedule an appointment to obtain and return the necessary nomination papers to the City Clerk’s Office. City offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays. City offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Fridays, excluding holidays.

The appointments are approximately 45-60 minutes. Nomination papers are not available online and must be issued in person. During the issuance appointment, a return appointment for filing the nomination papers is also scheduled.

Candidate Committees and Campaign Disclosures

Information about candidate committees and campaign disclosures can be found through the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). The FPPC’s Candidate Toolkit provides detailed information including forms and instructions, along with an overview of candidate responsibilities before, during, and after an election.

https://www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/campaign-rules/candidate-toolkit-getting-started.html

Campaign Contributions

Pursuant to Assembly Bill 571 (Stats. 2019, Ch. 556, AB 571 [Mullin]), beginning January 1, 2021, the state campaign contribution limit applies to city candidates. The City of Lathrop does not have a separate local ordinance regarding contribution limits. In addition to the campaign contribution limits, other related provisions that formerly applied only to state-level candidates now also apply to city candidates.

The contribution limit applicable to city candidates pursuant to AB 571 is adjusted biennially for inflation. Current contribution limits can be found in Regulation 18545(a)(2) of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) regulations. The contribution limit for city candidates is currently set at $5,900 per election. Additional information regarding AB 571 is available on the FPPC AB 571 Fact Sheet, link available here.

Placement of Temporary Signs

Temporary sign placement information is available by viewing the Lathrop Municipal Code Section 17.84.060.

Register to Vote

To register to vote in California, you must be:

• A United States citizen and a resident of California
• 18 years old or older on Election Day
• Not currently serving a State or Federal prison term for the conviction of a felony (more information)
• Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (more information)

Registration Methods

• Military and Overseas Voter Registration
• Confidential Voter Registration
• Conditional Voter Registration
• Re-Registration

CHECK: My Voter Status

Information contained on this page is for candidates for Lathrop City Council only. Candidates running for offices on special district boards that represent Lathrop residents should contact:

San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters

 Phone: (209) 468-VOTE (8683)

 Toll Free: (800) 400-5009

 Español: (209) 953-1052

 Fax: (209) 468-2889

 Email: registrar@sjgov.org

see directions below