AN INDEPENDENT LOOK AT HUNTINGTON BEACHPUBLIC RECORDS. LOCAL IMPACT.
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YOUR LOCAL VOTER GUIDEReviewed October 20, 2026 · independent, no endorsements

NOVEMBER 3, 2026 · GENERAL ELECTION

Your city.
Your next decision.

Know when and where to vote. Meet all 11 qualified council candidates. Bring evidence about Huntington Beach into the voting booth.

Explore the council race ↓Get my official ballot ↗
Missed October 19 registration? You still have an option.

Eligible voters can use in-person conditional registration October 20–November 3 at the county elections office or an open voting location. The ballot counts after registration verification. Official guidance ↗

START HERE

Make your voting plan.

Oct 5Mail voting begins
Oct 19Regular registration deadline · passed
Oct 20–Nov 3Conditional registration
Oct 24First Vote Centers open
Oct 27Last day to request a replacement ballot to be mailed
Oct 31Additional Vote Centers open
Nov 3 · 8 p.m.Voting closes
Dec 3County certification on or before this date

Official election calendar ↗. Mail ballot envelopes must be signed, dated and postmarked by November 3, and received by November 10, 2026 at 5 p.m. Return early. Official receipt deadline · printed page 17 ↗. In-person and drop-box returns close at 8 p.m. November 3. Official return guidance ↗. Check official guidance for accessibility, language assistance and identification questions; follow the instructions on your issued ballot.

THE CITY COUNCIL RACE

Eleven candidates. Four seats.

The Registrar’s current filing log lists 11 qualified candidates and “Vote For: 4.” Follow your official ballot instructions. Ballot designations below are candidate self-descriptions. Names appear alphabetically by surname, with equal access to each official statement.

11 candidates

Inspect qualification status and filing log ↗. No candidate interviews were conducted. HB Watch does not rank or endorse candidates. This is a reviewed snapshot; check official records for withdrawals, write-ins or changes. Election-method litigation is not resolved by this filing log; the issued ballot and current election-administrator instructions govern how to mark your vote.

A RECORD TO CHECK, NOT A CAMPAIGN SCORE

How did the incumbents vote?

Three current councilmembers appear on this council ballot. These five selected decisions are drawn from our reviewed roll calls, not a complete voting history. Challengers have no Huntington Beach council roll call in this table.

Selected recorded votes · Pat Burns, Andrew Gruel and Casey McKeon
Decision and sourcePat BurnsAndrew GruelCasey McKeon
Police agreement and $2.7m reserve appropriation ↗September 1, 2026 · Passed 4–3NoYesNo
FY 2026–27 budget adopted using $16.08m in General Fund balance ↗June 16, 2026 · Passed 6–0 · 1 abstentionYesYesYes
Sixth-cycle Housing Element adopted after years of litigation ↗June 16, 2026 · Passed 5–2YesNoYes
Pacific Airshow agreement and environmental review approved ↗September 2, 2025 · Passed 6–1YesYesYes
Council affirms public library will not be sold and books will not be banned ↗June 3, 2025 · Passed 7–0YesYesYes

See all seven councilmembers and the full vote context →

BEYOND CITY HALL

Your ballot goes further.

Federal & state midterms

Congress and state government affect funding, laws and housing rules. Your address determines your legislative districts; do not assume every Huntington Beach resident has the same ballot.

Find my districts and candidates ↗

CONNECT THE CAMPAIGN TO THE EVIDENCE

Ask for a plan you can measure.

Public safety

350

Reported violent offenses · 2025 · California DOJ annual data

Source: California Department of Justice ↗

California DOJ agency reports; counts are not population-adjusted risk. Reporting changes and unreported offenses limit interpretation. No council-specific cause established.

Which intervention will you fund, and how will you distinguish its effect from a broader crime trend?

Read the evidence →

Homelessness

143

People counted unsheltered · January 2026 point-in-time count

Source: County of Orange ↗

County snapshot, not everyone who experienced homelessness during a year. Shelter classifications affect comparisons; fewer counted outdoors does not establish permanent housing exits.

Will you report both sheltered and unsheltered counts, housing placements and returns to homelessness?

Read the evidence →

City finances

$16.08m

Adopted General Fund balance use · FY 2026–27

Source: City of Huntington Beach ↗

The June budget’s use of accumulated balance is not audited spending or a precise recurring deficit. September’s $2.7m authorization is separate; other amendments may exist.

Which recurring revenue or spending changes replace reserve use, and by what year?

Read the evidence →

Housing & affordability

$2,510

Median monthly gross rent · 2020–2024 Census estimates

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ↗

Census ACS 2020–2024 pooled estimate. Not current asking rent. Sampling uncertainty applies; no local affordability improvement or council effect established.

How many homes will be permitted, completed and affordable, and where will progress be published?

Read the evidence →

Streets & infrastructure

80.3/ 100

Citywide pavement condition · May 2026 pavement report

Source: City of Huntington Beach ↗

City-commissioned May 2026 pavement report. Network averages hide local differences; funding scenarios are forecasts, not completed repairs.

Which streets get repaired first, and how will you fund the maintenance backlog?

Read the evidence →

Beaches & environment

4

Local Honor Roll beach sites · 2025–2026 Beach Report Card

Source: Heal the Bay ↗

Heal the Bay’s annual bacterial grades at four specific sites. Retrospective, not a live advisory or proof that all beaches are safe. Credit is shared.

How will you fund prevention and communicate wet-weather risks as well as annual beach grades?

Read the evidence →

Follow the money, too.

Look for contributions, loans, spending and independent expenditures. Compare reporting periods; a candidate committee and an outside committee are different entities. We have not calculated candidate fundraising totals in this edition.

Official candidate and campaign-finance resources ↗

Official tools open on the election administrator’s website. HB Watch does not collect your address, birth date, registration information or voting choices. Election-night results are preliminary; follow official results ↗ and subsequent certification.