La Grande opens filings for 2026 city council seats

La Grande is now accepting candidate filings for the 2026 municipal election, with the city posting eligibility rules, open seats and firm filing deadlines that will shape local leadership into the next council term. Mayor/Position 1 is available for a two-year term, while Position 5, Position 6 and Position 7 are open for four-year terms.

Prospective candidates must be registered voters and meet residency requirements, including having lived within city limits since at least Nov. 19, 2025, for this cycle. Incumbents have an earlier petition deadline of Feb. 24, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., while new candidates must submit petitions and nomination materials by March 3, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Candidates should also plan for the final filing verification window on March 10, 2026 with the Union County Elections Office.

The City Recorder, Stacey Stockhoff, serves as the City Elections Officer and the city’s elections page provides contact information, a Candidate Information Packet and links to municipal election resources. Those documents outline required forms, signatures and procedures for submitting petitions to the city and completing verification with county election officials.

These deadlines matter to La Grande voters because city council decisions affect everyday services and local priorities from public safety and streets to parks and development. Open seats create opportunities for new voices to influence budgeting and planning at City Hall, and the staggered terms mean voters will help determine both short-term leadership in the mayoral seat and longer-term policy direction through four-year council positions.

The city’s schedule also distinguishes between incumbents and challengers, giving sitting officeholders a shorter window to file petitions ahead of a broader period for new candidates. That timing can influence campaign organization, petition-gathering and the ability of community groups to recruit and support candidates. Meeting the residency cutoff of Nov. 19, 2025 is essential; candidates who do not meet that requirement will be ineligible to appear on the ballot.

La Grande residents interested in running or supporting a campaign should review the Candidate Information Packet and municipal resources listed on the city elections page, and contact City Recorder Stacey Stockhoff for procedural questions and to confirm submission details. With filing deadlines approaching in late February and early March, the coming weeks will determine who appears on the ballot and who will shape local policy in the next term.