Election 2026: Cathedral City voters decide three council seats and city treasurer as polls close tonight
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) - Voters in Cathedral City are casting their ballots Tuesday in several key local races, including three City Council seats and the city's treasurer.
With polls closing at 8 p.m., News Channel 3 is tracking the races and will provide updates as the Riverside County Registrar of Voters begins releasing unofficial election results.
Three City Council districts; Districts 3, 4 and 5, are on the ballot this year. Two incumbents are seeking to keep their seats, while another district is guaranteed to elect a new representative.
Cathedral City Council District 3
Incumbent Councilmember Christina Gordon is facing challenger Alberto Ruiz Jr.
Gordon was appointed to the City Council in January following the death of Councilmember Mark Carnevale. Ruiz is a retired Cathedral City police sergeant.
Cathedral City Council District 4
Three candidates are competing for the District 4 seat.
Incumbent Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Ernesto Gutierrez is seeking reelection against David Koslow and Rick Saldivar.
All three candidates previously faced one another in the 2022 election.
Cathedral City Council District 5
District 5 will see a new representative after current Councilmember and Mayor Raymond Gregory decided not to seek another term.
Antonio Baciu and Danielle Mead are competing for the open seat.
Baciu currently serves as a city commissioner, while Mead serves on the city's Planning Commission.
The winner will join the City Council as Cathedral City continues addressing issues involving development, public services and the city's future.
Cathedral City Treasurer
Voters are also deciding who will serve as Cathedral City's treasurer.
Incumbent Gregory Jackson is facing challenger Shelley Kaplan.
Jackson is seeking another term in the position, while Kaplan, a retired college administrator, is challenging him for the citywide office.
Unlike the City Council races, which are decided by voters living within individual districts, the treasurer is elected by voters across Cathedral City.
Watching the results
News Channel 3 has been reaching out to candidates ahead of Election Day to learn where they plan to watch the results and how they are preparing for the possibility of a victory or defeat.
The Riverside County Registrar of Voters is responsible for tabulating ballots and releasing unofficial results.
The first results are expected after polls close at 8 p.m. Those initial numbers will not necessarily determine the winners, as additional ballots may still need to be processed and counted.
News Channel 3 will continue monitoring the Cathedral City races throughout election night, bringing viewers the latest results, candidate reactions and developments on air and online at KESQ.com.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as election results become available.
